Hearing to focus on changes at Oak Forest Hospital

Cook County Health and Hospitals System has applied to the state's health facilities board to end inpatient care, emergency services and surgeries at a suburban Chicago hospital.

The 213-bed Oak Forest Hospital has seen a decline in admitted patients. The county plans to turn the facility into an outpatient primary care center and hopes to save $25 million, mostly by reducing staff.

A public hearing is planned for Thursday in Oak Forest.

Bonnie Blue is a concerned citizen who's been a patient at the hospital, and she opposes the plan. She says the hospital is a lifeline in the south suburbs.

The union representing county doctors supports the expansion of outpatient care but is against the complete shutdown of inpatient services at Oak Forest Hospital.