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During this holiday season, I would like to express my thanks to all of you, our community partners, for collaborating with our health system to promote healthy initiatives and the work we are doing at Cook County Health.
Having you as partners during two unprecedented pandemics – COVID-19 and monkeypox (mpox) – and other pressing health issues, has been critical. Thank you for your partnership.
I am also incredibly grateful for our outstanding staff. The past few years have been filled with challenges in health care. Yet, Cook County Health staff have risen to the occasion: continuing to provide COVID vaccines and treatment, setting up clinics to vaccinate against mpox, and the working to quickly set up a clinic to care for thousands of asylum seekers coming to Chicago.
The continued dedication of our staff inspires me daily, and I hope it inspires others. Cook County Health is actively recruiting across our health system as we seek to find mission-driven individuals to join our team and help change lives. More information about careers at Cook County Health is below and we hope you will share it with your networks.
As I reflect back on the past year, I am filled with gratitude for our team and partners who support Cook County Health’s mission to serve all, regardless of race, immigration status, or ability to pay. Thank you for all you do to fortify the communities in which we live.
I wish all of you a safe and healthy holiday season.
Sincerely,
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Clinic Spotlight: National Diabetes Month and Healthy Holidays | |
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As we celebrate National Diabetes Month during the month of November, we spotlight Cook County Health’s comprehensive care for both diabetes prevention and enhanced diabetes management to improve health outcomes.
Our lifestyle centers provide in-depth education to promote adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors that reduce the risk of developing diabetes and other chronic health conditions, such as heart and kidney disease. For those with diabetes, our diabetes specialty clinics offer care teams that combine lifestyle approaches with the latest in effective medical therapies and technology to empower improved self-management. Our partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD) also improves patient access to fresh fruits and vegetables via our clinics. The GCFD Fresh Trucks visits CCH clinics on a regular basis, providing fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as some shelf stable items. To date, an estimated 43,747 households, representing 144,565 individuals have received food from the Fresh Trucks.
To minimize diabetes complications, diabetes care is also supported by our other various specialty clinics including ophthalmology, nephrology, podiatry, neurology, and cardiology.
Patients looking to establish a care path should make an appointment with a Cook County Health primary care provider for a complete health assessment. To make a primary care appointment, call 312-864-0200.
Did you know the American Diabetes Association has a database of healthy holiday recipes? If your community members are looking to stay healthy this holiday season, have them check out diabetesfoodhub.org.
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Join Our Team: Cook County Health is Hiring! | |
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Cook County Health has served the people of Cook County for more than 180 years. Today, we are home to top doctors and excellent staff who fulfill our mission and change lives. Our organization is growing, and we are actively seeking new talent to join our high performing, collaborative and diverse team.
Working with teams of doctors, nurses and medical professionals that represent the best in medicine includes top notch benefits. Cook County Health offers its employees a generous health insurance program that includes medical, dental and eye care for you and your family. We are also proud to offer our employees competitive salaries, generous PTO, signing bonuses for certain positions, and other benefits.
Visit our website to learn more about your future at Cook County Health, find open positions, and register for upcoming hiring events: cookcountyhealth.org/join-our-team/.
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New Bivalent/Omicron COVID-19 Boosters Available for All Age 5+ | |
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Please share with your clients, stakeholders and friends that Cook County Health community health centers are offering the COVID-19 bivalent (updated) booster for everyone 5 years and older. A person may get a bivalent booster 2 months after the completion of their primary series or after their last booster shot. The bivalent boosters contain proteins from the original COVID-19 strain as well as the newest Omicron variants to help the body produce a better immune response. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and your family from serious COVID-19 infection.
The Pfizer bivalent vaccine has been approved for every age 5 and older. The Moderna bivalent vaccine has been approved for everyone age 6 and older.
