Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Emergency! Nov. 4 rally against Cook County health care cuts

Stroger Hospital Emergency Room
Stroger Hospital Emergency Room

Yesterday, I had surgery at Stroger Hospital. My appointment was for 6:30 a.m. But the hospital was so overwhelmed that didn't get my operation until after 5 p.m.

I spent the whole day lying on a gurney in the pre-op area. Afterward, I was in terrible pain they were unable to get controlled, but they still sent me home because — the nurse said — there were patients in even worse shape that they didn't have beds for.

Now services may be cut further.

Protest at Stroger Hospital
4 p.m. Wednesday, November 4
West Ogden and South Damen avenues, Chicago

From the Chicago Single Payer Action Network:
Our health care system is under attack! Our hospitals and clinics which serve over 80% poor, black, latino and immigrant people are being dismantled. If we don't fight back against these attacks the patients served with be left without healthcare.

Where will we go when we get sick and can’t afford the $10-$50 dollar co-pays per clinic
visit?! What clinics will we go to when they become run by the federal government and bill for their services? Where will we get our medicines when our pharmacies are eliminated because our clinics are sold off? What hospital will we go to when the in-patient services are
eliminated?

This is what CEO Foley and the new governing board is proposing. Already over 300 nurses, doctors and medical staff have received lay off notices and there are still more to come! Every
attack on our health care workers and our hospitals and clinics is ultimately an attack on us.

We cannot remain silent! We have got to fight back. THESE ARE THE PROPOSED CUTS:
  • Eliminate all of inpatient care at Provident Hospital!
  • Eliminate all of inpatient care at Oak Forest Hospital!
  • Close more ACHN clinics and turn others like Robbins Community Clinic and Cottage Grove into Federally Qualified Health Centers
    (FQHC's)!
  • Charge $10 co-pays for every clinic visit!
  • 900 unfilled positions are already eliminated!
  • 500 more lay-offs still to come!
More information from UP.