Elmhurst Memorial Hospital will close its 19-bed inpatient behavioral health unit and 38-bed Transitional Care Center, located at the old hospital campus at 200 Berteau Avenue, in February, Crains Chicago Business is reporting.

The closings were announced last fall.

Elmhurst Patch reported in October that Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare planned to close the units as part of its efforts to convert the property into a full-service senior care center.

"EMHC’s programs and services that are currently located on the campus will either move or close in order to facilitate the redevelopment of the site over the next 24 months," the hospital announced in October.

The hospital is searching for a partner to operate the senior facility, which will offer a full continuum of care, from health services to independent housing to long-term care and assisted living.

Crain's is reporting the hospital will "suspend the two inpatient programs on Feb. 28 until the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board grants a permit to close them."

Merger talks, also announced in October, are ongoing between EMHC and Northwestern Memorial Healthcare. The merger would provide patients more access to clinical trials and provide a financial boost to the debt-heavy hospital, officials said. The 866,000-square-foot hospital on Brush Hill Road, which opened in June, has resulted in a debt burden of more than a half-billion dollars.

Still, Fitch gave the hospital an A- "stable" rating last year.