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Cook County Health and Hospitals System

Commissioner Larry Suffredin wrote and passed historic legislation to separate the Cook County Bureau of Health Services from President Todd H. Stroger’s control. This legislation was called for and supported by editorials in the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun Times.

Through this site, you can follow the progress of the Cook County Health and Hospitals System Board as this independent group runs the Hospital System in a professional manner for the first time in Cook County history. Below find agendas and committee reports for the System Board and all its committees.

This Board is responsible for spending nearly $1 billion to treat the needy of Cook County.  A map of the system's facilities is here.  More information about the System is available at its website, www.cookcountyhealth.net.

Background on the Cook County Health and Hospitals System Board of Directors

The creation of an independent board of professionals for the Cook County Health and Hospitals System was called for by the Cook County Bureau of Health Services Review Committee in October, 2007.  I am pleased to present their report, often called the Goodman Report.

• Meet the Cook County Health and Hospitals System Board here.
• Read the Chicago Foundation for Women’s letter to the Chicago Tribune regarding Commissioner Suffredin’s support of stabilizing Cook County services here.
• Read the Chicago Sun Times’ editorial welcoming William T. Foley as CEO of the Health System here.
• Crain's letter to the editor: Suffredin made tough choice to save county health system.
• Click here for the final, approved CCHHS Ordinance.

Related news and information:

Report: Protecting the Legacy of Caring for Vulnerable Populations: An Action Agenda of the Cook County Health System. This is a comprehensive study of Cook County health delivery systems.

• View: Executive Summary; Full Report

Heartland Alliance Report: Building on our Success: Moving from Health Coverage to Improved Access and Comprehensive Well-Being for Illinois Children and Youth. This report documents barriers in Illinois to achieving healthy living and makes recommendations for improving the well-being of youth and children.

• View: Press Release; Full Report

• Chicago Journal: Just what the doctor ordered
• IndiaPost.com: Quality care for diverse Rogers Park community

By Mike Colias and Greg Hinz (October 8, 2006) A Cook County commissioner wants to squeeze as much as $200 million a year from local hospitals to help fund the county's cash-starved health system.

Commissioner Larry Suffredin says he'll introduce a measure in coming weeks that will pose a choice to the county's more than 50 non-profit hospitals: Offer more free medical services to ease the burden on the struggling county hospital system, contribute cash to that system or pay property taxes.

Read the entire article.

• Cook County Assessor James Houlihan report on tax exempt hospital valuation.
• Center for Tax and Budget Accountability 2009 report on tax exemptions for non-profit hospital

Cook County Health and Hospitals System Strategic Planning Process

For the first time, the Cook County Health and Hospitals System is undertaking a comprehensive strategic planning process, with the goal of engaging community stakeholders and bringing long-term improvements to the County health system.

On July 27, 2010 the CCHHS Strategic Plan was approved by the Cook County Board of Commissioners.

Click here to view the Strategic Plan as approved by the Cook County Board.

CCHHS Board Communication:

Progress Reports

Chairman Warren Batts provides periodic updates to the Cook County Board of Commissioners on the progress of the System Board.

• View 2010 CCHHS Annual Report here.
• View July 27, 2010 Quarterly Report to the County Board here.
• View Six Month CEO Performance Report here.
• View the March 16, 2010 Quarterly Report to the County Board here.
• View the September 16, 2009 one-year progress report here.
• View the March 17, 2009 progress report here.
• View the September 3, 2008 progress report and revenue report here.

CCHHS Leadership

• View communication from Chairman Batts regarding the selection of David Small as Interim CEO of the Health and Hospitals System here.
• View communication from Chairman Batts regarding the selection of William Foley as Chief Executive Officer of the Cook County Health and Hospitals System here.
• View communication from Mr. Foley announcing executive hires here.
• View communication from Mr. Foley announcing the hiring of a new System Chief Information Officer here.
• View communication from Mr. Foley announcing the hiring of a new Director of Multicultural Affairs here.
• View communication from Mr. Foley announcing organizational changes at Provident Hospital here.
• View updated organizational chart of CCHHS here.

Scheduled Meetings:

Click here for the 2010 calendar of meetings.
Click here for information on public hearings on the FY2010 Cook County Health and Hospitals System budget.

