UI Health Receives Nearly $40 Million to Further Expand Access to Care in Chicago’s Southwest Side Communities

UI Health received a $33 million award, the second largest of the individual grants from the State of Illinois’ $200 million investment in the Healthcare Transformation Capital (HTC) Investment Grant Program. The grants will fund capital projects addressing health-related social needs and to reduce healthcare disparities in historically underserved communities.

The award to UI Health will support the establishment of the “Community-Centered Comprehensive Care for Chronic Conditions” (C6) Model on the Southwest side of Chicago to complement the UI Health 55th & Pulaski Health Collaborative, and will facilitate the construction of a comprehensive care center and community wellness programming space. The C6 Model represents a transformative approach to healthcare delivery, combining primary and specialty care, medical imaging, diagnostic and screening services, as well as patient navigation and coaching. This capital investment will further enhance the clinic’s ability to address the local communities where residents disproportionately suffer from high rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity and cancer.

Highlights of the C6 initiative include:

• Expanding Primary Care Access: Increasing the number of primary care physicians to meet the critical demand for frontline health services in the community.
• Enhancing Diagnostic and Screening Services: Providing state-of-the-art medical imaging and diagnostic capabilities to facilitate early detection and intervention.
• Specialty Care Integration: Building on the success of the UI Health 55th and Pulaski Health Collaborative, this initiative will expand the reach and scope of specialty care services.
• Community-Based Care Navigation: Offering wellness programs, educational resources, and care coordination to ensure patients receive holistic support throughout their healthcare journey.

This expansion will substantially increase the number of residents who can receive regular preventive care and chronic disease management in their own community. The addition of new screening and diagnostic services will eliminate the need for residents to travel long distances for essential medical imaging and screenings, while the integration with specialty care services at the 55th & Pulaski Health Collaborative will create seamless care pathways for patients.

The project will also establish wellness programming focused on healthy living, providing residents with resources for exercise, nutrition education and therapeutic programs. Through this holistic approach, the C6 Model aims to transform healthcare delivery and improve health outcomes for Chicago’s Southwest side.

UI Health also received over $6.5 million to further expand services at 55th & Pulaski. Since its launch in February 2022, the Health Collaborative has provided access to specialty care and advanced diagnostics with over 35,000 patient care visits reflecting the critical need for accessible healthcare in the area. This funding will support several key initiatives, including:

• Completion of a State-of-the-Art Dental Suite: Operated by our own Mile Square Health Center, the new dental suite at 55th and Pulaski will meet a significant need for dental care in the community. Few facilities in the area accept Medicaid or provide services for uninsured patients, and this suite will ensure accessible, high-quality dental care for all.
• Addressing Capital Improvements: Investments will be made to enhance the infrastructure of the 55th and Pulaski facility, including the replacement of the HVAC rooftop system, which has surpassed its operational life expectancy of 10–15 years. These upgrades are essential for maintaining a high standard of care.
• Enhancing Care Coordination: In collaboration with the Office of Community Health and Neighborhood Partnerships (OCEAN-HP) and the UI Health Care Connect team, the initiative will strengthen care coordination through an integrated platform. This initiative employs Community Health Workers from the local communities and engages five neighborhood organizations, ensuring seamless patient transitions and tailored support.
• EHR Interoperability Support: Currently, providers at the 55th and Pulaski Health Collaborative face challenges due to a lack of integration between the various electronic health record systems. This funding will strive to remove these barriers, reducing staff burden and improving the coordination of care between primary and specialty providers.

UI Health is also delivering primary care through the Lifespan Disability Clinic at the 55th and Pulaski Health Collaborative for children and adults with developmental disabilities. The clinic also prepares the next generation of physicians who will receive special training in the clinic to best serve this population.

The Lifespan Disability Clinic was designed to create a welcoming space staffed with healthcare providers who are dedicated to better health outcomes for patients with disabilities who have long faced challenges accessing needed care. The Lifespan Disability Clinic is designed as a one-stop healthcare site for patients with disabilities, providing access to multiple practitioners under one roof.

Healthcare professionals at the clinic collaborate closely with each individual and their families to achieve their patients’ personal goals including obtaining appropriate accommodations and coordinating care, while supporting the challenging transition from childhood to adulthood.

General services include:

• Clinical services
• Primary Care (routine health exams)
• Educational services
• Relevant resources
• Support the transition to adulthood
• Oversee care coordination
• Assistance in obtaining accommodations
• Spanish speaking healthcare coordinators

These advancements represent UI Health’s unwavering commitment to addressing healthcare inequities and meeting the needs of underserved populations. By expanding access to care and improving resources, the 55th & Pulaski Health Collaborative will continue to serve as a vital lifeline for the Gage Park and West Elsdon communities and beyond.