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Articles by Catherine Gianaro
Rush and Endeavor Health Announce Plans to Merge
Rush University System for Health and Endeavor Health announced plans on Oct. 14 to merge, creating one of the Chicago area’s largest healthcare systems, with 12 hospitals, more than 400 care sites, and approximately 46,000 employees and clinicians. The proposed combined organization would operate under the Rush name and serve more than 2 million patients annually across northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana.
Illinois’ Cyclosporiasis Surge
As cases of the parasite increase, here’s what Chicagoans need to know Illinois health officials are investigating a sharp increase in cyclosporiasis, a parasitic intestinal illness, as reported cases have climbed in recent weeks. As of July 16, Illinois had 277 cases statewide, including 23 hospitalizations and no deaths. That’s up from the 141 cases that the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reported the previous week. Check numbers daily at dph.illinois.gov/.
Prioritizing Prostate Health
With prostate cancer on the rise, physicians — and patients — urge screening At 71 years old, John Lee noticed he was having trouble urinating. So he scheduled a doctors appointment that likely saved his life. The physician ran a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test that revealed elevated levels of the protein in his blood. Sometimes, elevated PSA levels stem from benign conditions, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (commonly called BPH) or prostatitis.
Our Robotic Future
Fact checked by Jim Lacy In hospitals, nursing homes, and even private homes, robots are quietly transforming healthcare. These machines assist with everything from lifting patients and monitoring vital signs to transporting supplies and stocking shelves.In doing so, they’re reshaping what care looks like in the 21st century. Healthcare is demanding work. Nurses, home health aides, and family caregivers often face long hours, physically strenuous tasks, and emotional strain.
The Global Caregiver Shortage
Fact checked by Jim Lacy The world faces a growing crisis: not enough people to care for older adults. The global shortage of health and care workers could reach around 10 million by 2030, the World Health Organization estimates. Regions in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean face severe shortages, while other parts of the world are expanding retention and training efforts. This crisis extends to the United States. “The need for caregiversis rising rapidly,” says S.
Aging in Place Gets Smarter
Fact checked by Shannon Sparks For decades, aging in place meant grab bars in the bathroom, a landline nearby, and a neighbor checking in. Today, it looks more like a fully integrated home that acts as a quiet partner in safety, monitoring, and peace of mind. The newest generation of connected homes includes sensors embedded in walls and appliances, fall-detection flooring, and environmental monitors that track indoor air quality, room temperature, and more.
Money, Meds, and Medicare
Fact checked by Shannon Sparks The pills that keep millions of Medicare beneficiaries moving through the day are rarely the simple, local products their bottles suggest. Instead, they are the result of a long, global relay: chemical precursors made in one country, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in another, and final packaging and tablet pressing in a third. That process may be changing.
The Language of Lung Cancer
Lung cancer’s risk factors go beyond smoking, and include family history and air pollution. Yet, screening guidelines have yet to account for them Jill Feldman, 56, learned at a young age that lung cancer doesn’t only affect people who smoke. Feldman lost her father and two grandparents to the disease before she turned 13. Her mother and aunt died of lung cancer when she was in her 20s. And Feldman herself was diagnosed at age 39. Now, she considers herself an advocate for awareness.
Medicare’s 2026 Changes
Costs and choices shift for upcoming Medicare coverage Seniors selecting Medicare coverage for 2026 will see modest but notable changes in premiums, fewer plan options, and reduced prescription drug choices, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Open enrollment continues through Dec. 7, 2025. CMS projected the average monthly premium for Medicare Advantage plans will fall to $14 in 2026, down from $16.40 this year.
Virtual Reality Offers a Window into Life with Dementia
Fact checked by Ros Lederman Virtual reality (VR) dementia simulations — offered through headsets at some care facilities, hospitals, and training centers — immerse users in the disorienting, often frustrating world that people with memory loss experience. As participants attempt to perform simple tasks amidst flickering lights, garbled instructions, or background noise that mimics auditory hallucinations, finding the bathroom or recognizing a loved one becomes overwhelming.
