Almost alone, the Tribune has tried to talk some common sense to the politicos who want to tear down Cook County Hospital and replace her with a billion-dollar boondoggle!
First, a little history:
For about 100 years (roughly 1870 to 1970), Cook County Hospital enjoyed premier status not only nationally but internationally as the county hospital. As the Tribune recently stated, “Half the country’s doctors received some or all of their training there.” It was a super place for physicians, nurses and patients–mostly poor.
This century’s first 50 years witnessed her pre-eminence in all departments: medicine and surgery, trauma and orthopedics, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and pathology. Not to mention radiology, neurology, urology and psychiatry. Her golden age was dominated by such great names in our honorable profession as Meyer and McNealy, Fenger, Foley and Fantus, Hoyne and Hektoen, Senn and Schmitz, Rosi and Richter, Volini and Vaughan, Callahan and Kanavel, Koch and Keeley, et al.
But in the last few decades the Grand Old Lady of Harrison Street has become sick, on the outside and on the inside. Where once there were more than 3,000 patients, there now are barely 400! Never in her 150 years have so many employees taken care of so few patients. In place of the major specialties, County is now recognized only for abortion, AIDS and, questionably, cardiology.
Arguably abortion has become her albatross. The irony is that under Dr. Karl Meyer (1908-1958), County Hospital did not even permit Planned Parenthood’s birth-control program, much less sterilization and abortion. (In point of fact, Dr. Meyer founded the Chicago Foundling Home and himself had two adopted daughters.)
To try and resuscitate our alma mater would be an insult to her memory and legacy. She is now, and has been, moribund. Forget Phelan’s Folly. Stop Stroger’s Scam. Illinois does not need another white-elephant tax burden like Comiskey Park! Yes, tear her down. And distribute her assets (staff and patients) to annexes in five or ten half-empty local hospitals. Her reign is over. R.I.P.
