CHICAGO — In the midst of a dangerous summer heat wave, Uptown’s Weiss Memorial Hospital has suffered a catastrophic air conditioning failure, forcing the relocation of all 45 in-patients and a halt to incoming cases and surgeries, according to hospital leadership.
The aging HVAC system at 4646 N. Marine Drive failed Monday, leaving major areas of the hospital—including its intensive care unit, patient floors, and medical offices—without cooling. CEO Dr. Manoj Prasad called it a “catastrophic loss” during a press conference Wednesday and said repairs could take weeks, just as Chicago faces soaring temperatures above 90 degrees.
Patients Moved, Emergency Operations Redirected
Weiss, which primarily treats geriatric and heat-sensitive patients, has been forced to transfer all inpatients to other Chicago-area hospitals. More than 20 patients were taken to West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park, which is also owned by Resilience Healthcare, Prasad’s firm.
The remaining patients were moved across a network of facilities to relieve pressure on West Suburban, which expanded its available beds to handle the influx. Prasad confirmed that emergency room patients are now being redirected to West Suburban by ambulance crews stationed on standby at Weiss.
Stopgap Measures Failed to Contain Heat
Despite attempts to use fans, portable AC units, and coolers, Weiss staff were unable to mitigate extreme indoor heat levels. Weiss Executive Director of Nursing Andrea Saviozzi reported internal temperatures peaking at 92°F, making conditions untenable for both patients and staff.
“This is a 73-year-old building,” Prasad said. “We inherited a failing system that’s anything but operable. Unfortunately, many HVAC upgrades were kicked down the road by previous owners.”
Estimated $250K in Repairs — But Higher Long-Term Losses
Prasad estimated $250,000 in immediate repair costs for the air conditioning unit and boiler system. However, he noted the true financial toll will be significantly greater, citing lost surgeries, revenue, and trust from displaced patients.
“We’ve lost patients, we’ve lost revenue, and we can’t even fully calculate the long-term impact yet,” he said. “But we’ve never been driven by profit—we’re here to serve our community.”
Past Scrutiny Over Facility Management
Weiss Memorial and West Suburban were acquired by Resilience Healthcare for $92 million after Pipeline Health filed for bankruptcy in 2022. While Prasad claims the hospitals are now operating near break-even, both facilities have drawn scrutiny.
In Oak Park, some residents previously criticized Prasad’s leadership at West Suburban, citing deteriorating safety conditions. A watchdog document titled “The People Vs. Manoj Prasad” singled out HVAC issues as a major concern. Ironically, West Suburban had just received a full AC system overhaul in the last year, unlike Weiss.
Hospital Officials Promise Improvements
Despite the setback, Prasad said he hopes Weiss can be upgraded to meet the same standard as its sister facility. Repairs are already underway but could take several weeks as parts are shipped and systems are rebuilt.
“We want Weiss to emerge stronger from this,” Prasad said. “This crisis has shown us where we must invest and improve immediately.”
Have You or a Family Member Been Treated at Weiss?
We want to hear from you. Share your experience during the hospital’s AC outage or let us know how this incident affects your trust in local healthcare systems. Drop a comment on ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com today.
