Weiss Memorial Hospital Shuts Down, Leaving Uptown Without Key Care
The air conditioning at Weiss Memorial Hospital, 4646 N. Marine Dr., failed last month. Twenty-two patients had to be moved to a partner hospital in Oak Park. Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times file
Chicago’s Weiss Memorial Hospital, a long-standing fixture in the Uptown neighborhood since the early 1950s, is facing a major shutdown. As of August 2025, Medicare payments have been revoked due to safety violations and unresolved infrastructure issues—delivering a potentially crippling blow to the hospital and the community it serves.
Origins and Ownership
Originally opened in 1953, Weiss Memorial Hospital is a 236-bed teaching hospital with a long track record of serving Chicago’s North Side and offering specialties like orthopedics and oncology. Over the years, ownership passed through Tenet, Pipeline Health, and most recently fell under the management of Resilience Healthcare in 2022—led by Dr. Manoj Prasad.
What Went Wrong
Failing Infrastructure
In June 2025, several of the hospital’s air conditioning units failed, sending temperatures soaring into the 90s and prompting evacuation of the inpatient units. Only the ER and outpatient clinics remained minimally operational.
Unsafe Emergency Care
State inspectors discovered that the hospital had set up a makeshift ER in an office building—reportedly lacking critical supplies like medications, oxygen, and monitoring devices. The ER was also reported to be dangerously understaffed.
Regulatory Non-Compliance
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) terminated Weiss's Medicare agreement effective August 9, 2025. CMS cited the hospital’s non-compliance in key areas: nursing services, emergency services, and physical environment.
CMS confirmed that Weiss may no longer bill Medicare for inpatient services for admissions on or after that date, though some payments may continue for treatments that began earlier.
The Fallout: Costs and Consequences
Medicare and Medicaid comprised between 56%–84% of Weiss’s total revenue in 2023, according to state public health records and reporting. Losing that funding likely spells closure, especially as private insurers may follow suit amid concerns over quality of care.
What’s Next for Patients and Staff
On August 8, 2025, Weiss Memorial’s ER officially closed its doors after CMS and state actions cut off Medicare and Medicaid access. Staff reported confusion, concern for patient access, and frustration over limited notice.
Nearby hospitals—such as Ascension St. Joseph's and Swedish Hospital—have already started experiencing increased patient loads and ER visits as former Weiss patients seek alternatives.
Broader Implications
Loss of Weiss affects healthcare access for vulnerable populations, particularly those reliant on Medicaid or without private insurance, including seniors and low-income families. Uptown Chicago could now face a dangerous healthcare void amid rising demand and no immediate replacement.
How to Stay Safe and Informed
Request medical records early—if you were a patient at Weiss, contact your provider to obtain copies.
Check alternate care options—local clinics, federally qualified health centers, and nearby hospitals may offer walk-in, urgent, or free services.
Seek updates through IDPH or CMS to understand whether the closure might be reversed or mitigated through appeals.
Reach out to community advocates and your state representatives to explore future healthcare strategies for Uptown.
Bottom Line
Weiss Memorial Hospital’s shutdown is the result of prolonged infrastructure failures, regulatory non-compliance, and critical resource gaps. The closure leaves a sizable hole in Uptown’s healthcare safety net—and signals serious implications for patient access, staff displacement, and regional care continuity.
