During a recent government meeting, a second-year resident from the West Suburban Family Medicine Program raised urgent concerns regarding the deteriorating conditions at West Suburban Medical Center. The resident highlighted critical issues affecting patient safety and hospital integrity, particularly under the new ownership of Resilience Healthcare, led by CEO Manoj Prasad.

The resident described West Suburban as a safety net community hospital facing significant challenges, including financial struggles and a concerning decline in safety ratings. The hospital received a D grade from Leap Frog, a drop from a C in 2023 and a B previously. The resident criticized Prasad for downplaying the importance of these ratings, attributing the decline to a lack of updated data submission.

Despite numerous meetings with hospital administration and the formation of a resident union in 2023, efforts to address these issues have reportedly been met with resistance. The resident recounted instances of retaliation, including the removal of water dispensers from the resident workroom and exclusion from patient safety committee meetings.

Key patient safety concerns were outlined, including a lack of translation services, insufficient medical supplies such as epidural anesthesia kits, delays in dialysis services due to financial decisions, and a significant reduction in available gynecological consultations. The resident also noted that during Labor Day weekend, the hospital redirected all heart attack patients to other facilities due to inadequate cardiology staffing.

The resident urged the village of Oak Park to recognize the severity of the situation and collaborate on solutions to restore the hospital's safety and integrity for the community's benefit. The call to action underscores the pressing need for improvements in hospital operations and patient care standards.