Statement from Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle & CCHHS CEO Dr. Raju on Oak Forest Hospital Decision

Today, the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board approved a request by the Cook County Health and Hospital Systems plan to transform Oak Forest Hospital into a Regional Outpatient Center. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle issued the following statement. “I am very pleased that the state board approved the plan created by the independent Health and Hospitals System. The transformation of the Oak Forest campus will allow for better and more responsible use of resources to dramatically improve health access for medically underserved residents in the Southland. I will continue to utilize my Southland Health Advisory Council to provide input to my office and to the health care system on the delivery of health care throughout the south suburbs. “We must continue to work towards addressing the shared financial challenges that County government and the Health and Hospital system faces. I look forward to working with new CEO, Dr. Ramanathan Raju and the Health and Hospital System Board to address the difficult situation we are currently facing in strengthening care delivery, improving access and increasing fiscal responsibility. “I am prepared to face these economic challenges head on and I know that we can achieve our goals by working together in the coming weeks and months.” Dr. Ramanathan Raju, the new CEO of the Cook County Health and Hospital System, also issued the following statement “I applaud the Board's decision in approving the transformation of the Oak Forest campus. This is an important milestone for the Cook County Health and Hospital System and a key step forward in implementing the strategic plan. Public health care is in a critical period. As incoming Chief Executive Officer of the Cook County Health and Hospital System, I look forward to working with President Preckwinkle and the System Board to continue to strengthen our system and ensure that we can continue to provide quality, accessible health care for those who need it for many years to come.”