Dear Cook County Health friends and partners,

I’m sure many of you have been following the stories of asylum seekers who are arriving in our area. They have faced a perilous journey in search of safety, food, and economic opportunities.

There is a statue of Louis Pasteur in front of the old Cook County Hospital building inscribed with a quote. Ask any doctor who has trained here, and they will recall. The quote embodies the pursuit of Cook County Health’s longstanding mission; “One does not ask of one who suffers: What is your country and what is your religion? One merely says: You suffer, that is enough for me. You belong to me and I shall help you.” 

For generations, Cook County Health has served as the safety-net provider for patients with nowhere else to go. In keeping with our mission, Cook County Health has opened our doors to these asylum seekers, working closely with our partners the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago. We are proud to serve their medical and behavioral health care needs with dignity and respect.

The asylum seekers’ needs go far beyond medical care. Thanks to support from the Cook County Health Foundation, the asylum seekers are being provided with necessities like food, clothing, and baby supplies during their medical visits. This is another shining example of the CCH mission to provide care to all regardless of income, insurance or immigration status.  

The CCH Foundation has put together an Amazon wish list to help support asylum seekers who have arrived in the Chicago area. If you would like to donate, please click here to visit to the Foundation's Amazon Wishlist:

·      Log in to your Amazon account

·      Add the items you would like to purchase to your cart 

·      Select Nancy Rivera as the Ship to, and your donation will go directly to the CCH location where asylum seekers receive care

Individuals  or organizations can also make monetary donations directly to the CCH Foundation to assist asylum seekers by clicking here.

Every purchase or donation will make a big impact on a family's life. Thank you in advance for your generosity. Cook County Health remains committed to serving our new neighbors and providing them a warm and healthy welcome to our community.

Sincerely,

John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital Recognized by U.S. News & World Report

Cook County Health is proud to announce that John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital was recently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a high-performing organization for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia, as well as heart attack and heart failure.

U.S. News & World Report annually rates hospitals for their performance in treating more commonly occurring conditions and medical procedures. Among the criteria looked at are patient outcomes and volumes of procedures performed. High-performing organizations rate significantly better than the national average.

“Cook County Health is honored for John H. Stroger Jr., Hospital to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report,” Cook County Health CEO Israel Rocha said. “Every day our staff work hard to ensure the highest levels of care for our patients, including those who are medically complex, and this recognition is a testament to their efforts.”

Cook County Health is one of the largest public health systems in the nation. The system serves approximately 600,000 people each year through its health services and health plan.

Staying up to date with your COVID vaccine is a critical tool in protecting yourself from COVID, particularly as we head into the fall and winter months.

Cook County Health is offering the new bivalent (updated) boosters at its health centers. The updated boosters are formulated to help better protect against the latest COVID variants and are an important weapon in keeping people out of the hospital and dying from COVID.

All people 5+ are eligible for a booster, but the bivalent booster is only for those 12+ and those who have completed their original vaccine series. Boosters can be given two months after the most recent dose.

To schedule an appointment, visit vaccine.cookcountyil.gov.

Cook County Health held Facebook Live events earlier this month in English and Spanish to address questions people may have about the new boosters. Visit the links to view and share.

Monkeypox cases in Illinois have trended downward over the last month but vigilance remains important.

Cook County Health is offering monkeypox vaccinations at several of its health centers to eligible individuals, including sexually active gay, bisexual and or other same-gender-loving men or transgender individuals, those who are eligible for or currently taking HIV-PrEP or those living with HIV.

Visit monkeypox.cookcountyhealth.org to schedule a vaccination appointment, or to learn more about testing and treatment options.

September is National Recovery Month. Cook County Health is proud to offer an array of services to help individuals with substance use disorder. Dr. Juleigh Nowinksi-Konchak, addiction medicine specialist, answers some questions about Cook County Health’s rapid access Bridge Clinic. 

What is the Bridge Clinic? 

The Cook County Health Bridge Clinic is a low-barrier entry or re-entry point into substance use disorder care. It is located in the Ruth M. Rostein Core Center, and also works with patients via telehealth. It is open to any Cook County resident seeking substance use disorder care. 

What kinds of care and services are provided at a Bridge Clinic?

The care is patient-centered and team-based. A medical provider is available to address substance use disorder needs, including starting medications for addiction treatment. Primary care and psychiatric care services are available directly or via linkage. A recovery coach and community health worker provide critical recovery. Support services include motivational enhancement, addressing myths regarding medications for addiction treatment, helping the patient celebrate early victories such as cutting down on substance use, addressing transportation barriers, and providing warm handoffs to residential treatment providers. 

How does the Bridge Clinic help people who are in recovery or have substance use disorder?

