Cook County Commissioner Monica Gordon (5th District) says that opening a south suburban trauma center is a priority for her. Gordon, who represents Chicago Heights, Harvey, and Riverdale, said she is working with the leadership of hospitals in the Southland to explore establishing a Level 1 trauma center, so patients do not have to travel long distances to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn or the University of Chicago Medical Center in Chicago.
At a recent news conference, outside of Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, Gordon said complaints of long wait times and short staffing are the result of the “interconnected disparities” in the mostly Black and brown south suburbs that has to be addressed.
“Right now, if there is a gunshot victim, they have to go all the way to Christ and the time it takes to get there depends on the traffic—including getting stuck by a freight train,” said Gordon.
The commissioner said opening another Level 1 trauma center is needed to help save lives.
“I’m not talking about building a trauma center from the ground up,” explained Gordon. “It’s possible Ingalls in Harvey, Advocate South Suburban in Hazel Crest or Franciscan Health Hospital in Olympia Fields could be modified to become a trauma center.”
University of Chicago Medicine opened its Level 1 trauma unit on Chicago’s South Side in 2018 after years of protests by community residents, citywide activists, and hospital staff.
“Trauma systems must be planned and coordinated by the city and the state, in consultation with trauma program experts and health care providers throughout the Chicagoland area,” U of C Medicine said in a statement.
Gordon said there must be a study to determine costs and feasibility and she is working on allies to stand with her.
“We want to figure out a dollar amount. We want to collaborate with the other elected stakeholders, not just in the community, but outside the community,” said Gordon who knows it will not be an easy task.
Ingalls was the first community hospital purchased by UChicago Medicine in 2016.
