Dear Cook County Health friends and partners,

December has been a moving and humbling month for me as I began my role as Interim CEO. I joined Cook County Health as Chief Quality Officer more than one year ago. It was CCH’s mission to care for all that drew me in, and I continue to be awed by the profound impact our team’s work has on the lives of Cook County residents.

From quality and patient experience, to hiring and financial resiliency, Cook County Health has made so much progress in recent years. I am grateful to Israel Rocha for his leadership and for setting us on a path towards a sustainable future. Our organizational mission, vision, values, and three-year strategic plan will remain our guiding lights and I look forward to continuing to lead CCH towards advancement and innovation.

It is truly an honor to serve as CCH’s Interim CEO and I am proud of the integral role the health system has in ensuring accessible and equitable health care across the county. CCH has a historic legacy and an essential mission; both of which I am committed to upholding.

Our collective focus on service and giving back to others feels particularly poignant during the holiday season. It is a privilege to collaborate with you, our partners, to achieve our shared goals and advance the health of the communities we serve. Thank you for your partnership.

On behalf of Cook County Health, I wish you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday season and a happy and healthy New Year!

Dr. Erik Mikaitis

Interim CEO, Cook County Health

Cook County Health’s John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital has been named one of America’s 2024 Best Hospitals for Cancer Care by the Women’s Choice Award^®. The award signifies that Stroger Hospital is in the Top 10% of 4,728 U.S. hospitals offering cancer care services.

“It is an honor to be recognized for our outstanding cancer care program,” said Dr. Erik Mikaitis, Interim CEO, Cook County Health. “Cook County Health is proud to offer wrap-around services led by a compassionate care team that ensures patients have their needs – both physical and emotional – met during their care here.”

To qualify, a hospital must be designated by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer Classification (ACS CoC) as one of four specific types of cancer programs to be considered for the award. The Women’s Choice Award measures hospitals on the presence of specific cancer-related services offered onsite, infection rates and patient recommendation ratings on the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) Survey. The award is unique in that criteria also include primary research about women’s healthcare preferences.

“In our role as a safety net health care provider that cares for all, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay, we often see patients who have advanced cancers. I’m proud to say that, stage for stage, our cancer outcomes are on par with our academic peers across Chicago. This award is a testament to our oncology team’s expertise and compassion in caring for all of our patients,” said Dr. Urjeet Patel, Medical Director, Cook County Health Cancer Center.

Accreditation required for the award ensures that a hospital or facility offers a full range of diagnostic and treatment services, or provides integrated cancer care and comprehensive services. Low infection rates compared to the national average are another important measure. Oncology patients are more susceptible than other patients to hospital-acquired infections because of their compromised immune systems.

Stroger Hospital is one of 492 award recipients representing the hospitals that have met the highest standards for cancer care in the U.S. by the Women’s Choice Award. 

“The very first step on a cancer journey is knowing where to go for the best care,” said Delia Passi, founder and CEO of the Women’s Choice Award and a breast cancer survivor. “We’re empowering women to make confident decisions about the best hospital for cancer care for themselves and their loved ones. We help them make smart, informed choices during a stressful time.”



For the full list of the Best Hospitals for Cancer Care, please visit https://womenschoiceaward.com/best-hospitals-for-cancer-care

On December 7, Cook County Health hosted a community open house at its Arlington Heights Health Center. The health center welcomed community leaders, elected officials, as well as current and prospective patients. CCH staff presented information about the health system’s clinical services, financial counseling, WIC, public health services and CountyCare. Attendees took a tour of the building and met the health center team. Thank you to all who attended! 

Beena Peters, DNP, Chief Nursing Executive at Cook County Health, has received the Joan L. Shaver Outstanding Illinois Nurse Leader Award from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing, which recognizes a nurse leader who is highly influential in shaping quality health care in Illinois. 

The award is named after UIC College of Nursing Dean Emerita Dr. Joan Shaver, who established the Power of Nursing Leadership event to celebrate excellence in nursing beginning in 1998. The Shaver Award honors the hard work, commitment, and dedication necessary to serve the health care needs of the people of Illinois through supremely skilled leadership and the courage to break through barriers. It symbolizes the celebration of individual achievement and represents excellence in nursing leadership for our state. The award was presented at UIC’s Power of Nursing Leadership event on November 3, 2023.  

“It is an honor to be recognized with the Shaver Outstanding Illinois Nurse Leader Award. For me, this acknowledgment is not an individual award, but a reflection of the exemplary, high-quality care provided by our nursing team across Cook County Health,” said Dr. Peters. 

In her role as Chief Nursing Executive at Cook County Health, Dr. Peters oversees the nursing leadership for two hospitals, a robust ambulatory health center network, public health department and correctional health, and a health plan. During her five-year tenure at CCH, Dr. Peters has redesigned the nursing quality programs to refocus on patient safety and quality, and implemented a Nursing Leadership Academy and Nursing Academic Partnership programs, Clinical Nurse Leader roles, and much more.  

Under Dr. Peters’ leadership, CCH achieved significant improvement in nurse-sensitive quality indicators by implementing evidence-based best practices and high-reliable principles. Dr. Peters’ visionary leadership, hard work, and dedication to excellence have significantly elevated the CCH nursing practice and the health of the community. 

Pictured below is the CCH Nursing Leadership Team.

Cook County Health was proud to join representatives from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Illinois Contraceptive Access Now (ICAN!) to discuss CCH joining the ICAN! quality network hub– a statewide initiative to advance reproductive health equity.

In addition to announcing the partnership between CCH and ICAN!, local and national leaders held a panel discussion to talk about the work being done nationwide and additional opportunities to increase contraception access for all.

You can click here to watch the discussion.

With the winter respiratory season underway, Cook County Health is urging everyone to get their updated COVID and flu vaccines.



Cook County Health hospitals are providing vaccines for patients and community members. Visit cookcountyhealth.org to find out more information.

The federal government is offering residents the opportunity to order another round of four free COVID-19 tests online. Tests can be mailed to your home. Visit covidtests.gov to find out more.



Click here to find information about COVID testing at Stroger and Provident Hospitals.

Masking

Cook County Health will be requiring masks for all staff, patients and visitors (age 2 and older) in waiting rooms and exam rooms beginning on Tuesday, December 26. 

Masks are currently available for pick-up at the front entrances of all CCH facilities.

Visitor Policy

CCH is also making the following changes to its visitor policy for Stroger and Provident Hospitals, effective Tuesday, December 26.  

• Maximum TWO (2) visitors per patient at any one time to inpatient units.
• Maximum ONE (1) visitor per patient at any one time in our Emergency, Trauma, and Outpatient spaces.
• Visitation will be limited to those age 12 and over.
• Visitation hours will be from 11:00am-8:00pm with only the below exceptions:
• 24 hours for a labor support person
• 24 hours for parents and guardians of pediatric patients
• 24 hours for Emergency and Trauma departments
• Clinic and Procedural areas will be based on their hours of operation

Cook County Health in the News

NBC 5 Chicago: Holiday sickness handbook: What to know if you're not feeling well

WGN: The cost of migrant health care in Cook County

WBEZ: More and more kids need glasses. Experts are blaming too much screen time.

WBBM: Cook County aims to address food insecurity with new proposed resolution

WTTW: Paper Restrictions at Cook County Jail Signal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Concerns

NBC 5 Chicago: Chicago-area hospitals graded in new safety ranking. Here's where they stand

ABC 7 Chicago: Amendment would provide women at Cook County hospitals with free doula services

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.