Accessing and optimizing health care services can be difficult to navigate, especially if someone is unhoused and without a cell phone, after release from jail, or after a non-fatal overdose. The Bridge Clinic is a stable entry point that patients know is there, will welcome them in as many times as they need, and will provide evidence-based, non-stigmatizing care directly and through partners. Since COVID, the clinic operates in-person and via telemedicine, which extends our reach, capacity and patient satisfaction.

What is the goal of the Bridge Clinic?

The goal is to break down barriers for patients to engage in substance-use disorder (SUD) care. Waitlists, transportation, navigating complex care systems – these issues can derail patients’ intentions or prevent them from ever starting their path towards recovery. The bridge clinic aims to break this down, meet patients where they are at, link them to SUD care, harm reduction and support services.

Click here for details about accessing care through the CCH Bridge Clinic.

Cook County Health Foundation Gala

Join us for the Cook County Health Foundation’s 2022 Annual Gala on October 12, 2022, at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago, and help fund scholarships for individuals seeking careers in health care – future nurses, radiology technicians, respiratory therapists, dental hygienists and more. The Foundation's aim is to help Cook County Health build the highly qualified, diverse health care team that is needed to meet our goal of caring for all regardless of their ability to pay.

This year’s lead sponsor is PNC Financial Services. The Foundation is thrilled to honor Scott Swanson, President, Illinois, for his leadership and civic commitment.

Enjoy a lively cocktail reception, seated dinner and program in the company of friends old and new. Click here to purchase tickets. Thank you for your support!

Cook County Health Residency Programs Recognized by Doximity

Cook County Health’s emergency medicine and preventive medicine residency programs were recognized in Becker’s Hospital Review for being among the best clinical training programs, according to Doximity’s 2022-2023 Residency Navigator.

Physicians contribute nominations, ratings and reviews. Ratings comprise three major parts: current resident and recent alumni satisfaction data, reputation data and objective data. 

Dr. Dhara Amin Named to AMA’s Medical Justice Advocacy Fellows

Dr. Dhara Amin, an emergency room physician at Cook County Health, was named by the American Medical Association and Satcher Health Leadership Institute at the Morehouse School of Medicine to a list of 11 fellows for the AMA-SHLI Medical Justice in Advocacy Fellowship.

Founded on the principles of servant leadership, justice and collaboration, fellows will generate and exchange solutions and implement health equity projects that inform policy to ensure optimal health for all. The fellowship equips and empowers fellows to be part of the next generation of advocacy leaders, by driving meaningful policy and structural changes that produce equity and justice in the communities they serve.

Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) Health Care Program Granted Full Re-accreditation Status

The Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) was granted full re-accreditation status of its health care program by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC). The two-day survey reviewed NCCHC standards of compliance over the last three years. Cook County Health’s Cermak Health Services provides care for patients at the JTDC. Congratulations to the entire Cermak team for this achievement!

Cook County Health is establishing a Community Advisory Council for the Belmont-Cragin Health Center!

Community Advisory Councils are comprised of CCH patients and local community leaders 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.

We welcome your participation! If you live in or serve the Belmont-Cragin neighborhood and would like to join the Community Advisory Council, or if you are interested in joining a different council, please submit an application through the application link on the community relations page on the CCH website or by emailing Marcelino Garcia, Director of Community Affairs at mgarcia6@cookcountyhhs.org.

At a press conference on September 14, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced the Cook County Promise Guaranteed Income Pilot. This is the largest publicly funded guaranteed income program in the U.S.

The County will provide $500 monthly unrestricted cash payments to 3,250 households for two years, beginning in December 2022. The application window will be open October 6 – October 21 and recipients will be selected by lottery.

It is critical that all eligible Cook County residents know about the program and how to apply, so please share this information. Potential applicants should visit www.engagecookcounty.com/promise and sign up to receive more information and be notified when the application opens on October 6.

Organizations can help promote via the social media toolkit. On September 28 there will be a webinar for community-based organizations to learn more about how they can help clients apply to the program. Sign up to attend by clicking on this link.

Chicago Sun-Times: 13-year-old girl saved by CPR after being struck by lightning in Garfield Park

WBBM Radio: Passing of Olivia Newton-John a reminder about breast cancer awareness

Univision: Vacunas, exámenes y más: los servicios de salud que reciben inmigrantes que llegan al condado Cook desde Texas

NBC 5 Chicago: Which Respiratory Illnesses Are Behind the Recent Surge in Child Hospitalizations in Chicago Area?

Chicago Tribune: Couples who worked in hospitals during pandemic saw their marriages change

International Business Times: These Are Now The Most Common COVID Symptoms As Infections Change With Latest Omicron Subvariants

Daily Herald: Why the latest COVID-19 vaccine booster might mark beginning of annual inoculations

CNN: Monkeypox vaccine strategy shift yields more supply for some, hurdles for others