State regulators have denied Endeavor Health’s proposal to discontinue inpatient psychiatric services at Northwest Community Hospital (NCH) in Arlington Heights. The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board reached a 4-4 stalemate on the application, effectively blocking the planned closure of the 52-bed NCH Behavioral Health Center.
Endeavor Health had scheduled the shutdown for April 11, citing a sustained decrease in demand for inpatient behavioral health services and a shift towards outpatient and telehealth care. The closure was expected to result in approximately 100 job losses.
Mental health advocates in the northwest suburbs have opposed the proposed cuts, expressing concerns about reduced access to essential psychiatric care. They argue that the closure could lead to longer wait times and increased travel distances for patients in need of inpatient services.
Following the board’s decision, the future of the inpatient psychiatric unit at NCH remains uncertain. Endeavor Health has not yet announced its next steps or whether it plans to appeal the ruling.
