Lives are Lost in South Suburban Cook County due to Trauma Center Desert
In the heart of the Southland, a critical health care gap has been widening, one that endangers lives every day. The absence of a trauma center in this region is more than an inconvenience; it is a public health crisis that demands immediate attention and collective action.
The Devastating Impact
As someone who has lived and worked in the south suburbs throughout my career and served as an elected official, I have seen firsthand the devastating impact of this health care void. Trauma centers are not just hospitals; they are lifelines. These centers significantly improve survival rates and patient outcomes for traumatic brain injuries, gunshot wounds, injuries sustained in motor vehicle crashes, and so much more.
A Crisis of Public Health and Safety
During my tenure as Cook County Commissioner for the 5th District, I spent a great deal of time evaluating this issue and spearheaded efforts to bring a south suburban trauma center back to the communities that so desperately need it. Last November, I proposed a resolution calling for state intervention to address this urgent health care gap. The resolution, which was approved by the Cook County Board of Commissioners in December, underscored not only the necessity of a trauma center but also the broader implications for public health and safety.
The Feasibility Study
According to a 2015 feasibility study by the Illinois Department of Public Health, longer transport times to trauma centers are directly linked to higher mortality rates. Victims of gunshot wounds face a 23% increased risk of death if they are more than five miles away from a trauma center. For the predominantly Black communities in south suburban Cook County, this number represents an entirely unacceptable toll on the lives of our residents.
The Current State of Affairs
The closure of St. James Olympia Fields Trauma Unit in 2008 exacerbated this crisis. Once a beacon of acute care for the southern suburbs, its absence has left a void that nearby facilities like Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn continue to struggle to fill. Advocate Christ has absorbed most of the critically injured patients from south suburban communities, stretching its resources to the limit and beyond.
The Obstacle? Cost
For nearly 20 years, numerous public health advocate organizations, community leaders, and medical professionals have joined the call for a trauma center in the Southland.
Funding has always been the major obstacle, with the annual cost estimates to support Level I or Level II trauma centers exceeding $20 million, a figure far beyond what local budgets can sustain.
The responsibility of health care cannot rest solely on the county’s shoulders. Establishing a trauma center is a multifaceted challenge, involving not just infrastructure, but the costs of maintaining high standards of care and the recruitment of specialized medical personnel.
State and federal government must step in to assist Cook County, not just with funding, but also with policy support to streamline the establishment and certification of trauma centers in underserved areas.
Conclusion
What remains is the collective will to bridge the gap between recognition and action. I have worked to lay the groundwork, and I urge all levels of government to come to the table to collaborate, fund, and expedite the creation of a trauma center that the Southland desperately needs.
FAQs
* What is the current state of the trauma center in the Southland?
The Southland is currently without a trauma center, leaving residents to travel longer distances for critical care.
* What are the potential consequences of not having a trauma center in the Southland?
The absence of a trauma center can lead to higher mortality rates, increased risk of death for victims of gunshot wounds, and stretched resources for nearby facilities.
* What is the cost of establishing a trauma center in the Southland?
The estimated annual cost to support Level I or Level II trauma centers exceeds $20 million, a figure that local budgets cannot sustain.
* What role can the state and federal government play in addressing this issue?
State and federal government must provide funding and policy support to streamline the establishment and certification of trauma centers in underserved areas.
