Weiss Memorial Hospital in Uptown could close as soon as Friday with Medicare funding set to end

CHICAGO (WLS) — Weiss Memorial Hospital in Uptown could be forced to close as soon as Friday.

One employee said they were told, the hospital could shut down as early as 7 a.m.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Activists plan to hold another rally outside the ER Friday as a last ditch effort to try and save the hospital.

Weiss Memorial Hospital has been a constant in the Uptown neighborhood, serving vulnerable communities on the North Side.

The threat of closure stems from a letter, sent by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, saying the hospital will no longer be a part of the Medicare program, effective this Saturday.

The agency says Weiss is out of compliance in:
-Nursing services
-Food & dietary services
-Physical environment
-Emergency services.

The Illinois Department of Public Health said there are no longer any patients being housed at Weiss Hospital.

State Representative Hoan Huynh is a patient and one of several lawmakers and Chicago City Council members who signed a letter asking for an eight-week extension of the hospital’s Medicare.

“This hospital has been around since the 50s,” Representative Huynh said. “It has served generations of Americans here so we need to make sure this hospital is sustainable. Right now, the situation is quite dire.

The hospital owner has not responded to our requests for comment.

The Illinois Department of Public Health shared the following statement Thursday:
“IDPH continues to monitor developments around the status of Weiss Memorial Hospital. There are currently no patients housed at Weiss. IDPH remains committed to ensuring that all applicable rules and regulations are followed to ensure appropriate standards of care.”