The Cook County Health and Hospital System's chief procurement officer was formerly a high-ranking executive at a company that's under consideration for a $500 million contract with the system, the Daily News has learned.
The procurement officer, Lesie Duffy, was formerly director of client development at VHA, Inc.
The health system is currently weighing whether to shift most of its dollars to so-called group purchasing organizations. VHA subsidiary Novation, Inc., operates a group purchasing organization that is one of three competing for a three-year contract.
Duffy did not respond to requests for comment.
Hospital system interim CEO David Small says Duffy's ties to VHA don't represent a conflict of interest.
Proposals from group purchasing organizations were evaluated by a committee of about a dozen people, he says.
“She is in no way a decision authority. She did not have a vote," Small says. "So there's no conflict."
Cook County Commissioner Peter Silvestri is considering an inquiry into the group purchasing plan, including questions raised about Duffy's connection to VHA.
Silvestri says the proposal needs to be vetted to ensure it is in the best interests of the county.
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