The spike in ambulances, and its effects on U. of I. Hospital’s ER, shouldn’t surprise anyone, say community advocates and leaders. It’s exactly the type of thing that happens when community hospitals, such as Mercy, close their doors or scale back services — an increasingly common occurrence in Illinois, especially in brown and Black communities, said Deborah Harris, former executive director of Action Now Institute, which works to empower Black families on the city’s West and South sides.
