Tabernacle Community Hospital and Health Center facts for kids

Tabernacle Community Hospital and Health Center was a hospital in Chicago, Illinois. It was located at 5421 S. Morgan Avenue. The hospital had 175 beds and served the African-American community in the city.

Dr. Louis Rawls, who was also a pastor, started and ran the hospital. His church, Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, bought an old hospital building in 1972. This building was first built in 1915 and was once called Evangelical Hospital. The church hoped to build a new hospital, but they could not get enough money for it. The hospital operated from 1972 to 1977.

Why the Hospital Closed

In 1977, the Chicago Board of Health stopped the hospital from taking in new patients. Soon after, they also stopped it from performing surgeries. This happened because of several problems.

Building Issues

The hospital building itself was old and not in good shape. It was considered below the proper standards for a medical facility. The building had been getting worse since the church bought it.

Fires and Records

There were also a series of fires at the hospital. These fires damaged or destroyed many important hospital papers. These papers included records about patients and how the hospital was run. In one week, there were seven fires at the hospital. It seemed like the fires might have been set on purpose to destroy these records.

Financial Problems

The hospital also faced financial difficulties. There were problems with how the hospital's money was managed. Because of these issues, the hospital's license was taken away. It officially closed on September 23, 1977.