Alzheimer’s Research Cuts
Fact checked by Shannon Sparks Nobody goes into the hospital hoping to leave and be hospitalized again. Yet, nearly 1 in 5 Medicare patients reenters the hospital within 30 days of discharge, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This costly and often-preventable outcome pushed hospitals nationwide to overhaul how they manage patient transitions. At the heart of this evolution is case management — the modern, team-based successor to traditional discharge planning.
A Day Away
Fact checked by Shannon Sparks When Jack Sullivan, an 80-year-old Andersonville resident and father of 12, first visited CJE SeniorLife’s Adult Day Services program, he wasn’t sure what to expect. “I was wary at first,” he says. “But before I knew it, I was here five days a week. You sit at a table, five or six people, and maybe you don’t even know their names — but you just say hello, and it goes from there.” Today, Sullivan considers the program a joyful part of his routine.
Walgreens Goes Private
What private equity ownership means for healthcare access and pharmacy services Fact checked by Ros Lederman In a landmark shift for the retail pharmacy industry, New York-based private equity firm Sycamore Partners will finalize a purchase of Walgreens Boots Alliance for $10 billion later this year, with potential to pay as much as $23.7 billion once other costs are factored in. The deal takes Walgreens private, ending its nearly century-long run as a publicly traded company.
Understanding U.S. Healthcare Copays
Fact checked by Jim Lacy Copayments, coinsurance, deductibles…. Health insurance could have a dictionary all its own.Copays are out-of-pocket fees that range from a few dollars for routine doctor visits to hundreds or even thousands for prescriptions or specialty care. Copays emerged in the mid-20th century as employer-sponsored health insurance plans gained popularity.
Mind, Body, Spirit
Shana Erenberg, PhD, listened closely one morning as her friend Baruch Schur shared a concern with her: He needed to move his son Josh out of state due to the lack of disability services in Chicago. Erenberg felt compelled to act. With a doctorate in communication sciences and disorders from Northwestern University, Erenberg had spent decades as an advocate for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Cancer’s Younger Scope
Fact checked by Jim Lacy A cancer diagnosis at any age is life-altering, but a growing body of evidence reveals a troubling rise in cancer diagnoses among individuals, particularly women, under 50. Women in this age group now face an 82% higher likelihood of developing cancer than men, up from 51% in 2002. Breast and thyroid cancers are primary contributors to this increase.
No Comment - Chicago Health
HHS cuts public comment periods, sparking concerns over transparency The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has revoked a 50-year-old rule that required public input on key regulatory decisions. The move could significantly alter how healthcare policies are shaped. The Richardson Waiver, in place since 1971, ensured that HHS regulations affecting agency management, funding, and benefits gave the public a chance to voice their opinions. However, as of Feb.
Redefining Menopause
UIC menopause seminar featuring actress Halle Berry works to transform the conversation about women’s “personal summers” In a bold move to reshape the conversation around menopause, actress and advocate Halle Berry took center stage at the University Club of Chicago this past week, joining forces with 12 influential medical and research experts. The University of Illinois Chicago brought together the experts, who called for a critical shift in how society approaches menopause.
Our Top 10 Stories of 2024
One of the best things about the new year is reviewing our most-read articles from the previous year. This exercise gives us an opportunity to find out what our readers most wanted to read, to remind ourselves of the health events that unfolded, and to review our breadth of coverage and our writers’ talents. This past year, our top 10 include stories on inequities, hospitals’ preparation for the Democratic National Convention, ongoing vaccine controversies, and more.
Our Top 10 Stories of 2024
We’re always curious at the end of the year to see which stories most resonated with our readers. Our top 10 of 2024 covers everything from menopause to older adults and homelessness. As we move into 2025, we’re excited to bring you even more stories to enhance your caregiving and aging experience. As always, thanks for reading. Here’s to 2025! 10.
