Erik Mikaitis, MD, was placed as chief quality officer at Cook County Health, a comprehensive, integrated system of health care throughout Chicago and suburban Cook County that encompasses two hospitals, a growing ambulatory and community health network, a public health department, a correctional healthcare facility, an outpatient infectious disease center, and the county’s largest Medicaid health plan. CCH provides more than 50% of all charity care in the county, serving more than 500,000 unique individuals each year. In his role, Dr. Mikaitis will be responsible for the direction, coordination, and oversight of the quality improvement, risk management, regulatory compliance, patient safety, system transformation, and performance improvement functions of the system.
Dr. Mikaitis comes to Cook County Health from Franciscan Health Crown Point in Indiana, where he most recently served as vice president and chief medical officer. In the capacity of quality leader for the 192-bed hospital, Dr. Mikaitis recruited a cardiovascular surgical team that significantly outperformed budgeted volume, developed a telesitter service that led to both safety and cost improvements, helped lead the development and design of a new hospital facility, and enabled the addition of four new subspecialty services. In addition, he leveraged Lean processes to drive strategy planning and deployment that resulted in improved turnover times in the operating room, reduced surgical costs, and reduced patient mortality, and he led a two-year culture change initiative that elevated patient satisfaction and staff engagement.
Dr. Mikaitis joined Franciscan Health as a hospitalist upon completing his medical residency in 2012. He subsequently rose through various roles in the health system, including medical director for the palliative care service line at St. Anthony Medical Center, medical director for quality improvement and utilization management for the hospital’s IPA, medical director for the system’s Accountable Care Organization, and regional director for palliative care.
Dr. Mikaitis holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from University of Illinois, an MBA from DePaul University, and an MD from Ross University School of Medicine. He is board-certified in internal medicine, and is a Certified Physician Executive through the American Association for Physician Leadership; in addition, he is a member of the American College of Physician Advisors, and a fellow of the American College of Physicians.
QLK’s Bill Foley, Joe Johnston, and Mary Sanderson led the search to recruit Dr. Mikaitis to Cook County Health, where his duties will begin on September 12, 2022.
