Cook County Health Bridge Clinic

The Bridge Clinic at Cook County Health is your entry point into recovery. We act as an urgent care clinic for those struggling with opioid and/or alcohol use. The Bridge Clinic provides rapid access to treatment without judgement. Common examples of opioids include heroin and prescription pills like oxycodone (Percocet, OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), codeine, fentanyl, and morphine. Call 911 if...

Patient Rights & Responsibilities

...(312) 864-0185. Chinese: 注意:如果您使用繁體中文,您可以免費獲得語言援助服務。請致電 (312) 864-0185. Korean: 주의: 한국어를 사용하시는 경우, 언어 지원 서비스를 무료로 이용하실 수 있습니다. (312) 864-0185. 번으로 전화해 주십시오. Tagalog: PAUNAWA: Kung nagsasalita ka ng Tagalog, maaari kang gumamit ng mga serbisyo ng tulong sa wika nang walang bayad. Tumawag sa (312) 864-0185. Arabic: ملحوظة: إذا كنت تتحدث اذكر اللغة، فإن خدمات المساعدة اللغوية تتوافر لك...

Human Resources

...the case of certified/licensed health care professional positions and medical assistants. Actively recruited positions are not direct appointment positions. Actively recruited positions fall into one of four categories: Positions for which a minimum qualification is a M.D., D.O., D.D.S., Ph.D., D.Sc., Dr. PH., J.D.or a doctorate or master’s degree Positions that are certified/licensed health care professional positions working within Cook...

Cermak Resource

...to use it. Mental Health Care Everyone struggles with their mental health sometimes. It is important to get care for your mental health, just like you do for your physical health. Illinois Helpline for Substance Use or Problem Gambling: Call 833-234-6343 or text “help” to 833234 SAMHSA National Helpline: Call 1-800-662-4357 Suicide and Crisis Helpline: Call or text 988 or...

Videos

Chicago Weather: Bitter cold moves in, as do below-zero wind chills; Wind Chill Advisory in effect February 6, 2019 Read More Wind Chill Advisory Begins as Dangerous Cold Blasts Chicago Area February 6, 2019 Read More January is not messing around anymore February 6, 2019 Read More Dangerous cold grips Chicago, prompting warnings, closing February 6, 2019 Read More Chicago...

Good Faith Estimates

...to bills you get later. If you get the bill and the charges are at least $400 above the good faith estimate, please contact CCH at 866. 223.2817. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you may be eligible to start a patient-provider dispute with the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Please visit https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers/medical-bill-disagreements-if-you-are-uninsured or call 1.800.985.3059....

Academic Center Library

...Health employees. There are 15 computers in the library with Microsoft Office access. Using these programs takes precedence over Internet searching on those computers. Miscellaneous Please be considerate of others while in the library. Please refrain from loud noises and talking that might disturb other patrons. Please do not bring food or beverages (except water) into the library. Please refrain...

Stronger Together: Building a More Equitable Behavioral Health System

...staff. Fringe Benefits: Include costs of leave, employee insurance, pensions, unemployment benefit plans, etc. Should be based on actual costs or an established formula. Consultant Costs: Include costs related to hiring an individual who will give professional advice or services (e.g., training, expert consultant, ) for a fee. This individual is not and cannot be an employee of the organization....

Cook County Health CEO Rocha Named to AEH Board of Directors

...Rocha. “Now more than ever, we must work together as a health care community to ensure health justice for all people, regardless of sex, immigration status, or ability to pay. I look forward to advancing AEH’s important work on behalf of its members.” Rocha was also named to the Illinois Health and Hospital Association Board of Trustees earlier this year....

Emergency Preservation & Resuscitation Trial (EPR)

...Such injuries may require surgical repair. In very rare situations, these injuries could lead to the loss of a limb. Use of cardiopulmonary bypass can cause a blood clot or air to enter the bloodstream. This could cause loss of blood flow to an important organ or a limb. • Hypothermia (cooling) can cause problems with the normal clotting system,...

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Andrew G. Birkhead, MD, FAAFP, FASAM

Andrew Birkhead serves as an attending physician in the Department of Family & Community Medicine and holds the position of Medical Director at the Bridge Clinic.

