Chicago hospital puts itself up for sale

The impact of the worsening credit crisis is spreading to the Chicago-area hospital scene, as Lincoln Park Hospital is now up for sale. The decision is due partly because the difficulties of getting financing are making it difficult to run the facility, sources say. The facility serves many patients insured by the state Medicaid health insurance program for the poor, and hospitals have complained that Illinois is slow to pay such claims. Also, the hospital faced pressure to keep facilities up to date with the latest in amenities and medical technology to avoid losing patients to rivals.