Illinois Lawmakers Probe West Suburban Hospital Closure as Eviction Notice Sparks New Questions
State Rep. LaShawn Ford says multiple Illinois departments are investigating the finances of West Suburban Medical Center after its abrupt closure, as an eviction notice targeting the hospital's CEO raises fresh questions about the safety-net facility's collapse.
The hospital in Oak Park closed its main campus and River Forest clinics on March 27, citing billing system failures that left it unable to cover payroll. The closure came after months of financial instability, including allegations of unpaid vendors, lost residency programs, and millions in unpaid state and local taxes.
The eviction notice, posted on the hospital's River Forest campus on Monday, alleges more than $7.25 million in unpaid rent owed to Ramco Holdings, the hospital's landlord and part-owner. The notice was addressed to Resilience Health CEO Dr. Manoj Prasad and a Pipeline Health co-president.
Through a spokesperson, Prasad challenged the eviction notice in court on Tuesday, stating it was without merit. He said a signed lease explicitly prevents the landlord from taking this action.
State Rep. LaShawn Ford, representing Illinois' 8th District, told ABC7 Chicago that several state agencies are currently investigating the hospital's finances. "The Illinois Department of Public Health, and Department of Human Services, and Healthcare and Family Services, they're all looking into this hospital and checking out the financials," Ford said.
Ford added that there has been millions of dollars in taxpayer funding provided to keep the hospital afloat, yet it still closed. He noted his constituents are demanding accountability and new leadership at the facility.
A letter sent to Governor JB Pritzker on April 8, signed by the Chicago Medical Society and former physicians, called for immediate state intervention to reopen West Suburban Medical Center. The letter argued the hospital serves poor people and those at highest risk, with severe healthcare deficiencies in the West Side now that it is closed.
Through a governor's office spokesperson, they had not received the letter at the time of inquiry, noting it was dated April 8.
The hospital's CEO was served an eviction notice last week from the property owner, citing millions of dollars in debt. Former West Suburban Nursing Director Sylvia Williams, who worked at the facility for nearly two decades, said the community needs stability if the hospital is to reopen.
Among plans in development to reopen the closed hospital includes efforts by Ramco Healthcare Holdings, the property owner of both West Suburban and Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago. The I-Team obtained a copy of an eviction notice served to CEO Prasad and Resilience Healthcare dated April 9, claiming the hospital owes more than $10.2 million for property use.
Resilience and Ramco purchased West Suburban and Weiss Memorial from Pipeline Health in 2022. A lawsuit filed last year alleged that Resilience still owed entities associated with Pipeline $67 million in connection with the sale.
State Rep. Ford expressed hope that state officials and the community can come together to prevent a healthcare desert. "What this hospital needs now more than ever is stability," Ford said. "It's been through so many challenges, and if it's to open again, it has to open with stability and strong leadership."
The closure comes as Illinois legislators consider new legislation requiring hospitals to submit plans if they plan to close or cut services, following similar shutdowns at West Suburban and Weiss Memorial. The proposed law aims to give state officials a clearer picture of hospitals on the brink before they shut their doors.
Sources:
- https://abc7chicago.com/post/departments-probing-finances-west-suburban-hospital-oak-park-illinois-abrupt-closure-state-rep-lashawn-ford-says/18881569/
- https://oakpark.com/2026/04/13/eviction-notice-posted-at-west-suburbans-river-forest-campus
- https://www.chicagobusiness.com/health-care/ccb-illinois-bill-hospital-closure-04132026/