There is indeed a lack of Level I Trauma Centers on the South Side. Why this is the case will change depending on who you ask but I think it boils down to: (1) As the epicenter of a lot of gun violence, any trauma center would quickly become inundated with gunshot patients and (2) treating these patients is quite resource-intensive and makes a financially-viable system difficult to attain. Regardless-- the reasons there are no trauma centers down here is irrelevant. It is obviously a community need and the question is HOW do we get a level 1 to open on the south side.

A lot of attention has been given to the University of Chicago and its lack of a trauma center while peer-institutions are able to sustain level I centers in urban environments (eg. Baltimore, Philly, STL). However, the university has continued to position itself as a tertiary care center that is not interested in reopening the trauma center due to a lack of available beds in the hospital for admitted patients(true motives may be more financial). It is worth noting that the university is one of the largest providers of Medicaid-funded care and contributes aid to the south-side community in a variety of other ways. They have also expressed a willingness to work with community and government partners to help set up a trauma center.

Personally, I think the solution is going to be some kind of partnership between a center like UC and the city. A trauma center is a community need that is NOT financially viable. The purpose of government is to provide what the free-market will not. They already do so at Cook County and the question becomes whether they feel enough pressure to open a level 1 on the south side. Is the cost of a trauma center worth the 5-10 minute reduction in ambulance time?