Neighbors in 2 communities are hoping to see their safety net hospitals reopens now that they're under new ownership insight.

Health systems reached a deal last week to purchase both Weiss Memorial Hospital in Uptown and west Suburban medical center in Oak Park.

After both of them were shuttered following years of reported mismanagement and poor structural conditions.

Joining us now are Reverend Henry Barlow, a board member of InSight Health System, Marc Kaplan, leadership team, member of Northside Action for Justice.

And Reverend Robin Hood of Redeemed Outreach Ministries.

Welcome back.

Welcome to both of you.

Thanks for joining us.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mark happened.

What was your reaction when you learned that insight would be acquiring Weiss in west suburban?

>> We were very happy.

Railways actually has been going on for.

5 years now says putting 21 win.

We heard that the hospital was so in the parking luxury and at that time we said to state this happens, it's going to be beginning of the closure of the hospital because you don't so resources.

So.

We've been involved in the fight since including in August of 2025.

With the hospital waste shut down and we're happy.

This is a huge step forward.

Of course, we have a long way to go.

But 2 huge step forward and really is communities work so hard to reopen.

a push to reopen the first to say that in open.

We worked together your side West side and sell What would you What would you like to see from insight in terms of partnership and transparency with the community?

>> We believe that lessons of these hospitals right?

All right.

That unless the community is brought as a full partner.

And the patients and the community members and the staff.

members in decision-making.

That.

We're we believe that it's a good chance of something like this will happen again.

Now we know in sight right?

Because we also will pose Save Mercy Hospital coalition.

And we know that inside step We've had good reports from our allies on the South side about insights practice.

I think we really need to see that we all have to come together around this really a bigger battle in terms of the funding of safety net hospitals about how the state pays for it.

And we know that with the cuts in Medicare and Medicaid, which, you know, 80 90% of the patients in these hospitals.

That's hello from they pay and we'll have some serious issues.

But and looking forward to partnership hopefully we'll get to some of state interest as well.

Reverend Barlow.

>> We don't yet know when the hospitals, of course, will be operational again.

What are some of the biggest obstacles that the system needs to complete before reopening?

>> The biggest school right now is CMS has taken a license from.

A wise memorial.

And on September 3rd, Septimo talk about Medicaid, Medicare Medicaid.

Medicare.

And on September 30 of a license will be snatched from with so.

And one of the things we're trying to do is appealed goals to give insight in extension and not so much with Lions.

And by the previous owner.

And unfortunately, we ran up against brick wall.

There.

And that's a that's a long process make the appeal.

And the try get those license and back.

That's probably about biggest is probably a yearlong process to tell you truth.

And then there's the physical buildings themselves, the physical hospitals and facilities themselves, which >> both are terrible shape.

>> 2 and B, a I was building the other day and I got information on on a wise.

I know that one is deteriorating and we will go next week to do of that building as well.

But West 70's, a lot of a lot of equipment that is not working.

I mean, the simple things like the the nurse is a cold system.

That whole system is out and these be replaced.

We're talking about somewhere around $975,000.

Just to replace the system overall system alone.

We know about the boiler systems.

And and so many of the things that that needed there is is very talented.

Certainly we've been trying to make appeals to the state of Illinois as It seems to be an indictment against safety net hospitals throughout the country.

>> Well, so let's get to that.

Robin I know you met with House Speaker and then Chris Welch on Tuesday of this week, did you?

But what what did you discuss regarding the future Weiss and west Suburban?

So I've discussed, >> Pink elephant.

It will a mess that license need to be taken care first and idea.

Talked to him about I for a west Suburban about the need for boiled arose and other things that are written by Louisville, of talked about.

And gave him a good idea.

What could happen if those things was in place at the hospital be running back January, not fully, but the just goals.

This stuff would be gone.

But the state will have to put some resources in the right away to give you any indication that the state >> would take on some responsibility like that would put in some resources.

didn't show his hand, but I believe that he wants the hospital This doesn't happen.

Hospital closes Derek Holes and this is the first time in this state that hospital was bout.

Beisel.

And that's why it was important talk to the speaker.

When I had the opportunity to talk total.

You know, so the first thing to be done I had a FE is to restate the license to its site.

Let's get that part out the way.

And forgivable stuff that the previous all that's left on the table, money.

to the state, those things were in place.

Westerberg possibly do it, be doing emergency lower January.

>> Or Kaplan, remind us of some of the factors that contributed to these 2 hospitals being closed.

I think.

We have to start with the original note to his pipeline.

And Pope London basically a hedge sure the investment.

as much as it could add to the hospitals without putting things back, which means that, you know, it's just like what happened with public >> You can have 20 or 30 years of deferred.

>> Maintenance and then expect facility, especially the hospital, right?

That has such a value for technology.

To work.

So.

Brian pulled out everything could and then it.

you know, it's old first the parking lot to a private developer build luxury housing before get that.

And then.

they sold to resilience.

at that time.

The community definitely would before.

It would pose public health.

The plenty a Chicago play, as we said, like.

doesn't make any sense.

>> when you're safely years ownership, lack investment but then to put in the hands of resilience, which the company based in Michigan.

By a doctor who nobody could find your credentials that they actually a doctor.

And then we come out with the where resilience owes the state of Illinois 100 million dollars to help you with a situation like that.

Go if any of even on that much money was they would come after us ride.

So this is all partially of creation of the states do it.

Then we are calling on the state and fix a problem, right?

That's where we'll have to leave it.