Rare denial of hospital closure hinged on 1 vote
A spokeswoman for Gov. Pat Quinn says it’s a top priority for the governor to fill three vacancies on a state health facilities planning board.
The board’s vote Tuesday to deny the closure of a Chicago-area hospital hinged on one vote, partly because of the vacancies.
Quinn spokeswoman Annie Thompson says it’s been difficult to find candidates who meet all the legal requirements to serve on the volunteer board.
Board members must be knowledgeable about health care, but can’t have a financial interest in a health care facility. Immediate family members can’t have financial conflicts of interest. No more than five board members can be from the same political party. And four must live outside the Chicago area.
Tuesday’s vote denied Cook County’s request to close Oak Forest Hospital.