Provident Hospital in Chicago opens a bigger, better pharmacy

Key Points

Cook County Board President Todd H. Stroger joined members of the Cook County Health and Hospital Governing Board and administrative staff of Provident Hospital of Cook County recently to celebrate the grand opening of the new Provident Hospital Pharmacy. A public, government facility, Provident Hospital is part of the Cook County Health and Hospital System, composed of seven healthcare entities. The hospital specializes in family medicine, asthma, internal medicine and neurosurgery.

The pharmacy opening came just seven months after news of some serious financial troubles in Cook County. According to published reports, in February the hospital system board was looking for ways to cut 18 percent from its budget. But financial woes did not dampen the pharmacy's opening.

Provident Hospital's old pharmacy offered limited seating for 40 people, even though many more often filled the room as they waited for their prescriptions. The refill process was "cumbersome, particularly for seniors standing in line to refill scripts, and staff typically had to deploy large oscillating fans on hot days to keep the interior temperature at a manageable level," according to a hospital spokesperson.

By contrast, the hospital's new air-conditioned outpatient pharmacy, which is located directly behind the hospital, has increased the number of customer-service stations threefold, to four for drop-off and two for pickup. The waiting area offers restrooms and seating for 90 people, in a space bounded by perennial flowers and plants. Hospital officials said their goal was to create a more welcoming atmosphere for patients.

The new facility includes an additional 1,400 square feet of work space designed to help increase productivity.

"This is a major step forward in quality of services for the thousands of people who rely on us each month at Provident to fill prescriptions," Stroger said. "Cook County reopened Provident Hospital 15 years ago as a partner in the County's network of healthcare facilities, and with the second busiest emergency department on the south side, we know the need for services at Provident is tremendous. This new pharmacy gives us access to an important new resource to provide our patients with quality healthcare and the medicines they need to get and stay healthy."