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.
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.
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.
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 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.
While I have moved on to a broader role in public service as the clerk of Cook County, I will never stop fighting for this cause. It’s just too important to the health and viability of our communities, particularly those that are disproportionately affected by higher rates of violence and limited access to health care.
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.
You simply cannot put a cost on a trauma center’s ability to reduce the likelihood of death and permanent disability to injured patients. These voices, combined with the data and the experiences of our residents, create an undeniable case for immediate action. The data is compelling, the need is undeniable and the leadership to get the job done is in place.
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.
Please join me in communicating with your elected representatives at all levels of government to fight for this critical initiative that can provide timely and specialized care that will literally save lives for decades to come.
Monica Gordon is the Cook County clerk. Previously, she was a Cook County Board commissioner.
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