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Dear Cook County Health friends and partners,
This month, Cook County Health marked an important milestone in our continuous journey to improve health equity in Cook County as we launched our robotic-assisted surgery program at Stroger Hospital.
We have built two robotic surgery suites outfitted with the latest technology, representing a commitment of more than $11 million over 7 years. These surgical robots are not only an investment in our system, but more importantly, an investment in our patients and the communities we serve.
With the addition of robotic surgery capabilities, we are advancing our mission to provide high-quality and equitable care to all. Robotic-assisted surgery allows surgeons to make smaller incisions and more precise movements during procedures which results in less pain, reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery times for patients.
This video highlights the additional benefits of robotic-assisted surgery. More information about the program can also be found on our website.
Cook County Health continues to explore opportunities to advance care for our patients and to ensure that they have access to the latest advancements in medical technology.
I am thankful to you, our community partners, for your continued support of the work we do.
Sincerely,
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Dr. Erik Mikaitis
Interim CEO, Cook County Health
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Cook County Health's Podcast, Total Health Talks, is Live | |
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Cook County Health’s Podcast, Total Health Talks, is now live! Listen and explore a wide range of topics, from innovative medical treatments to community health initiatives, and everything in between.
Whether you’re interested in medical breakthroughs or practical tips for well-being, our CCH podcast is your go-to source for informative and engaging content.
Visit https://cookcountyhealth.org/podcast or wherever you get your podcasts and activate your journey to better health.
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Watch Now: A Virtual Discussion on Black Maternal Health | |
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In recognition of Black Maternal Health Week, Cook County Health held a virtual panel to discuss the issues women face during and after pregnancy. The panel was broadcast on all of our social media channels.
The goal was to engage with patients and prospective patients and have an honest conversation about pregnancy. More than 7,000 people were reached through Facebook alone.
To check out the discussion, visit here.
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Dr. Chantal Tinfang Named Cook County Health Doctor of the Year | |
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Cook County Health recently recognized Dr. Chantal Tinfang as the health system’s Doctor of the Year.
Dr. Tinfang is a family medicine physician at Provident Hospital’s Sengstacke Health Center, located in Chicago’s Southside. The center is one of Cook County Health’s busiest.
“Dr. Tinfang exemplifies the Cook County Health mission,” said Dr. Claudia Fegan, Cook County Health’s Chief Medical Officer. “She had dedicated her career to helping her patients get and stay healthy, developing long-lasting, impactful relationships along the way.”
Dr. Tinfang grew up in Cameroon. After graduating high school in 1990, she was awarded a scholarship to study medicine in Germany.
“I always wanted to help people and make them feel better,” Dr. Tinfang said. “I grew up in an environment where the healthcare system was underdeveloped. That experience inspired me to try and make a difference.”
After finishing medical school, Dr. Tinfang chose to become a family medicine physician after seeing she could impact the health and lives of people of all ages, especially in underserved communities. She joined Cook County Health in 2009.
“The best part of being a doctor is making people feel better, but I also love getting to teach people about disease prevention,” she said.
She added that her passion is driven by the bonds she builds with her patients over the course of their lives and the enjoyment she receives in keeping them healthy and well.
Dr. Tinfang’s work in preventive care includes federally supported projects focused on blood pressure management, including an ongoing project sponsored by the American College of Preventive Medicine in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Patients were provided with blood pressure monitors, received instruction on self-measuring blood pressure techniques, and education on how to improve their blood pressure through lifestyle modification and adherence to medical management.
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Cook County Health Celebrates the Launch of New Robotic Surgery Program | |
2024 Provident Scholarship Fund Application Period Closes May 10 | |
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The application period for the 2024 Provident Scholarship Fund is now open! The scholarship program supports students pursuing health care careers who are from, and committed to caring for, underserved communities. Applications can be submitted through Friday, May 10, 2024.
Cook County government and Cook County Health have allocated $1 million to fund up to 60 scholarships this year. The scholarship program is administered by the Cook County Health Foundation.
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The Provident Scholarship Fund offers $20,000 scholarships to health professional students, including those in medical, dental, physician assistant and nurse practitioner programs and $10,000 scholarships to undergraduate and allied health students, including those nursing, surgical and radiology technology, respiratory therapy, and paramedic programs.
More information about the Provident Scholarship Fund, including criteria and application information can be found at http://cookcountyhealth.org/about/careers/provident-scholarship-fund.
The scholarship program is named after Cook County Health’s Provident Hospital. Provident Hospital was founded in 1891 by Dr. Daniel Hale Williams. It was the first hospital in the U.S. that was owned and operated by African Americans, and proudly served patients of all races.
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Cook County Health’s Correctional Health Program at Cook County Jail Accredited for Quality Health Care Services | |
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Cook County Health’s (CCH) Cermak Health Services has earned accreditation from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) for demonstrating full compliance with NCCHC’s nationally recognized standards of care for correctional health services in jails.
Cermak Health Services was recognized for its ongoing commitment to providing quality health services for the patients at Cook County Jail. NCCHC accreditation is a voluntary process. CCH’s correctional health program was last accredited by NCCHC in 2009.
“I am proud of the Cermak staff for once again achieving accreditation from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care. This recognition not only highlights Cook County Health’s commitment to high-quality care standards but also underscores our dedication to enhancing the lives of those within our correctional system,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “Providing exceptional health care services in correctional health facilities is a critical component of public health in Cook County. This accreditation reaffirms our mission to offer equitable, comprehensive care to all, regardless of their circumstances.”
“Accreditation from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care is reflective of what Cook County Health stands for – which is that every individual has the right to receive quality, compassionate health care,” said Dr. Erik Mikaitis, Interim CEO of Cook County Health. “I am grateful to the NCCHC for this recognition. It is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our entire correctional health team who provide exemplary care to patients in a complex environment each and every day.”
The largest single-site correctional health service in the country, Cermak Health Services has led the way in developing innovative care models to improve correctional health care, offering patients comprehensive primary care, specialty care, dental care, mental health services, rehabilitative care, a pharmacy, and an infirmary.
Cermak Health Services operates the only Certified Opioid Treatment Program in a correctional facility in the State of Illinois, which was re-certified in 2023. Cermak Health Services was also nominated as a Substance Use/Misuse Center of Excellence Program by NCCHC.
Click here for more information.
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We Need Your Input! Take the Behavioral Health Needs Assessment | |
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As part of the Cook County Health Office of Behavioral Health's ongoing efforts to identify strategic priorities related to mental health and substance use services, programming, and engagement, we are conducting a formal Behavioral Health Needs Assessment throughout Cook County.
To support this work, we are asking all Cook County Health partners to please consider completing the below survey and passing it along to colleagues, family members, patients, etc. who currently live in Cook County or receive/provide mental health or substance use services in Cook County. You do not need to be living with a mental health or substance use diagnosis to participate.
The survey is confidential, available in English and Spanish, and takes less than 10 minutes to complete. The deadline is May 17.
Survey Link: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7709237/Summit-Survey.
We thank you in advance for your support in this effort and look forward to summarizing the survey data to share with our Cook County Health partners in Summer 2024.
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Cook County Health in the News | |
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If you would like to invite a representative from CCH to attend a community event, please send an email to events@cookcountyhhs.org.
To provide feedback on CCH Community News, please email Marcelino Garcia, Director of Community Affairs, at mgarcia6@cookcountyhhs.org.
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