Is Closing Oak Forest Hospital of Cook County a Good Idea?

There have been some very strong emotions towards .

The majority of patients at Oak Forest Hospital, owned by Cook County, are uninsured. I don't agree with Cook County wanting to dump the hospital and force these patients to wander into hospitals such as , Ingalls (Harvey), South Suburban Hospital (Hazel Crest) just to name few.

The medical clinics throughout the Cook County suburbs, in Robbins and Ford Heights for example, are not able to handle many services needed for patients with emergencies. In today's economy and high rate of unemployment, it's not fair to add more strain on local community hospitals, who can barely keep their doors open with uninsured patients.

Oak Forest Hospital sits on a beautiful 340 acre campus in the southwest corner of Cook County on 15900 S. Cicero in Oak Forest. With so much property and scenery owned by Cook County Government also sits many empty buildings which could be rehabbed and used for added services from several agencies in the State and County. Agencies which can pay "rent" to Cook County.

Many would hear the term "uninsured patients" and label them as individuals who do not want to work or "lay up" on the system. I remember speaking with a man who was a iron worker and could not find work, which means he could not afford health insurance. The same is true for many other citizens who have become unemployed due to this economy. Many senior citizens from the southland are concerned they will have to find ways to get to Stroger Hospital in Chicago.

Cook County Hospital of Oak Forest does not need to be converted into any outpatient clinic, or the emergency room converted into a intermediate care center. It's interesting to see individuals, who want to see the hospital close due to budget deficits, are the same folks who are going to be collecting double pensions. Not to mention they ran on the promise of providing services to the poor and seniors.

A few seniors I have spoken to about the medical clinics and the closing of Oak Forest Hospital explained they have trouble now getting to the clinics and commuting to Oak Forest Hospital, which is a task on its on. Many of these seniors have contributed to the Cook County tax base for years, only to be pushed aside. One asked if Cook County will provide transportation or put the burden on the Townships.

It's time Cook County officials quit having tunnel vision and look at the big picture instead of always wanting to cut services while they keep their perks. Government services are for the people, not for getting rich and awarding contracts to friends.

Abraham Lincoln said, "The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves -- in their separate, and individual capacities."