Owners of Illinois hospital vow to try to avert closing

SSM Healthcare, the owners of St. Francis Hospital in Blue Island, IL, said that they will work with local leaders on a last-minute attempt to keep the facility open. The system would sell the hospital to another firm if financing works out, but plans to close the 410-bed hospital are still in the works, said SSM officials. The officials offered no specifics on what they would attempt to keep the hospital open.