“I encourage everyone—kids and adults—to get their bivalent vaccine as soon as possible,” said Dr. Greg Huhn, infectious disease physician and Cook County Health vaccine coordinator. “Some people are tired of getting boosters. I get it. But this new formulation of the vaccines was specifically made to protect us against the COVID virus circulating right now. Now is the time to get your shot before the winter, when we expect to see COVID cases rise.”
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Make an appointment for your bivalent booster today by visiting vaccine.cookcountyil.gov or by calling 833-308-1988 Monday through Friday 7am-6pm.
Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian in order to be vaccinated.
For more information about the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines, please visit MyShotCookCounty.com.
Thank you for helping to keep our communities safe!
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IDPH Announces Distribution of 1 Million Free COVID-19 Rapid Tests for Vulnerable Illinoisans | |
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The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced it will be distributing 1 million over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 rapid antigen tests to residents in economically disadvantaged zip codes outside the City of Chicago through a partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation’s public charity, RF Catalytic Capital and its Project ACT (Access COVID Tests) program.
Through the Project ACT program, IDPH will be distributing one million at-home antigen tests to 200,000 Illinois families in zip codes outside the City of Chicago that are rated high on a Social Vulnerability Index (SVI). Households can find out if they are in an eligible zip code and request one package of five tests on a first-come-first-serve basis at the Project ACT website. The tests will be delivered to the home address.
Free COVID-19 testing locations are available throughout the state, including in Chicago, and can be found on the IDPH website’s testing locator page.
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Cook County Department of Public Health Community Grant Deadline Approaching on December 7 | |
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Last month, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Health Chief Executive Officer Israel Rocha, and Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) Chief Operating Officer Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck announced at a press conference that CCDPH will be awarding over $14 million in grant funding across four years to expand mental health and substance use prevention, treatment and support in suburban Cook County.
The Building Healthy Communities Behavioral Health Initiative will be built on a foundation of equity and inclusivity. To that end, CCDPH streamlined the grant application process to encourage all interested organizations and agencies to apply. For those not familiar with receiving grants, CCDPH will offer optional, capacity building workshops are being offered to familiarize applicants with legal requirements and grant application skills, such as program design, monitoring and reporting.
Grants range from $250,000 to over $1 million each, and are part of the Building Healthy Communities Behavioral Health Initiative, funded under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
Applications are now being accepted through December 7, 2022. Awards will be announced in January 2023.
For more information and to apply online, visit BHCopencall.com.
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Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck Recognized by the Illinois Commission on Diversity and Human Relations
The Illinois Commission on Diversity and Human Relations honored Cook County Department of Public Health Chief Operating Officer Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck at its 53rd annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Remembrance Dinner on November 19 in Palatine.
The theme of this year’s event was "Heeding Dr. King's Call for Health Care Equity."
Dr. Hasbrouck was recognized for his role in advancing health care equity during the pandemic.
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Andrea Gibson, Chief Strategy Officer, Cook County Health, Named as Carol Emmott Fellow
Andrea Gibson, Cook County Health Chief Strategy Officer, was selected to participate in the Carol Emmott Fellowship Class of 2023.
Ms. Gibson was one of 21 women leaders selected across the U.S.. Participants represent large public and private healthcare systems, academic medical centers, health plans, healthcare performance improvement management, and specialty care companies.
The Carol Emmott Fellowship is dedicated to increasing gender equity and diversity in healthcare by focusing on establishing pathways for accomplished women to senior healthcare leadership and governance positions.
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Dr. Benjamin Mba Appointed Governor-elect Designee for ACP IL
Dr. Benjamin Mba, Associate Chair of Medicine for Faculty Development & Associate Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency Program, was appointed the American College of Physicians (ACP) Illinois Northern Chapter Governor-elect Designee.
Dr. Mba will start his four-year term as Governor in the Spring of 2024. As Governor, he will serve as the official representative of the College for the Illinois ACP-American College of Physicians, providing a link between members at the local level and leadership at the national level.
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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.
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