OAK PARK, Ill. (WLS) — About 500 furloughed employees of West Suburban Medical Center have received notices that they will not be returning to their jobs, marking the latest development in the uncertain future of the hospital as its owners continue negotiating a settlement over its future.

ABC7 obtained multiple copies of a letter sent to employees stating there would be “a mass layoff at West Suburban Medical Center” beginning Aug. 31 and that “this mass layoff is expected to be permanent.”

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West Suburban Medical Center CEO Manoj Prasad told ABC7 the notices were required under the Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN Act, which limits furloughs to six months and requires advance notification before a permanent separation.

Prasad said the hospital’s plans to reopen have not changed, but there is still no firm reopening date.

Sylvia Williams, a former head of nursing at West Suburban Medical Center, said staff knew layoffs were a possibility but hoped they would not become necessary.

SEE ALSO | Exit strategy? Settlement negotiations underway over future of Oak Park safety-net hospital

The notices come amid an ongoing court battle between West Suburban Medical Center owners Prasad and landowner Rathnaker Patlola. The two sued each other in the weeks following the hospital’s closure in March.

ABC7’s I-Team was in court Tuesday for a hearing on progress toward a settlement agreement involving the hospital. During the hearing, attorneys representing Resilience Healthcare did not mention layoffs.

Sources close to the settlement discussions told the I-Team the notices are “a big deal” and that Prasad “had not consulted with anyone” about plans to permanently lay off the remaining furloughed employees.

One source also told the I-Team that the judge was surprised by the news and “upset” it was not disclosed.

Patlola issued a statement saying, in part, that he was “surprised and disappointed” and that employees “deserved far better.”

Settlement negotiations over the future of West Suburban hospital remain ongoing.

INDIANAPOLIS — The most intense part of this week’s heat wave has arrived. An Extreme Heat Warning remains in effect across central Indiana through Thursday evening as heat index values climb between 105 and 110 degrees. Although the heat dominates the story now, a shift toward an active, stormy pattern is on the horizon just in time for the holiday weekend.

Today and Thursday: Peak Heat Danger

A massive high-pressure ridge is positioned over the Midwest. This will block storm development today and Thursday but trap intense heat and moisture near the surface.

Expect mostly sunny skies with highs in the low to mid-90s. Dew points in the upper 70s will push the heat index to as high as 110 degrees in spots this afternoon. Thursday’s conditions will be similar, with a few more clouds possible late as the ridge begins to break down.

Friday and Holiday Weekend: Return of Storms

As the heat ridge flattens Friday, multiple waves of energy will approach from the northwest, ushering in daily chances for scattered showers and thunderstorms through the Fourth of July.

The abundant moisture in the air means any storm could bring heavy rain and locally intense wind gusts known as microbursts. While a full washout is unlikely, have an indoor backup plan for outdoor activities and monitor the Storm Track 8 Weather app for lightning updates.

Looking Ahead: Relief Early Next Week

A weak cold front is forecast to push through Indiana Monday or Tuesday. This will drop temperatures to the mid-80s and deliver much-needed relief from the persistent heat and humidity endured this week.

7-Day Outlook:

Posted By: Siena Research Institute
July 1, 2026