For over twenty years, I have worked in the emergency departments across various neighborhoods in Chicago. During this time, I have observed the severe impact on communities when a hospital leaves the area.
Ambulances must travel farther distances. Waiting rooms become overcrowded. Patients often arrive in worse condition because they couldn’t access timely medical care. These challenges are not always due to a community’s inability to sustain a hospital. Often, hospitals close because their assets may have more value when sold rather than when serving patients.