Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

...Trauma Surgery Management of Dental Infections Management of Oral and Head & Neck Cancers Microneurosurgery Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology/Tumors Orthognathic Surgery Outpatient Anesthesia Pre-prosthetic Surgery Removal of Third Molars (Wisdom Teeth) Temporomandibular Joint Disorders Oral and maxillofacial patients are seen at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County outpatient clinic. Call 312-864-0200 to make an appointment....

CareLink Program

...will not stop them from qualifying for the program. Eligibility is based on gross income, family size, and proof of Cook County residency. Patients must have lived in Cook County for at least 30 days prior to applying. Children 18 years old and younger do not qualify for CareLink. Children who need insurance should apply for All Kids. Anyone that...

Stroger Hospital Pharmacy

Provides prescription services for all Cook County Health prescriptions including outpatients, same-day surgery, emergency department and discharge patients. To refill your prescription, please call the 24-hour refill line at (312) 864-5651 and follow prompts to fill your prescription at a specific CCH pharmacy or have it delivered via mail order. The pharmacy will work with patients who do not have...

Surgery

...over 2,000 laser procedures. Our physicians utilize many methods of sophisticated care options and many eye diseases can be treated with medical, surgical or laser procedures. The Ophthalmology clinic, located in the John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital, is a comprehensively equipped facility with specialists available in 7 subspecialties including: medical/surgical retina, oculoplastics, cornea, glaucoma, uveitis, pediatrics/strabismus and neuro-ophthalmology. Minor surgery...

Fentanyl Awareness

...and Prevention. More than 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Stay Safe If you choose to use drugs, Go Slow. Fentanyl acts fast. Wait to see how your body reacts to a small amount of a drug to reduce the risk of an overdose. Never use alone. Make a plan with a safe...

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...

ALL ARE WELCOME HERE

...https://cookcountyhealth.org/patients-visitors/mycookcountyhealth/. Please visit www.cookcountyhealth.org for additional information about Cook County Health or call 773-395-7400 with questions about your health. Should you experience a medical emergency, please call 911 immediately. Thank you, The Cook County Health Team About Cook County Health  For more than 180 years, Cook County Health has proudly cared for patients regardless of their income, immigration or insurance status. As one...

Making an Impact

...and volunteers in connection with a hospital’s Community Benefits Program that take place as the result of a formal hospital initiative to organize or promote voluntary participation in the activity. Value of volunteer time is to be calculated as the number of volunteer hours multiplied by minimum wage. COOK COUNTY IS TAKING OUR SHOT ON THE FOREFRONT OF GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH...

Patient Rights & Responsibilities

...transfer must be accepted by the other facility or organization. To refuse a transfer to another facility or organization. To receive information on our policies related to your hospitalization or treatment. You have the right to make decisions about your care, including: To decide whether you want to consent to treatment, care and services. To withdraw your consent at any...

Trauma and Burn

...develop, so seek immediate medical attention if you believe your burn is serious or continues to worsen. A first-degree burn is a burn to the outermost layer of skin. First degree burns typically cause redness, dryness or pain, such as a sunburn, and are relatively minor. Second-degree burns affect the second layer of skin. Skin can be red and swollen...

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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.