CHICAGO – City of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Thursday lauded the amazing comeback of a South Side hospital that was on the verge of closing less than two years ago.
Emanuel praised the efforts of administrators and staff at the New Roseland Community Hospital during the hospital’s 2nd Annual Legislative Breakfast. More than 225 elected officials, members of the clergy, physicians, employees, patients and community stakeholders attended the event at the Salvation Army Kroc Center in the Greater Roseland Community.
“Roseland is an anchor for community healthcare and economic development,” Mayor Emanuel said. “To all legislators who are here, both from City Council and from Springfield, I want to thank you for your leadership and ensuring that the Greater Roseland community has the healthcare that they need and they deserve. When it comes to healthcare, it should not be the exception – it should be the expectation for everybody in the city of Chicago.”
The event also featured Illinois State Senators Emil Jones III and Antonio “Tony” Munoz; Illinois State
Representatives Robert “Bob” Rita and Marcus Evans; Aldermen Carrie Austin (34th Ward), Anthony “Tony” Beale (9th Ward) and Willie Cochran (20th Ward); and Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer.
“It’s a pleasure to stand and talk about what RCH means to me,” Jones said. “Everyone said the hospital was about to close a couple of years ago, but I knew I was not about to let that happen on my watch. Whenever I need a doctor, I run right to Roseland Hospital and they take care of me and give me excellent treatment.”
To highlight the dramatic turnaround, the event featured a video that outlined the hospital’s 5-Pillar Strategic Plan; Patients, Physicians, Employees, Community and Collaborations. “Roseland Hospital is an anchor on the Southside not only for its healthcare but for its employment,” said Rita. The New Roseland has increased its total number of employees by 15% to 500 since restructuring began in July 2013.
“Roseland is truly a community hospital,” Evans said. “It’s not only taking care of folks in the hospital, it’s also employing those folks. I’m a cancer survivor. I’ve sent up a lot of prayers, now I’m going to be sending up a lot of action. So you can count on State Representative Marcus Evans to continue to be committed to Roseland and all safety-net hospitals.”
During the breakfast, speakers addressed Roseland’s planned development of a new lung-health clinic, the Roseland Center for Breathing Easy, and hopes that it can build the Barack Obama Trauma Center, a Level 1 Trauma Center the Roseland community and entire South Side desperately needs.
“Sheer will kept the doors of our hospital open during a time of great crisis,” Roseland CEO and President Tim Egan said. “Now, a clear vision of our services meeting the healthcare needs of our community will keep our hospital thriving for the next generation.”
L-R- Rep. Rita, Ald. Beale, Ald. Austin. CEO Egan, Mayor Emanuel,Sen. Jones III, Rep. Evans, Sen. Munoz