Four South Chicago hospitals have signed a nonbinding agreement to come together as one integrated system, with the aim to solve key healthcare challenges such as expanding access to preventive care and quality services, reducing drastic health inequities and providing economic development, jobs and training programs in the region.
The patient care organizations—Advocate Trinity Hospital, Mercy Hospital & Medical Center (a member of Trinity Health), South Shore Hospital and St. Bernard Hospital—announced on Jan. 23 that they are also calling on neighborhood leaders and area residents to participate in a series of community input sessions to help shape robust solutions tailored specifically to the local community’s needs.
Indeed, the goal of the new system is to combine the four hospitals into an independent, integrated healthcare system “that will transform care delivery for area residents through a multi-year investment plan,” officials stated. After analyzing community health needs assessments and service area and demographic data, the four providers arrived at two primary needs—expand access to quality primary and preventive care services by constructing vibrant community health centers, and build at least one new, state-of-the-art, destination hospital, thereby replacing outmoded, aging facilities.
The estimated capital investment to achieve these goals is $1.1 billion.
According to an article in the Chicago Sun Times covering this development, “All of the hospitals posted net losses in 2018 as inpatient volumes decreased along with government reimbursement for both Medicaid patients and the uninsured. Mercy hemorrhaged the most, at $68.3 million.”
“Working individually, our hospitals will not be able to provide sustained, quality care on the South Side,” said Charles Holland, president and CEO of St. Bernard Hospital. “We have to aggressively address the need for better healthcare among tens of thousands of Chicagoans. By forging a system that can better respond to and manage the chronic illnesses that are so pervasive in our communities, we can truly achieve greater health equity and narrow significant disparities in access to quality care and the resulting outcomes.”
Organization leaders said that despite state effort and local community investment, health inequities persist in this region. Significantly lower life expectancy, higher incidences of chronic disease and other disparities are aggravated by social determinants of health (SDOH), including food insecurity, housing and trauma. The four providers said addressing these inequities was a key driver for the need to develop a progressive, patient-centered approach and transformative model.
Officials today noted that community input will help shape future hospital services, and the expansion of urgent care, ambulatory surgery, infusion therapy and behavioral health services at new community health centers, as well as specialty care, imaging and diagnostic services. Stakeholder outreach has already begun, and community input sessions will begin in February, according to officials.
Under the agreement, each provider will contribute or transfer existing hospital assets to and help capitalize the new system. The new system will have independent leadership and an independent board of directors, which will include a delegate from each of the providers. A CEO and leadership team will be named following the signing of a definitive agreement, expected by midyear.
“We look forward to input from our patients and communities,” said Tim Caveney, president and CEO of South Shore Hospital. “Empowering our neighborhoods, improving access to care and making critical economic investments is what’s right for the South Side of Chicago and what’s necessary for our long-term health and wellness.”
