Deal could keep Blue Island hospital open

BLUE ISLAND -- A new deal could keep a hospital in the Chicago suburb of Blue Island open.

The Catholic-owned St. Francis Hospital and Health Center has 410 beds.

SSM Health Care announced in April that it would close the facility. The company said it couldn't bear the heavy cost of keeping St. Francis open, citing the hospital's treatment of uninsured patients as a financial drain.

SSM announced Thursday it's signed an agreement to transfer the hospital's ownership to MSMC Investors. Financial terms weren't disclosed.

Under the deal, the hospital would become for-profit, lose its Catholic status and be named MetroSouth Medical Center.

The deal will have to be approved by the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board.