Cook County Health and Hospitals System Board

All meetings begin at 7:30am

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Permanent Committees

Audit and Compliance - Finance - Human Resources - Quality and Patient Safety - Ad Hoc Committees

Audit and Compliance Committee

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Finance Committee

Meetings are at 10:00 am, unless otherwise noted

* May change to 10 am – 1:00 pm if Human Resources moves from Thursday to Friday

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Human Resources Committee

Meetings are 7:30 am unless otherwise noted

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Quality and Patient Services Committee

Meetings are 12:00pm unless otherwise noted

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Ad Hoc Committees

Search Committee

Strategic Planning Committee

Ad Hoc Search Committee
September 19, 2008 Agenda canceled
August 7, 2008 Agenda

Big Changes Approved for Cook County Hospitals
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Chicago Public Radio

Prognosis: Progress
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Chicago Tribune

Cook County health care overhaul clears hurdle
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Chicago Tribune

Outpatient focus core of new Cook Co. health plan
Monday, July 12, 2010
Chicago Sun-Times

County Board Weighs Health System Overhaul
Monday, July 12, 2010
Chicago Public Radio

Panel OKs overhaul of Cook County health system
Friday, June 25, 2010
Chicago Tribune

Plan to overhaul Cook County health system set for vote
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Chicago Tribune

Now deliver
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Chicago Tribune

Cook County prescribes 5-year health system overhaul
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Crain's Chicago Business

Trauma center answers are not yet clear
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
SouthtownStar

Is Southland in need of another trauma center?
Sunday, June 06, 2010
SouthtownStar

County board talks health care, immigration
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
ABC7 Chicago

Cook Commissioners vote to make independent hospital board permanent
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
ChicagoCurrent

Doctor's 900-mile commute
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
Chicago Sun-Times

Patient numbers continue to rise at John H Stroger Hospital
Monday, April 12, 2010
Special to suffredin.org

Provident Hospital would need $52M upgrade to link with U of C Med Center
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Crain's Chicago Business

Provident Hospital needs $52 million facelift to prep for U. of C. partnership, study says
Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Expecting new competition, Cook County health officials focus on customer service
Friday, March 26, 2010
ChicagoCurrent

Fat fight: Cook County gets $16M to battle obesity
Saturday, March 20, 2010
SouthtownStar

Cook County Health and Hospitals will save $500,000 a year under new food contract
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Special to suffredin.org

A trauma survivor
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Chicago Tribune

Cook Co. board votes to save, rehab abandoned hospital landmark
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Daily Herald

$108M plan to re-develop Old Cook Co. Hospital OK'd
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Chicago Sun-Times

Commissioners sign off on plan to save old Cook County Hospital building
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Chicago Tribune

The saving of old Cook County Hospital: Chicago takes a break from self-destruction
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Chicago Tribune

Project Shield a big drain on Cook County taxpayers
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Chicago Sun-Times

Preservation groups hopeful for a renovated County Hospital
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
ChicagoCurrent

General Assembly weighing action on Cook hospitals
Monday, February 15, 2010
ChicagoCurrent

Health reform won't cure financial pain for hospitals caring for uninsured illegal immigrants
Monday, February 01, 2010
Crain's Chicago Business

Cook County Health and Hospitals produces a budget surplus for FY09
Friday, January 29, 2010
Special to suffredin.org

More question marks for future of old County Hospital
Friday, December 18, 2009
ChicagoCurrent

Chicago's Ellis Island
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Chicago Tribune

Cook hospitals chair: We need more money
Friday, August 22, 2008
Daily Herald

Stroger plans rehab.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Chicago Journal

Lazarus on Harrison St.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Chicago Tribune

Stroger tells plan for old hospital
Friday, July 27, 2007
Chicago Tribune

County Hospital is worthy of historic listing, city says
Friday, August 04, 2006
Chicago Tribune

Steele wants county hospital preserved
Friday, August 04, 2006
Chicago Sun-Times

Hospital could be landmark
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Daily Southtown

County Hospital up for landmark status
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Chicago Sun-Times

Old County Hospital one of a Kind
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Chicago Defender

Down the Drain: County spends precious dollars on a vacant Cook County Hospital with no end in sight
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Chicago Defender

County hospital report can mean whatever you like
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Chicago Journal

Hospital ducks the wrecking ball
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Chicago Journal

Deal may save old County Hospital
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Chicago Tribune

Commissioners spare Cook County Hospital
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Chicago Sun-Times

Saving hospital a matter of will
Monday, October 24, 2005
Chicago Tribune

Commissioners to fight on for old County Hospital
Friday, October 14, 2005
Daily Southtown

Save old County Hospital
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Chicago Sun-Times

Stacking deck for the wreck
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Chicago Sun-Times

Report plans for next 10 years
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Daily Southtown

Back on the sick list
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Chicago Tribune

Report: Demolish hospital
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Daily Southtown

County Hospital razing urged
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Chicago Tribune

Report backs tearing down Cook Hospital
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Chicago Sun-Times

Save County Hospital
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Chicago Sun-Times

Old County Hospital again on historically endangered list
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Chicago Sun-Times

CPR for Cook County Hospital
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Chicago Tribune

Stroger wants hospital options
Friday, January 21, 2005
Chicago Tribune

What's to be done with old hospital?
Friday, January 21, 2005
Daily Southtown

Suffredin: Cook County Hospital restoration likely
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Chicago Journal