The End of a Challenging Year for Cook County Health

Cook County Health (CCH) Board of Directors - December 4, 2020
  
Acting CEO Debra Carey was thanked for the outstanding job she did this year in guiding Cook County Health (CCH) through the pandemic and the fiscal challenges. CEO-Elect Israel Rocha begins on Dec 7, 2020. He observed the meeting. All directors were present.

The Center on Health Equity and Innovation will go live with their new CMIS software on 1/1/2021.   $12 million was brought in from outside sources to fund this in 2020 and a $47 million grant was received covering a 4 year period.

Dr Lakshmi Warrior, a co-leader for the Cook County Racial and Health initiative was congratulated for being named one of the 40-Under-40 by Crain’s Chicago.

Committee Reports:

• Human Resources - The results of the biennial Employee Engagement survey were presented. The response rate was 56% up from 52% in 2018. The engagement indicator rose from 3.8% to 3.83%. They will use the data to develop action plans. The hiring of contact tracers has hit a snag in that several of the people hired are in quarantine and can’t come in to complete the hiring process (i.e. the employee physical). COVID has made hiring nurses difficult and agency nurses are still being used, but some have left for other states where they can earn as much as $200 an hour.
• Managed Care - CountyCare wants to renegotiate the PMPM with the state, and the state has expressed a willingness to consider.  Currently, CCH is required to give 10% of PMPM revenues back to the state.  Monthly enrollment reached 374,000 in October.
• Quality and Patient Care - The readmission rate is still too high primarily due to heart failure patients. There is a gap in care coordination. The Stroger recommendation rating is now up to 77.97%. The target is 71.3%
• Finance - 2020 financial numbers look good.  Could end the year with a small surplus based on resolution of Cares Act reverting back to the June requirements.  The January report should have final 2020 results.

COVID-19 Update:

• Testing has substantially increased but so have cases. The jail has become a problem again after getting it under control during the summer. The number of detainees is increasing. 
• Vaccine update- CCH is prepared for the vaccine's arrival. Extra cold storage units are in place and a plan for vaccinating employees is ready. At this point it will be available on a volunteer basis. Due to the side effect profile - sore arm, fatigue, headache for 24 hours - the roll out will not be by department. This will allow for affected employees to call out sick without putting undue strain on departments.

New Business:

• Chair Hammock requested a summary of the CCH and County Care Finance Reports for the board – and in particular, the new directors.
• The Racial Health Equity and Innovation Report will host a Webinar in February 2021 

Observed by:  Lisa Slankard                            Meeting Length: 3.25 hr