Cook County Board Health and Hospitals Committee Meetings

Cook County Board Committee Meetings 
Sept. 16, 2025

Health & Hospitals Committee Public Hearing
Committee Receives Update on Maternal Health Care and Morbidity and Mortality Rates in Cook County

• Following up on two similar hearings over the past 2 years, Commissioner Miller, the lead sponsor for holding this hearing (Item 25-0917), noted that disparities between Black and Latina women vs. other were made worse by Covid.  Now the disparities are expected to be exacerbated by the Federal cuts to Medicaid and to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Nevertheless, she noted that up to 80% of deaths are preventable and progress is being made.
• Nine public speakers ranging from individuals with serious maternal health problems to the CC Physicians Association, Women in Medicine, the IL Dept of Public Health, and speakers from Family Focus (advocacy/service org.) They all prioritized the importance of continuing to provide funding for maternal health and several emphasized the importance of providing post-partum medical coverage for 12 months.
• Dr. Wm McDade, MD, PhD and adjunct Professor of Anesthesiology at the Rush Medical College stated that during 2018 to 2022, there were 6,283 pregnancy-related deaths in Cook County, including 1,891 late maternal deaths.  American Indian and Alaska Native women had the highest death rate followed by non-Hispanic black women.  Cardiovascular disease was the leading cause of the overall deaths.  Cancer, mental and behavior disorders, and drug and/or alcohol induced deaths were all important contributing causes of late maternal death. Inadequate access to care, information, communication, and warning signs along with social determinants all lead to inequity.
• Dr. Joshi, Cook County Public Health Chief Operating Officer noted that in Suburban Cook County, black infant mortality is three times higher than for others.  Causes of maternal death include hemorrhaging, hypertension, obesity, infection, and thromboembolic disorders.  Cook County’s goal through its Doula program and other services wants to surround the maternal patient with all the services needed pre-during-and post pregnancy.
• Cook County’s Cermak facility provides health care for those in the Cook County Jail, which include: primary care clinics available for all individuals, STI (sexually transmitted infection) screening offered during intake process; perinatal clinic for pregnant and postpartum women; medication assistance; termination care, family planning services including a gynecology clinic, ultrasound for dating only, and referrals to Stroger Hospital for maternal-fetal medicine, antepartum ultrasound and delivery.

Links:  Maternal Health Resolution_June_Sept 2025 amended.pdf  (CC Health & Cermax Slides)
            McDade CCB Presentation Final.pptx  (Slides with lots of data)
Observer:  Diane Edmundson

Cook County Health & Hospitals Committee Regular Meeting
Committee Hears about the Environmental Health Services of the Cook County Department of Public Health

George Papadopoulos, MPH, LEHP presented the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) 3rd Quarter Report (Item 25-2514) to the Committee:

• Focus of the CCDPH report was on the Environmental Health Services. The Environmental Unit has a staff of 25 including 10 Licensed Environmental Health Practitioners. The Unit is funded 57% from Grants and 43% from the Corporate Health Fund. 
• The number of lead poisoning cases that this Unit is responsible for investigating in FY2025 increased by 50% from 2024. The IL Dept of Public Health in FY25 lowered the lead level that initiates an inspection by CCDPH unit. The Department is planning in FY2026 to expand the lead inspection program. 
• CCDPH is responsible for inspecting all Cook County swimming pools and tattoo and tanning facilities. However, the CCDPH only covers the unincorporated areas of Cook County for Retail and Food Protection Program, Retail Tobacco, Vector Control, Lead Poisoning, Nuisance, Mobile Home Parks, and Water/Sewage.  
• CCDPH on a regular basis collects and analyzes the data from all 4 of the County mosquito abatement districts.

Observer: Susan Avila