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When Chicago’s Gage Park-West Elsdon neighborhood experienced the closing of a vital health resource just before the pandemic, UI Health asked how it could help. The community of mostly Black and Hispanic residents eagerly responded.
“Our mission became bringing specialty care to a community that badly needed it,” said Sandi McCullough, senior director of clinical operations at UI Health’s 55th & Pulaski Health Collaborative, one of more than 20 stops on this fall's 2024 University of Illinois System Leadership State Tour.
Since early 2022, the collaborative has served more than 30,000 patients, especially neighbors who face barriers to managing disease. It’s a shining example of how the U of I System and its partners improve access to healthcare and close gaps in patient outcomes.
Read more stories like this in our 2024 annual report!
Right in the same building
One clinic that connects patients with specialty services resides on the building’s main floor. Friend Health offers immediate care services. And it helps catch patients who fell through the cracks.
“Many people with chronic conditions are a lot sicker than they were before the pandemic. It’s rewarding to see them getting care again, to see their blood pressure improve, see their A1C improve,” said Maribel Corral, Friend Health physician assistant.
“Especially with cardiac care, it’s a breath of fresh air when I can do a warm handoff to someone upstairs at UI Health.”
An effort of the University of Illinois College of Medicine, the University of Illinois Chicago College of Applied Health Sciences, and the UI Health Mile Square Health Center, the busy four-story facility brings together UIC’s health sciences colleges and local healthcare providers for health screenings and specialty services, as well as behavioral and mental health care.
From surviving to thriving
“This initiative has been both innovative and impactful, in part, because of the range of expertise and partnerships,” said Dr. Robert Barish, MD, UIC vice chancellor for health affairs. “Housing acute and chronic care needs with social services, like social and community health workers, all under one roof provides the level of attention and personalization needed to empower patients to truly thrive.”
The clinic now offers care in 20 specialty areas, including radiology and endocrinology.
“We opened with three specialties. Since then, the number of patients we’ve served has quadrupled. We hear all the time how much people like the convenience,” McCullough said.
“They say they feel supported.”
Transformation leaders
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services funded the launch of the collaborative through a $15 million Healthcare Transformation Collaboratives award. It is the first state-funded collaborative to operationalize.
“Our approach aims to tackle the often-fragmented nature of healthcare delivery. Reducing that fragmentation is essential for improving health outcomes and reducing disparities,” said Heather Prendergast, MD, College of Medicine associate dean for clinical affairs, who help spearhead the collaborative.
“Our goal is healthcare transformation, and we are full steam ahead.”
More than managing symptoms
The team has no intention of slowing down.
“We intend to expand this model to do even more,” Prendergast said. “True health equality requires leveraging technology to enhance care coordination, implementing community-based health programs to address social determinants of health, and fostering even stronger partnerships among healthcare providers and community partners.”
Patients who visit may find more than they expect, including bilingual staff and providers.
“By helping with insurance, facilitating access to community resources, hosting community education sessions, and offering targeted programs—such as hypertension action planning, prenatal care, and diabetes and high blood pressure management—the facility ensures a holistic approach to healthcare to improve patient well-being for a healthier, more resilient community.”
To share an Altogether Extraordinary story about the University of Illinois System’s impact, please message lmabry@uillinois.edu.
