Warnings that “people will die” should a Blue Island hospital close punctuated a state panel’s hearing Wednesday in that city.
The hourslong hearing took place at St. Benedict Church, just a block from MetroSouth Medical Center, whose operators are seeking permission to halt services before the end of this year.
Noting that MetroSouth’s patient population includes large numbers of minorities and the poor, the hospital’s closing would be a furthering of “the destruction of healthcare” in underserved communities, Kristi DeLaurentiis, executive director of the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association said.
A closing would “destabilize our region” and “further accelerate and exacerbate” disparities in access to healthcare, she said in a prepared testimony… Please click here to read Mike Nolan’s story in the Tribune/Daily Southtown. Related stories include, State review board holds public meeting on proposed closing of MetroSouth Medical Center, in the Sun-Times; and Future of South Suburban Hospital in Jeopardy on NBC5 Chicago.
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