North Shore Health talks budget, helipad and more

Finances and operations of North Shore Health are complicated and the hospital district board meets monthly to make decisions that impact Cook County residents and visitors alike. The hospital board met on Thursday, November 21 and worked its way through a fairly lengthy agenda.

The board heard from hospital finance officer Vera Schumann with the latest on budget planning.

The board also heard an update on the hospital helipad. According to North Shore Health Administrator Kimber Wraalstad, the helipad is operating and available for emergency medical helicopters. However, North Shore Health is still awaiting official approval of the landing zone at the back of the hospital.

Likewise, no resolution has yet been found for citizen concerns about the brightness of the reconstructed parking lot lights. Administrator Wraalstad explained that the lighting is dark sky compliant, however, because the elevation of the parking lot changed, the lights are higher than they were, so they now illuminate nearby homes differently.

Among other routine matters, the hospital board heard about the “Safe Care for Seniors” program enacted at North Shore Health last year to serve the 37 Care Center residents and hospital patients. Administrator Wraalstad expressed appreciation to staffers Malorie Brazell and Mary Edson, who have taken on the role of “safety champions.”

WTIP’s Rhonda Silence spoke with North Shore Health Administrator Kimber Wraalstad about all this.

Anyone who would like to contact Wraalstad to ask their own questions may do so by calling her at 218-387-3260 or emailing [email protected].