# West Suburban, Weiss sold to Insight Health Systems > Two Chicago safety-net hospitals end months of legal turmoil with a deal that puts them under new ownership, but faces steep challenges ahead. - Title: West Suburban, Weiss sold to Insight Health Systems | Shortify - Summary: Two Chicago safety-net hospitals end months of legal turmoil with a deal that puts them under new ownership, but faces steep challenges ahead. West Suburban… - Keywords: west suburban medical center, weiss memorial hospital, insight health systems, manoj prasad, rathnakar reddy patlola, chicago hospitals, safety-net hospitals, hospital closure, hospital sale, cook county circuit court, chicago healthcare, news - Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/health/2026/09/17/west-suburban-weiss-sold-insight-health-systems - Published: 2026-09-17T19:39:00+00:00 - Read time: 3 min - Topics: west suburban medical center, weiss memorial hospital, insight health systems, manoj prasad, rathnakar reddy patlola, chicago hospitals, safety-net hospitals, hospital closure, hospital sale, cook county circuit court, chicago healthcare, news ## Two Chicago hospitals sold to Insight West Suburban Medical Center and Weiss Memorial Hospital will be sold to Insight Health Systems, ending months of legal fighting between the hospitals' owners. ## How the deal came together The hospitals' landlord, Rathnakar Reddy Patlola, agreed to buy CEO Manoj Prasad's stake. Insight will then purchase the hospitals from Patlola. ## Late-night court settlement A Cook County judge put a receiver in charge after months of disputes. Lawyers and the judge then negotiated behind closed doors Tuesday and Wednesday, announcing the deal around 10:30 p.m. ## Advocates waited 11 hours for news Community advocates waited in the courthouse from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday night, with lights turned off at one point, before learning the settlement details. > It was so disturbing that [Stanton] said that this is a private matter, so that's why they've been in chambers so long. But it's a public issue. ## The legal battle's root cause The fight started when Prasad shut down West Suburban in March. Patlola then sued for control of both West Suburban and Weiss, which closed in August 2025. ## Prasad loses control, takes consulting role Under the settlement, Prasad must step down as CEO and take a temporary consulting position. He did not immediately respond to requests for comment. ## Insight faces major obstacles Insight must restore licenses, rebuild systems and staffing, meet regulatory requirements, and rebuild patient and provider trust. The company called it a long, phased process. > There are real hurdles ahead, restoring licenses and certifications, rebuilding systems and staffing, meeting regulatory requirements, and earning back the confidence of patients and providers, and none of that happens overnight. ## West Suburban could reopen in four months An Insight board member estimated West Suburban could reopen in at least four months. Weiss will take significantly longer, though no timeline was given. > This was the easy part. The hard part is about to start. ## Doctors skeptical of Insight's track record An infectious disease doctor who worked at West Suburban for 15 years said he doesn't trust Insight, citing repeated ownership changes and what he calls asset stripping from the community. > We've been through so many owners. It's just we have fatigue. ## Insight bought Mercy Hospital for one dollar Insight runs Insight Hospital and Medical Center, formerly Mercy Hospital in Bronzeville, which it purchased for one dollar in 2021 to prevent closure. ## Insight Hospital losing millions annually Insight Hospital has lost money consistently since buying Mercy. In 2024, it lost nearly 30 million dollars, raising questions about how Insight can afford two more hospitals. ## State provided 50 million in advances The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services gave Insight about 50 million dollars in advances to keep Insight Hospital open. The department said it has no plans for additional support. ## Safety-net hospitals serve low-income communities West Suburban, Weiss, and Insight are all safety-net hospitals that serve low-income and immigrant communities. They typically struggle financially but are vital to their neighborhoods. ## Former employee celebrates Prasad's exit A woman who worked in West Suburban's medical records department for 32 years until being laid off in May said she was thankful Prasad was out and prayed for transparency. > I'm praying for a change. I'm praying for transparency. ## Advocates call it a small victory Community advocates who waited hours in court celebrated the settlement as a small victory, though they remain cautious about what comes next for the hospitals. > When you fighting a good fight to help save people's lives, you just keep fighting it. ## Key takeaway West Suburban and Weiss hospitals will be sold to Insight Health Systems after a late-night court settlement, ending a bitter legal fight, though reopening them will take months and face significant hurdles.