Dear Cook County Health Friends and Partners,
This February, Cook County Health is proud to recognize Black History Month. It is a time for us to reflect on and honor our past and look to the future as to how we as a health care institution can be a force for positive change.
A number of the nation’s most renowned African American health care providers have served at Cook County Health institutions. Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, the founder of Provident Hospital, performed the first open heart surgery there while establishing a training school for Black physicians and nurses; Emma Reynolds, who worked with Dr. Hale Williams to open Provident and was enrolled in the hospital’s inaugural nursing class; Dr. Austin Maurice Curtis, who was mentored by Dr. Hale Williams and went on to become the first African American surgeon at Cook County Hospital; and Dr. Leonidas Berry, a gastroenterologist who co-created the Eder-Berry Gastroscope, an instrument used to obtain tissue samples of the stomach.
They are just a few of the people whose legacies live on in what we do here at Cook County Health, ensuring access to high-quality health care for anyone who needs it, regardless of race or ability to pay. This history underscores the dedication to equity that is at the core of Cook County Health’s 185-year-old mission. Today, that mission is carried on by a new generation of health care leaders. Learn more about a few of the providers serving our diverse patient population and what representation in health care means to them further down in this newsletter.
As we look to the future, we must continue to work to reduce the barriers and structural racism that have resulted in health disparities in the Black community, including the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has borne a particularly high toll on African Americans. At the system-level, these efforts are being driven by Cook County Health’s newly-established Center for Health Equity and Innovation under the leadership of Shannon Andrews, the health system’s inaugural Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer.
Please join us on Tuesday, February 22 as we hold a Facebook Live Event to discuss Black History Month with a number of Cook County Health providers and community partners. We will also discuss COVID-19, vaccines and reducing hesitancy within the Black Community. You can find more details about the event below.
Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
|
|
Cook County Health to Hold Virtual Town Hall to Celebrate Black History Month |
|
Cook County Health Staff Reflects on Black History Month, Representation in Medicine |
|
We asked several Cook County Health team members to discuss what Black History Month means to them, what inspires them, and about the importance of representation in medicine.
Check out a few of their stories by clicking the links below. Additional stories are on our social media pages.
Dr. Claudia Fegan, Chief Medical Officer, Cook County Health, also spoke with the American Heart Association about the legacy of Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, a pioneering surgeon and the founder of Provident Hospital. Click here to read the article.
|
|
The Latest on COVID-19 with Cook County Health |
|
COVID-19 Booster Shot Information
Cook County Health's mass vaccination sites completed a scheduled one-month run on February 13, having administered nearly 15,000 vaccines – 35 percent of which were first doses.
The sites opened in January amidst the omicron surge to respond to the increased need for vaccine access.
“We are pleased to see such a positive response during the month-long re-opening of our large-scale community vaccination sites," said Israel Rocha, Cook County Health CEO. “During this winter’s surge, we saw an influx of people looking to get a primary vaccine or booster shot at doctors’ offices and pharmacies. These locations were inundated and many people were faced with weeks-long wait times. By opening the mass sites, which offered walk-in availability, we were able to increase access to vaccination and meet a lot of the pent-up demand we were seeing in the community.”
Cook County Health will continue to administer the COVID-19 vaccine at its community health centers, hospitals and through pop-up vaccination events. CCH’s community health centers are also distributing free high-quality KN95 masks for all, regardless of vaccination status.
|
|
Keep Up to Date with Cook County Health
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, keeping on top of the latest information is critical. Cook County Health provides the latest information as it relates to the health system, COVID-19 vaccination events, health education, and more on its social media channels:
|
|
Save the Date: CCH Strategic Planning Town Halls |
|
Cook County Health has begun its Strategic Planning Process for FY23-FY25. We look forward to getting feedback from the community on the health system's perceived strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities.
We will be engaging with stakeholders to assess the health system's current state and map out the road ahead through online questionnaires, meetings and virtual forums.
Please save the date for Cook County Health’s upcoming community strategic planning town halls:
• Tuesday, March 1 • 6 – 7 PM (Spanish)
• Wednesday, March 2 • 6 – 7 PM
• Thursday, March 3 • 8 – 9 AM
More information about how to join the virtual town halls and the strategic planning deck will be shared soon. We look forward to your input!
Updates to CCH’s Strategic Planning process can be found in the Governance Section of the CCH Website. You can read about previous strategic plans by clicking on the links, Impact 2023 and Impact 2020.
|
|
Cook County Health Creating New Belmont-Cragin Advisory Council |
|
Cook County Health is establishing a Community Advisory Council for our new Belmont-Cragin Health Center!
Community Advisory Councils are comprised of local community leaders and patients who help keep health centers in touch with the neighborhoods they serve and provide guidance on community needs.
Each council has between 10 to 15 members and holds virtual quarterly meetings where they share input with CCH leaders and receive updates from the health system.
CCH has established Community Advisory Councils for our health centers in Arlington Heights, Blue Island, Cottage Grove, Englewood, North Riverside and Robbins and at Provident Hospital/Sengstacke Health Center.
|
|
Cook County Health in the News |
|
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, update your contact information, or unsubscribe, please email Marcelino Garcia, Director of Community Affairs, at mgarcia6@cookcountyhhs.org.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
