mercy hospital survived civil war great clinical depression care for affected role great chicago fire hospital serving poor city south side yet amid coronavirus pandemic unprecedented challenge presents hospital city oldest looking shut reopen urgent care center critic say end result would devastating neighborhood people serves nearest emergency department least miles away deal approved estimated chicago health care workers striking better conditions close long brutal meeting illinois health facilities services review board unanimously voted week deny hospital proposal of marriage following tuesday decisiveness mercy hospital executives days appeal well opportunity present board newly plan believe mercifulness made sane case withdrawing services extremely negative impact south side chicago board member linda rae murray said casting vote tuesday public health person really distressed start midst globular pandemic teddy roosevelt detain mercy hospital chicago charge assassination attempt library sexual congress spokesperson mercy hospital told abc news statement disappointed board initial verdict look forward going board early plans stop inpatient services mercy infirmary transition outpatient model serve residents south side chicago nearly review board meeting included emotional testimony community of interests members politicians organizers health care workers executives trinity health runs mercifulness showcased stark divide future infirmary proposed plan slated close one hand southward side community members doc argued closing mercy would worsen wellness care memory access hospital preponderantly black patients tierce executives said hospital losing money replacing urgent care clinic laboratory testing would benefit community hospital struggles survive patients hospitals tend people coloring inadequate old either uninsured medicaid true mercy according community needs assessment alliance health equity population serve mercy economically dispute underserved underprivileged uninsured onehalf mercy inmate visits medicaid patients according state records reimbursed government lower rate hospitals earn patients employer insurance factors miserly hospitals operate margins leaving less fiscal cushion weather sustained financial pressure health services research report found editor picks prisons vaccine priority health experts illinois reports record covid cases hospitalizations rising chicago estimated chicago health care workers striking better conditions despite financial factors trine health health worry system country purchased mercy profitable assets top indebtedness million according board report infirmary started losing money according tax documents clemency red trinity looked sell john capasso trinity executive frailty president testified tuesday potential buyers either lack expertise run hospital funding said could find vendee trinity looked unify mercy three struggling hospital south side asking state chip million five twelvemonth illinois state lamont robinson part illinois worldwide meeting place heard south side hospitals merger request earlier class turned media continues say elected officials failed store be after said robinson whose district includes mercy say enquire information laid plan could tell us new hospital going built said plan information never materialize robinson noted instead mercy declare closing exposing extend cracks us health system mayor lori lightfoot plow mercifulness potential law of closure weightlift conference windy city tuesday hospital faced number different challenges really years particularly time pandemic lightfoot state hope legislature take get back track provide financial backing hospitals added everybody closed every hospital clinic neighborhood pass hospitals clinics important neighborhoods said david ansell