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CHICAGO — In the heart of Chicago, the ongoing actions of immigration enforcement are casting a shadow over access to critical health care services.
Health safety net organizations across the city are sounding the alarm as the number of missed medical appointments climbs. Many residents, especially within immigrant communities, are hesitant to seek medical attention—even for life-threatening conditions—due to fear of deportation. However, health care providers are striving to dispel this atmosphere of fear and ensure that everyone receives the care they need.
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Steph Willding, CEO of CommunityHealth, describes the situation as paralyzing for many individuals. “The fear is so intense that people are reluctant to travel even a short distance for health care, worried they might not return home,” Willding stated. “Our focus is on effectively communicating to our patients about the measures we’re implementing to keep them safe.”
The ABC7 I-Team has delved into this pressing issue, speaking with representatives from CommunityHealth, Humboldt Park Hospital, and Cook County Health. These institutions report that immigrant communities are caught in a dilemma, fearing federal actions while in pursuit of essential medical services.
“I’m deeply concerned,” shared Jose Sanchez, President and CEO of Humboldt Park Health. “The health status of this community is significantly worse compared to more affluent areas. Many residents are battling chronic conditions that require regular medical treatment, medication, and sometimes hospitalization. Without access to necessary care, their health conditions are likely to deteriorate.”
“I’m extremely concerned, because the health profile of this community is worse off than other affluent communities, and in this community, there are many residents that suffer from chronic health conditions that required medical treatment, required medication, oftentimes, hospitalizations their conditions will worsen by not getting the appropriate care that they need,” explained Jose Sanchez, President and CEO of Humboldt Park Health.
Dr. Erik Mikaitis, the CEO of Cook County Health, said, “We had a very heartbreaking story just a few weeks ago where a gentleman, an undocumented patient, was in active treatment for prostate cancer, and he called his oncologist and essentially said, please erase my medical records. I’m not going to engage in care.”
RELATED | Chicago healthcare institutions claim large no-show rates due to federal immigration crackdown
At Humboldt Park Health on Chicago’s West Side, a predominantly Latino community, no-show rates have skyrocketed.
“Our no-show rate in the clinics definitely doubled. In some clinics even tripled and not showing up for their basic primary care preventive services,” said Dr. Dagoberto Camacho, Chief Medical Officer of Humboldt Park Health.
Cook County Health is working to assuage that fear, touting extensive training to keep patients and their privacy safe.
“Those processes are very tight with our teams, but the real work has been what happens if there is immigration enforcement coming in, somebody’s coming with a warrant to find somebody?” Dr. Mikaitis said. “Thankfully, that hasn’t happened, but we spent the better part of this year really training up our team so they feel informed and empowered.”
All healthcare providers who spoke to the I-Team say there are some solutions. Some offer free transportation to in-person clinics and all offer online remote doctor visits. Patients can even designate someone else to pick up their prescriptions.
Everyone the I-Team spoke with said there are many, many options to help patients continue their healthcare, even if they do not want to leave their homes.
“We’ve actually seen in the month of October, a 733% increase in telehealth,” Willding said.
RELATED | Chicago federal intervention: Tracking surge in immigration enforcement operations | Live updates
Humboldt Park Health is pleading with patients to not give up.
“Don’t let this be a reason why you’re not coming to receive your care here at Humboldt Park health, we’re here. We speak your language, we understand your culture, and we’re here for you. You know, we’re ready to take care of any needs you have,” Camacho said.
While all the facilities the I-Team talked with already have extensive training and safety plans in place, new legislation has just been introduced in Springfield to create guardrails for all healthcare facilities on how to handle any potential immigration operations on their premises.
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Cook County Health
CommunityHealth
Humboldt Park Hospital
