Weiss Hospital Shuts Most Operations After Funding Loss

Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood officially closed its emergency room and most operations Friday morning, following the loss of Medicare and Medicaid funding due to compliance failures in nursing, physical environment, and emergency services. Only a limited number of outpatient clinics and ambulatory services remain open, while patients are being redirected to nearby hospitals such as Thorek Memorial. The closure follows months of regulatory warnings and a major air conditioning failure in June. Staff and community members have expressed distress over job losses and the impact on vulnerable populations dependent on the safety-net hospital. Local officials and activists, including Illinois Rep. Hoan Huynh and Sen. Dick Durbin, have called for an extension of federal funding and highlighted concerns about broader disinvestment in community hospitals. Weiss Memorial, established in 1952, served thousands of North Side residents, and its shutdown marks a critical loss of healthcare access in the area.