Elder Emergencies
Geriatric-certified emergency departments aim to improve care for aging population Have you ever had to take a a parent or other older adult to the emergency department? It can be complicated, as you struggle to remember their medications and health conditions. But emergency departments across the country are recognizing that as the U.S. population ages, they need to make changes to address the increasingly complex needs of older adults.
Fear of Radiation
Kevin Connor, a 51-year-old Chicago resident, faced a daunting decision this past year when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Despite a troubling family history and his own deep-seated fears, Connor was at first adamant about avoiding treatment. “I remember telling my wife, just before her birthday, thatI wasn’t going to get any treatment,” Connor says.
Hands-on Hearts
Maybe you already know that nearly half of all U.S. adults have cardiovascular disease. This includes people with coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and high blood pressure. But would you have guessed that one of the latest weapons to help fight this battle is 3D printing? This technology is becoming more popular in cardiac care and research, enabling more precise diagnostics, personalized treatment, and innovative research.
Emergency Response
Fact checked by Shannon Sparks When someone gets shot in Chicago, the effects echo far beyond the wounded person. They envelope the person’s family and friends, the first responders on the scene, and the physicians and medical teams who treat them in the hospital. Nearly 80% of the 2,880 shooting victims in Chicago in 2023 survived, thanks largely to city hospitals’ emergency rooms.
Care Refusal
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter said, “There are only four kinds of people in the world: Those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers.” Her point: Caregiving is a nearly . But in homes across the United States, a growing number of family caregivers face a heart-wrenching challenge: caring for loved ones who resist help or are noncompliant with medical advice.
DNC Ready - Chicago Health
As the Democratic National Convention (DNC) approaches, Chicago will shine. Weather projections are sunny and clear, the lake will sparkle, and Chicago’s restaurants, neighborhoods, and amenities are ready to welcome visitors. But should something go awry, the city’s hospitals have been preparing.
Shouldering the Burden
Fact checked by Derick Wilder Shoulder arthritis affects an estimated 1 in 3 Americans over age 60, causing pain that robs them of sleep and impacts their ability to function. But now more than ever, people have promising possibilities to reduce their pain and increase their range of motion. The shoulder joint allows for a wide range of motion essential for everyday tasks such as reaching, lifting, and carrying. However, when arthritis takes hold, once-fluid movement becomes painful and restricted.
The World of Memory Care
Fact checked by Shannon Sparks As our population ages, the demand for specialized memory care is on the rise. About 2 in 3 Americans have some level of cognitive impairment by age 70. Women and men have a 37% and 24% risk respectively of dementia, and memory care clinics have emerged as vital resources.
Navigating the Medicare Maze
Fact checked by Derick Wilder Part of the beauty of turning 65 is you get to enroll in Medicare — no more worrying about staying employed to get health insurance or paying high rates for private coverage. However, figuring out Medicare leaves many feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to begin. Enlisting the help of a specialized professional can make all the difference.
Equity in Action
In its second annual Health Equity Summit held this past Wednesday, The Executives’ Club of Chicago welcomed thought leaders from throughout the city to shed light on the profound disparities in healthcare services across the Chicago metro area. The core concern that many of the panelists work to address: Residents in poorer neighborhoods have significantly shorter life expectancy compared to those in wealthier areas.
Women Rising
Fact checked by Derick Wilder Our story begins 160 years ago, during the Civil War era. Elizabeth Blackwell, MD, the first woman to earn a medical degree in the U.S., had graduated only 15 years earlier, in 1849. Blackwell was exceptional; most institutions at the time barred women from higher education and professional work. With a few exceptions, women largely couldn’t vote, take legal action, or own property.
Preserving Future Children
Fact checked by Derick Wilder As childhood cancer survival rates improve, a common concern crops up for families: the child’s future fertility. Ten years ago, Lurie Children’s Hospital launched a groundbreaking fertility preservation program that gives families a chance to retain that fertility. The team has performedpreservations for more than 360 children so far. It remains the only program of its kind in Illinois.
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