‘We will be there’: Weiss Memorial CEO says he plans to appeal decision that led to hospital’s closure

CHICAGO — The emergency room and much of its operations shut down at Weiss Memorial Hospital in Uptown on Friday, just days before the hospital was set to lose access to Medicare and Medicaid.

Residents seeking medical care at Weiss Memorial on Friday were met with a sign on the door advising them to seek treatment at a nearby facility after the emergency room shuts its doors.

The rest of the hospital had been closed for weeks after the building’s air conditioner failed, meaning Friday’s emergency room closure was the final nail in the coffin for Weiss Memorial.

The closure came after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, known as CMS, notified Weiss management that the hospital would lose coverage starting Aug. 9, after failing to remain in compliance.

The federal agency said Weiss was not compliant in three areas: Emergency services, nursing staff and physical environment.

The funding provided by CMS makes up the vast majority of the hospital’s revenue.

During a news conference held Friday morning addressing the closure, Manoj Prasad, the CEO of Resilience Healthcare, which owns Weiss, said he has already contacted CMS about an appeal process in hopes of getting the hospital running again.

“First and foremost, to the people in the uptown community, their support is invaluable. We were there to serve them and we will be there, god willing, to serve them again. Unfortunately, we immediately contacted CMS to find if there is a short review period,” Prasad said. “Typically, what happens in these situations, it’s typically called a 23-day later. They give you 23 days later and on the 21st day, they come back, they look at you, and then, if you’re still so far vastly out of compliance, they say, “Okay, we shut it down.'”

The Chicago Department of Public Health says it is also aware of the situation and is working with community leaders to find alternative care options for residents.