City of Blue Island Think Outside the Loop
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MEDIA ALERT – For Immediate Release
Contact:
Marisol Barrera, Assistant to the Mayor
City of Blue Island, Illinois
708-396-7011
Mbarrera@cityofblueisland.org
City of Blue Island Files Formal HFSRB Complaint Citing Regulatory Violations Committed by Quorum Health During Closure Proceedings at MetroSouth
September 11, 2019, Blue Island, Illinois: In a letter sent last Friday to the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board, City of Blue Island Mayor Domingo F. Vargas formalized a complaint against Quorum Health, the owner/operator of MetroSouth Medical Center, alleging violation of State Board regulations that require facilities to obtain permits prior to discontinuing various categories of service.
Pursuant to the Illinois Administrative Code, such a violation provides a basis to defer Quorum Health’s application to close MetroSouth, an action Mayor Vargas urged the State Board to consider at its September 17th meeting.
Copies of the letter were delivered to the offices of Governor JB Pritzker and Deputy Governor Sol Flores.
In addition to Mayor Vargas’ letter, the law firm of Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP issued correspondence on behalf of the City of Blue Island, requesting the Board defer consideration of Quorum Health’s closure application to the October meeting, citing the need to explore serious concerns regarding Quorum’s adherence to state regulations.
The full text of both correspondences can be found by clicking the links below.
In the most recent communication from to the City — a letter dated September 9 — Quorum Health Chief Operating Officer Martin Smith and MetroSouth CEO John Walsh outlined their communications with People’s Choice Hospital/MSMC and their inability to reach an agreement on terms to purchase the hospital, further stating that “there are no other potential buyers or offers of note.”
“I want to personally invite health care providers, health care systems, and other hospitals to take another look at Blue Island and the MetroSouth facility,” says Vargas. “Keeping quality health care services in Blue Island is a priority. Residents of Blue Island and the surrounding area support local health care and we welcome the chance to have you in our community. Please contact the Mayor’s office and let’s discuss health care opportunities in Blue Island.”
To show support for keeping the hospital open and having quality health care options in Blue Island, the City of Blue Island is hosting a rally at the corner of Gregory and High Streets on September 14 at 9:00 a.m. All are invited and welcomed to join.
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9/6/19 Letter from Mayor Vargas to HFSRB
9/6/19 Letter from Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP to HFSRB
