Chicago - A state health planning board has voted to approve Cook County's planned closure of Oak Forest Hospital.

The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board voted 7-1 Tuesday for the proposal with one board member voting present.



All three new board members appointed recently by Gov. Pat Quinn voted for the county's plan.

The vote included a condition requesting county officials to return in one year to update the board on the implementation of their plan to convert the hospital to a regional outpatient center.

And to tell the board whether they're having any difficulty with getting other local hospitals to take former Oak Forest patients.

The county now plans to close the hospital by Sept. 1.

In May, the board denied the county's first request to close the hospital.

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/me ... e-20110816