City IG Lays Smack Down on Health Department

By Chuck Sudo in News on Apr 1, 2011 4:40PM

City Inspector General Joe Ferguson is this week's big winner. Heading an office that seems to have no shortage of investigations into local government waste, patronage and corruption, Ferguson capped an impressive week by announcing the City Department of Public Health brushed off nearly all of his office's recommendations for preventing the theft and loss of nearly $1 million worth of drugs used to supply city health clinics. Recommendations, by the way, the IG's office recommended nearly two years ago. While Ferguson did admit that the Health Department management had "significant turnover" during that span, he said it was no excuse.

The one recommendation of 11 CDPH heeded is that they now order their supplies online, which are delivered directly to the clinics. But they still lack the ability to track clinic supplies, medicines and vaccines., Ferguson said. The Health Department responded by saying they are now forming a policy to address these issues. But it may be too little, too late.

Mayor-elect Emanuel and Count Board President Toni Preckwinkle have discussed rolling the city and county health clinics together. This will only fuel Emanuel's resolve.