There is a crisis at the Cook County Bureau of Health Services. This is not our conclusion. It is the conclusion of the Cook County Bureau of Health Services Review Committee. This “blue ribbon” committee, a group of ten senior local and national health care leaders, don’t use the word “crisis” unless they mean it. It is their consensus opinion.
There are two major, urgent problems facing the Cook County Bureau of Health Services:
- The Bureau needs revenue to continue its operations and to respond to the health care needs of hundreds of thousands of poor and uninsured residents.
- The Bureau needs politically independent governance to respond immediately to its systemic administrative problems—billing, financial management, strategic planning, and capital improvements.
As of January 28, 2008, the Cook County Board of Commissioners is deadlocked on the budget. The terms of discussion at the County has turned to acrimony instead of compromise, and to cutting the budget rather than committing to health care. We believe all 17 commissioners and President Stroger must pledge their support to the Bureau of Health Services and find a way to fully fund their 2008 health budget. Our health services are too important to be used as a political football.
We also believe that the Cook County Board of Commissioners and President Stroger must take action on governance. We welcome that this discussion is moving forward. It is imperative that the new governing body is quickly established, politically independent, empowered to reform, loyal to the mission and to delivering the county’s health services, and supported by the County government.
We hope you will take time to study the issues facing health care in Cook County, whether you use county health services or not. We hope the public, from every corner of the county, will call their commissioners and President Stroger, asking them to support our work with the necessary revenues and governance reform.
Finally, we want to reassure the public, particularly our patients, that the health care at the Cook County Bureau of Health Services remains good. As reported by the “blue ribbon” committee, the mission is important, the scope of services is appropriate, and the quality is well-regarded in the health care community. We intend to keep it that way.
Resolution of the Medical Staff of John Stroger Hospital
November 13, 2007The Medical Staff of John Stroger Hospital of Cook County affirms the following:
- The Bureau of Health Services is essential to the health of Cook County’s residents;
- Any crisis affecting the quantity or quality of services provided will have a broad and negative impact on citizens, businesses, health care organizations, and others;
- The estimated revenue opportunities and expense reductions are unable to close the current financial gaps on their own; and,
- The existing governance and oversight process was not adequate to prevent the current crisis.
Therefore:
- The Medical Staff strongly supports the assessment and recommendations from the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability regarding Cook County’s revenue system. We stand united with the Cook County Bureau of Health Services on the immediate need to raise revenues through management reform and taxes; and
- The Medical Staff also strongly supports the assessment and recommendations from the Report of the Cook County Bureau of Health Services Review Committee, also known as the Blue Ribbon Committee. We urge the Cook County Board of Commissioners to embrace and immediately adopt all the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Committee report.
- John H Stroger, Jr.
- Hospital of Cook County
- Provident Hospital
- Oak Forest Hospital
- Ambulatory and Community Health Network
- Ruth Rothstein Core Center
- Cook County Department of Public Health
- Cermak Health Services