Community input drives $1B investment on the South Side
No one knows better what a community needs than the community itself. So, we asked questions and listened to hundreds of residents, who shared what would be needed to bring widespread wellness to the South Side of Chicago to help address the 30-year life expectancy gap.
After more than 20 listening sessions, we came up with a bold new vision – together: investing $1 billion to reimagine a healthier future where prevention, support and care are delivered directly in our neighborhoods to improve health and wellness for all.
“Having grown up on the South Side, the feedback we received from the community resonated with me personally, and I am proud of the commitment Advocate made in response. It warms my heart to know that we will bridge the South Side’s health equity gap, and more people will live longer, healthier lives because of our ongoing partnership with the community.”
– Michelle Blakely, President, Advocate Trinity Hospital
Over $500M devoted to expanding outpatient care in the community
- Adding 85,000 new appointments annually with primary care providers and specialists
- Establishing 10 new Neighborhood Care locations in trusted spaces across the community to address everyday health needs
- Expanding the Imani Village Outpatient Clinic on East 95th Street to add immediate care with more doctors, more services, more appointments and shorter wait times
- Deploying a medical mobile van to provide primary care across the community – bringing care precisely to where it is needed
More than $200 million invested in hospital & outpatient programs and services, expanding management of chronic disease and social factors that affect health
- Expanding access to pharmacy services with free prescription programs, home delivery and pharmacy kiosks at select locations
- Growing our Food Farmacy program that distributes fresh produce and healthy staples
- Adding 5,000 annual OB-GYN visits with expanded pre- and post-natal care
$300 million to build a new state-of-the-art hospital on the former U.S. Steel South Works site near the lakefront
- Replacing the current Advocate Trinity Hospital, which is more than 115 years old
- Building a cutting-edge 52-bed hospital – expandable if needed – with services including surgery, ICU, dialysis, cardiac catheterization lab, expanded emergency services, diagnostic testing and imaging, and robotic surgeries
- Increasing access to the latest technology to assess, triage and connect to specialists
- Committed to sustainability – carbon-neutral building designed to meet LEED certification standards
$25 million focused on workforce development & hiring
- Hiring more than 1,000 new teammates within the next three years
- Hosting South Side job forums to recruit talented teammates who live in the community
- Deploying a new recruitment-on-wheels van enabling us to share job opportunities with more people
- Offering additional training for career progression for current teammates to bring our bold new vision to life
“Our South Side Chicago community has long faced challenges stemming from economic neglect and lack of access to resources. We are grateful to see Advocate’s deep commitment to our community and are filled with hope that our next generation will live longer, healthier lives.”
– Reverend Otis Moss, Trinity United Church of Christ
Let’s keep the conversation going!
Come to one of our community talks to learn more details about these exciting plans and get your questions answered. More talks will be added as we work together to improve health and wellness.
- Tuesday, Jan. 14, 6 p.m., at the South Side YMCA, 6330 S. Stony Island Ave.
- Wednesday, Jan. 15, 10 a.m., at Compassion Baptist Church, 2650 E. 95th St.
- Wednesday, Jan. 15, 1 p.m., at Vodak Library, 3710 E. 106th St.
- Wednesday, Jan. 22, 10 a.m., at Compassion Baptist Church, 2650 E. 95th St.
- Wednesday, Jan. 22, 1 p.m., at Vodak Library, 3710 E. 106th St.
“This is a transformative moment for the 7th Ward. For over 30 years, this vacant site has stood as a symbol of missed opportunities that have deeply impacted the Southeast Side. The new hospital represents far more than a building – it’s a significant investment in the 7th Ward and a powerful catalyst for revitalization. It will bring much needed access to health care, create jobs and stimulate economic growth, laying the foundation for further investments.”
– Greg Mitchell, 7th Ward Alderman
We want to hear from you
You can share your thoughts, ideas or questions anytime. Your continued input is crucial every step of the way!