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CHICAGO—Members of the South Austin
Coalition Community Council (SACCC)
presented much-needed basic medical
supplies to Advocate Bethany
Hospital January 17 in observance of
the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
holiday.
Blankets and blood pressure cuffs
were donated in response to issues
raised by hospital workers that
addressed the disparities in capital
investment by Advocate in its urban
and suburban hospitals. Advocate is
the state’s largest health care
provider.
“Bethany hospital has become a B.Y.O.B. hospital, bring your
own blanket, and that’s a tragedy,” said Rev. Gregory S.
Livingston, pastor of Mandel United Methodist Church,
standing with about 40 people in freezing weather outside
the hospital.
“It’s a shame that a health care system would set up a
separate and unequal system for urban, suburban, white,
Latino and Black service providers,” said Ald. Ricardo Munoz
(22nd). “It’s not fair, and today we honor Martin Luther
King (by) fighting for justice, fighting for equality,
fighting for access and fighting for a fair wage.”
The event was one of several activities by West Side clergy
and community groups that brought attention to the needs of
Bethany and other Advocate hospitals that serve African
American and minority communities.
The disparities are
highlighted in a report titled “Separate and
Unequal: Racial Redlining in Investments at
Advocate Hospitals,” produced by the Hospital
Accountability Project of the Service Employees
International Union. The report showed that
Advocate invested $72 million for capital
improvements at Good Shepherd Hospital in
Barrington compared to zero dollars invested for
significant capital improvements at Bethany
Hospital. The statistics are based on
state-approved capital expenditures requested by
Advocate, from 1995-2003.
Joseph “Smokey” Gardner
said he once was
homeless and had to be
treated at Bethany for
an angina attack. He sat
for three hours before
being diagnosed and
asked for a blanket
while waiting.
“I was told they didn’t
have any. It’s sickening
that you can be in a
hospital where you’re
supposed to get care but
can’t even get a
blanket,” he said.
He also read a statement
on behalf of Bethany
registered nurse
Demetris Jantuah, who
told of having to
“prioritize on life and
death decisions” due to
a staff shortage. She
described a recent
experience caring for a
stroke victim, a woman
injured in a car
accident, a patient with
severe abdominal
“There is no reason why a system that profited
$124 million last year that we have to be short
staffed like this," Jantuah's statement read. “I
can go on for a long time about the consequences
of not having enough blood pressure cuffs, non
functioning heart monitors … but I will never
tell my patients that the proper equipment is
not available. But when I look into their eyes I
think they know. It shouldn’t be this way,
especially in a faith-based system like
Advocate.
”This event followed activities by other
organizations raising similar concerns. On
January 15, in observance of Dr. King’s
birthday, members of ACORN (Association of
Community Organizations for Reform Now) visited
the home of Dr. Lee Sacks, Advocate's chief
medical officer, to request that he atone for a
statement that suggested there are two tiers of
health care, one for affluent whites and one for
minorities. On January 16, members of the
Metropolitan Association of Congregations West visited Good
Shepherd Hospital and its fitness center in Barrington to
personally note the “night and day difference” of the
Bethany and Good Shepherd facilities that are owned by the
same health care company. |
