Cook County's health system intends to add more than 240 jobs next year to keep up with growth.
The Cook County Board predicts a $647 million increase in revenue next fiscal year for the system's Medicaid managed care program, called CountyCare, with 10,000 new members expected to enter the plan next fiscal year.
CountyCare, operated by the Cook County Health & Hospitals System, currently has about 335,000 members. The system will add a total of 243 jobs in fiscal 2019, according to a spokeswoman.
The majority of new hires—about 150—will be care managers who were hired as contract employees to ensure the system could accommodate an increase in patients. Doctors and physician assistants spread through the health system will account for about 40 new employees.
Another 40 or so will be environmental service workers focused on cleaning and maintaining Central Campus facilities, including John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital. Health system board chairman Hill Hammock said that while patients are generally happy with physicians and other aspects of the system, cleanliness has been a concern.
He added that 62 percent of the county's proposed $5.9 billion budget for 2019 will go toward the Cook County Health and Hospitals System, which is investing in a dialysis unit at Provident Hospital, dental care within Central Campus and mental health services at primary care facilities.
"Cook County health system to add jobs" originally appeared in Crain's Chicago Business.