Dr. Birkhead completed his residency in family medicine as Chief Resident at UIC, following his medical school graduation from Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, LA. Certified in Family Medicine. Dr. Birkhead also holds fellowship distinctions in both Family and Addiction Medicine.

Based primarily at Cook County Health Englewood Health Center, Dr. Birkhead operates an outpatient primary care practice. Additionally, Dr. Birkhead provides inpatient medical care and obstetrics services at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County.

Monica Puente, LSW CADC

Recovery Coach Coordinator, Monica Puente is a seasoned bilingual and bicultural social worker with over a decade of experience specializing in HIV and substance use disorders (SUD). With a rich background in providing support to diverse communities, Puente has demonstrated a keen understanding of the intersecting challenges faced by individuals navigating these complex health issues.

Having worked at Cook County Jail in the OTP clinic, Puente has firsthand experience addressing the unique needs of incarcerated individuals grappling with SUD. This experience has underscored Puente’s commitment to delivering compassionate and culturally competent care within challenging environments.

Puente is deeply committed to advocating for equitable access to immediate treatment for vulnerable populations. Puente recognizes the urgency of addressing these issues and remains steadfast in her mission to empower individuals to lead healthier lives.

Diane Rosales, CADC

Recovery Coach, Diane Rosales, a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, embarked on her journey in the field of substance abuse in 1968. However, Rosales’ exposure to substance use and alcoholism began much earlier in life. 

As a former substance user, Rosales’ breakthrough in treatment led her to achieve sustained sobriety. From there, she pursued education relentlessly, earning a GED and eventually a master’s degree.

Rosales champions accessible and low-barrier treatment for patients, acknowledging its potential to save lives. Rosales has committed her career to making a positive impact on individuals’ lives and advocating for alternative paths to living.

Frances Norlock, DO MPH FACP

Dr. Frances Norlock earned her Bachelor of Science in Sociology from the University of Illinois at Chicago, followed by a Master’s degree in Epidemiology from the University of Michigan and a Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. Her residency training in internal medicine was completed at Rush University, after which she joined John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County in 1998.

As a primary care internist, Dr. Norlock provides care to patients at Cook County Health’s Austin Health Center and offers specialized services for individuals with substance use disorders at the General Medicine Clinic at the John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital campus.

For over a decade, Dr. Norlock facilitated educational initiatives for residents and faculty, supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Primary Care Training and Enhancement grant. This included training faculty and staff to obtain licenses for prescribing medications to treat opioid use disorder.

Since 2008, Dr. Norlock has served as the Section Head of Medical Education for the Division of General Internal Medicine and Primary Care. Currently, she supervises the Addiction Medicine resident rotation, guiding internal medicine residents in evaluating and managing substance use disorders in their patients. Additionally, she co-authored and co-edited the book “Breast Health and Common Breast Problems: A Practical Approach” as part of the American College of Physicians Women’s Health book series. Dr. Norlock’s contributions extend to publications in esteemed journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Alexandra Albanese, MD FAAFP

Dr. Albanese serves as an attending physician in the Department of Family & Community Medicine and holds the role of Associate Program Director at the Cook County Family Medicine Residency Program. Dr. Albanese attended Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine for her medical education and completed her residency training at the University of Illinois Chicago.

Beyond addiction medicine, Dr. Albanese’s clinical interests encompass women’s health and chronic disease management.

Michael Nelson, MD

Dr. Michael Nelson, is a versatile medical professional specializing in emergency medicine, medical toxicology, and addiction medicine at John H. Stroger Jr., Hospital of Cook County. Dr. Nelson earned his medical degree from the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University and completed his emergency medicine residency at Cook County Emergency Medicine Residency. Dr. Nelson furthered his expertise with a fellowship in medical toxicology at the Toxikon Consortium/Cook County Hospital/University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center.

Dr. Nelson is actively involved in professional endeavors related to emerging drugs of abuse, substance use disorders, and the utilization of athletic performance-enhancing substances. Holding influential positions as the Chair of the Prescribing Practices Committee for the Illinois Opioid Advisory Council and as a member of the HOPE Taskforce for DuPage County and serves as a consultant for the Illinois Poison Control Center.

Janet Towns

Janet Towns serves as a community health worker, actively engaging with and assisting the community by facilitating access to resources, providing referrals, and offering support for Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), drawing from her own lived experiences.