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Description

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The New Cook County Hospital John H Stroger Jr Hospital
The new Cook County Hospital is the stateoftheart which serves as the tertiary hub of the Cook County Bureau of Health Services system The facility replaced a sprawling 13building campus whose main pavilion was opened in 1914 From the beginning the new Cook County Hospital was designed to provide the most advanced medical care and increase efficiency

The new hospital opened in December 2002 just a few yards away from the original hospital building the 464bed hospital is anchored by 228 medicalsurgical beds with dedicated units for obstetrics 40 beds pediatrics 40 beds intensive care 80 beds neonatal intensive care 58 beds and burns 18 beds Anticipating an increasing trend toward shorter inpatient hospital stays and procedures approximately 40 of the hospitals space is used for outpatient care specialty diagnosis and treatment
The hospital has the latest in diagnostic and therapeutic equipment Digital radiology imaging is used throughout the hospital Images are visible on GE PACS imaging stations as well as specially designed computer terminals via the internet Radiology has three new helical CT scanner including one located in the ED radiology area and three new MRI including an open MRI The hospital was designed with wireless technology at the forefront Wireless computers on wheels COWs palm devices and microcellular telephones allow for efficient flow of patient data throughout the hospital

Physician order entry is a routine part of the new computer information system Patient medical records are scanned into the clinical information system and are available from any terminal within the hospital Physician and nursing documentation are online as well

The new 12 millionsquarefoot John H Stroger Jr Hospital formerly known as the Cook County Hospital is continuing a tradition of communityfocused hospital care that began in 1866 when the first countyowned hospital building was opened

John H Stroger Jr Hospital Mission Statement
To provide a Comprehensive Program of Quality Health Care with Respect and Dignity to the residents of Cook County regardless of their ability to pay

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History

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The History of Cook County Hospital
1835
Cook County Hospital traces its origins to the Board of Commissioners who establish the Poor House providing free medical care to indigents

1847
The Poor House is unable to meet population needs At Kinzie and State the County rents Tippecanoe Hall becoming the Cook County Hospital

184849
Tippecanoe Hall closes in 1850 Its poor patients go to Illinois General Hospital of the Lake a public hospital founded by doctors and laymen

1851
The Sisters of Mercy take control of the Illinois General Hospital

1852
The hospital incorporates as Mercy Hospital and Orphan Asylum The County sends its indigents to this hospital and pays for their care

1864
The Chicago Medical Society reports that the Poor Farm provides inadequate care The report recommends the County procure the former city hospital from the US Government and utilize it as a medical facility for indigents

1865
The US Army discharges its last patients from the hospital and returns it to the County Dr George Amerman was elected to the Board of Commissioners and was instrumental in the push for the establishment of a County hospital Dr Amerman is considered the Father of Cook County Hospital

1835
1866 Cook County Hospital opens in January when 12 patients arrive from the Poor Farm and from Mercy Hospital

186671
The hospital serves between 1400 and 1500 patients per year

1872
The Hospital Committee recommends that the County Board construct a new hospital on a more desirable location

1874
The County Board purchases the property at Harrison Wood Polk and Lincoln Streets for 145000 the location of the current hospital

1875
In March the Board votes to build a new hospital for 700000

1876
The new hospital opens consisting of two medical pavilions laundry morgue kitchen boiler house and a bed capacity of 300

1884
CCH expands to two additional pavilions a clinical amphitheater and an administration building The hospitals bed capacity grows to 500600 The year the hospital treats 5934 patients

1910
The hospital treats 34000 patients Overcrowding is a problem and the facility is old and needs repairs The County Board votes to build a new 656 bed hospital at a cost of 3 million

1914
The new facility opens and is the current Main Building of CCH Dr Karl A Meyer heads the hospital from 19141967 Meyer sets the standard for excellent medical training programs and medical advancements both during his tenure and continuing today

1917
The Main Building adds two new pavilions giving the hospital a total bed capacity of 2000

1925
The hospital treats nearly 42000 patients A new building program begins at a cost of 25 million