Ramanathan Raju, MD, CEO of the health system, said the county system is concerned its approximately 100,000 nonpaying patients who will become eligible for an expanded Medicaid program in 2014 may seek care at hospitals such as Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, according to the report. Dr. Raju added this shift may increase the percent of uninsured patients at the Cook County system to the high 90s.
The plan to hire more nurses is an attempt to compete with other health systems by improving customer service, wait times, availability of appointments and staff friendliness.
Related Articles on Hospital Employment:
Christus Health Consolidates Corporate Offices in Irving; Houston Loses Out
New Northeast Georgia Health Hospital to Create 500 Jobs
Mission Health in North Carolina Lays Off 8 in Marketing, Web Services Department