Unpaid bills, millions in medical debts lead suburban hospital to shutter ER

Lurie Children's expands to Chicago suburbs with new $480M hospital in Downers Grove

Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago has won state approval to build a proposed pediatric hospital and outpatient center in Downers Grove, clearing a major hurdle for a project designed to bring specialized children’s care closer to families in the western suburbs. The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board approved the hospital’s Certificate of Need application, according to the hospital's announcement.

Meet the unexpected team filling Chicago's mental health workforce shortage

When the pandemic hit, many artists were out of work. At the same time, behavioral health needs skyrocketed, with not enough professionals in the field to meet demand. In fact, according to the National Center for Health Workforce, the United States continues to experience a mental health crisis with increased levels of unmet behavioral health needs among people of all ages.

Cook County Hospital Fires Pharmacy Tech Over Vaccine Refusal, Appeal Fails

A federal appeals court has sided with Cook County in the case of a pharmacy technician who was fired from John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital in Chicago after she declined COVID-19 vaccination and was denied a religious exemption. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed the judgment against Jetaime Flores on November 6, upholding a December 2025 ruling by a federal judge in Chicago that had already gone against her.

New 24/7 mental health center launches on Chicago’s South Side

The Thresholds Center for Mental Wellbeing celebrated the grand opening of The Living Room, a new 24/7 nonclinical crisis center on Chicago's South Side.

UChicago Medicine AdventHealth’s Bolingbrook, GlenOaks, Hinsdale and La Grange hospitals leave UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage networks Jan. 1, 2027 in a mutual decision

UChicago Medicine AdventHealth’s four hospitals in Bolingbrook, GlenOaks, Hinsdale and La Grange will be out of network for UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans on Jan. 1, 2027. UnitedHealthcare says the two sides “made the mutual decision to end” their Medicare Advantage network relationship, which covers individual plans and group retiree plans. Members of those plans who […]

Pollutants in Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan, the largest freshwater lake in the world, is known for its urban coastlines and stunning views; yet, the lake has been polluted with 11 million pounds of plastic from industries with plants along the lake. Chicagoland citizens consume large amounts of microplastics as a result of this plastic...

Nearly $900,000 Raised to Improve Healthcare Access in Chicago and Milwaukee

CHICAGO, IL — A major fundraising initiative is bringing renewed attention to healthcare disparities and the need for greater investment in historically underserved communities across Chicago and Milwaukee. Advocate Health announced that its annual GATHER fundraising event raised nearly $900,000 to support healthcare access initiatives on Chicago’s South Side...

Chicago Bochurim Hear Firsthand from the Rebbe’s Cardiologist

A group of Shluchim from Lubavitch Mesivta of Chicago visited the Rebbe’s cardiologist, Dr. Ira Weiss, on Rosh Chodesh Kislev for a special farbrengen and an opportunity to hear firsthand stories about the Rebbe. During the visit, the doctor shared memories from his years of connection with the Rebbe,...

Letter - Hospitals renew MA sales pitch while dropping popular plans

Medicare Open Enrollment runs from Oct. 15-Dec. 7. At this time especially, seniors are targeted with a ceaseless barrage of TV advertising for Medicare Advantage plans. These commercials are allowed to mislead and lie by omission, as I detail in my letters to The Hinsdalean of Nov. 7, 2023, and Oct. 17, 2024, easily accessed online.

2 Legionnaires’ Disease Cases Linked to Evanston Hotel

Two confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been linked to the Hilton Garden Inn North Shore in Evanston, Illinois, after health officials detected Legionella bacteria in the hotel’s hot tub water system. Both individuals had visited the hotel’s pool and hot tub areas in August 2026. The...

Bridgeport residents dispute report dismissing impacts of proposed Amtrak yard

A new study suggests a proposed Amtrak maintenance yard in Bridgeport would not have an adverse impact on the thousands of residents there, but questions remain in the minds of residents and officials. The study was released by the Federal Railroad Administration on Friday. The report concluded that the impact...

Chicago-area Medicare enrollees can keep Endeavor Health in network in 2027 through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Essence Healthcare, Humana, UnitedHealthcare or Original Medicare

Chicago-area Medicare enrollees who want Endeavor Health hospitals and doctors in network for 2027 have five ways to do it: Original Medicare, or a Medicare Advantage plan from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Essence Healthcare, Humana or UnitedHealthcare. Endeavor says Aetna Medicare Advantage plans are the one carrier leaving its network, beginning Jan. 1, […] The post Chicago-area Medicare enrollees can keep Endeavor Health in network in 2027 through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Essence Healthcare, Humana, UnitedHealthcare or Original Medicare appeared first on The Money Overview .

Suburban hospital limits who's allowed in emergency room due to rise in respiratory illnesses

A suburban Chicago hospital announced plans to limit support people waiting in its emergency room as respiratory virus cases climb. Silver Cross Hospital on Thursday issued an alert saying "patients in the Emergency Department are limited to one support person in the waiting room at this time." The move was...

Inside the C-suite: Health system leaders on AI, access and a tough 2027

Chief Healthcare Executive interviewed leaders from Providence, Northwell, Intermountain Health, Kaiser Permanente, Mayo Clinic and more, on the pressing issues facing their systems and health care as a whole. Health system leaders are heading into 2027 facing Medicaid cuts, workforce strains and growing pressure to show real results from artificial...

59-Unit Tower Proposed for Old Kindred Hospital Site on Edgewater's Sheridan Road

6150 N. Sheridan Rd. — Approximate Site of Nearby 40-Unit Project. A vacant five-story building that once housed Kindred Hospital on North Sheridan Road in Edgewater could soon become a 59-unit residential development, with private balconies, a rooftop deck and a parking garage tucked behind the structure. The hospital closed in 2024, leaving the site at 6124-6144 North Sheridan Road empty ever since.

Altgeld Gardens Gets New Health and Nutrition Center After Years Without a Grocery Store

TCA Health celebrated the ribbon cutting of its new Nutrition and Wellness Center in Altgeld Gardens, a two-story facility designed to bring a food pantry, teaching kitchen, café, and community health resources to a South Side neighborhood that has gone without a full-service grocery store for years. The celebration,...

New multispecialty clinic opens at Holy Cross Hospital

A ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Multispecialty Clinic at Holy Cross Hospital took place on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Located adjacent to the hospital’s newly renovated south lobby, the clinic brings multiple specialty services together in one centralized location, creating a more seamless patient experience. Beginning Monday, Nov. 2,...

Chicago hospital files for bankruptcy days after closing maternity ward

Just days after closing its maternity ward, Roseland Community Hospital has filed for bankruptcy.

Illinois Gov. Pritzker unveils ‘Day One Agenda,’ urges Congress to act on healthcare, wages and costs

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker unveiled a federal policy agenda titled 'Fighting for Illinois: The Day One Agenda' aimed at addressing healthcare costs, wages, and education funding ahead of the new Congressional session.