Concerned Citizens for Cook County Healthcare react to NSH Board report, Milan Schmidt announces run for hospital board
The Concerned Citizens for Cook County Healthcare (CCCCH) have responded to the Jan. 25 North Shore Health Board’s report, summarizing the facts and findings of the board’s internal investigation involving Dr. Bruce Dahlman and community concerns.
The North Shore Health Board held a special meeting on Jan. 25 to review and approve the facts and findings of a report concerning community concerns and Dr. Dahlman’s dismissal from Wapiti Medical Group.
South Dakota-based Wapiti Medical Group has a contractual relationship with North Shore Health to staff the Emergency Department (ED). On Nov. 1, 2023, Wapiti Medical Group notified Dr. Dahlman they had terminated his contract in an email.
CCCCH said it is unclear in the board’s report whether they have read the email from Wapiti Medical Group to Dr. Dahlman. WTIP contacted North Shore Health Board Chair Kay Olson to clarify if the board had read the email. WTIP has yet to receive a response.
According to Dr. Dahlman, CCCCH representatives, and retired physician Milan Schmidt, the email states it was a mutual decision between North Shore Health and Wapiti Medical Group to terminate Dr. Dahlman’s ED contract. Schmidt provided a redacted copy of the Nov. 1 email from Wapiti Medical Group to Dr. Dahlman in a Feb. 9 Cook County News Herald letter.
WTIP sat down with Schmidt and three Concerned Citizens for Cook County Healthcare representatives, Rovena Claxton, Vicki Biggs-Anderson, and Chuck Heller, to talk about their response to the facts and findings of the North Shore Health Board’s internal investigation.
During the interview, Schmidt announced he is running for the hospital board for District 2 in the upcoming election. He will run against incumbent District 2 Board Member Mary Sanders, whose term expires on Dec. 31, 2024.
“In the meantime, my intent is just to stay involved and attend as many meetings as I can,” Schmidt said.
As a retired physician with extensive experience working at the hospital, Schmidt said, “I do feel a responsibility to try and step up and do what I can. It won’t be the solution. But I want to do what I can to help.”
If elected, he said he would push to work towards having systems in place that would “keep folks accountable.”
Following the board’s report, WTIP reached out to Olson for comment. Olson responded in an email, “As noted in our report, we investigated as promised, reached our conclusions, and consider the issues closed. The Board will continue to work collaboratively with the NSH Leadership Team and and to support our dedicated and loyal employees to continue the Hospital’s mission to provide Community Access to Compassionate Care.”
Find the complete CCCCH response to the North Shore Health Board from the Concerned Citizens for Cook County Healthcare following the findings and facts of the North Shore Health Board January 25 report below:
Concerned Citizens for Cook County Healthcare Response To North Shore Health Board Report
The Community Conversations audio with Milan Schmidt and the three CCCCH representatives, Rovena Claxton, Vicki Biggs-Anderson, and Chuck Heller is below. It will air Thursday at 7 p.m. on WTIP.
Kalli Hawkins February 14, 2024
