In public testimony, union employees ask the board to urge Cook County to replenish funding for healthcare professionals who become sick with COVID-19. In 2020, they could get 80 hours of paid leave. That was extended in 2021, but not 2022, even as the pandemic continues.

Joyce Ball, a registered nurse at Provident Hospital, says that while CCHHS has requested $64.1M for nursing agency contracts, these contracts cost tax payers more $ than retaining current RNs. She says CCHHS “has done nothing to retain [currently employed] staff.”

Cook County Health nurses have periodically engaged in strikes over staffing and contract negotiations. Like this past summer, when they said that staffing shortages were severely affecting patient care:
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/cook-county-nurses-strike-for-1-day-over-staffing-issues/2539875/

Interim CEO Aaron Galeener said that 48% of Cook County has received at least 1 dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and this has been increasing 1-2% each week

Dr. Yvonne Collins presents data on cook county zip codes that are disproportionately impacted by health inequities. Residents on the South + West sides, and South suburbs, are most in need of primary care + urgent care centers, which could lessen the use of CCHHS hospitals

Collins says that residents in zip codes with the highest rates of rental assistance programs are less likely to see primary care providers

Collins says that issues of access need to be addressed: patients w/ cook county managed care plans want appointments on evenings + weekends, and they want services consolidated into single appointments instead of scheduling multiple visits

Collins said that housing assistance, employment programs & food insecurity programs are needed to reduce health disparities in Cook County. She said that in 60620 (Auburn Gresham), 41% of Managed Care members are food insecure

She said that her research team was surprised by how many Managed Care members qualify for SNAP (food assistance), but don’t have it. She said that education around how to apply, is needed

Collins emphasizes that there is “CLEAR data” that links food insecurity and housing access to health outcomes. High blood pressure, diabetes and other health issues will decrease when poverty is addressed, she says.

The board voted to pass 28 contracts + purchases, including: $64.1M for nursing contract services, $9.7M contracts for kidney care programs, $6.6M for actuarial services, $6.4M for laundry services.

This concludes the Cook County Health and Hospitals System Board of Directors meeting, at 10:47am.