Advocate Health Care has unveiled an ambitious $1 billion investment plan aimed at reducing health disparities on Chicago’s South Side. This comprehensive initiative, one of the largest community-focused healthcare investments in the nation, seeks to bridge the staggering 30-year life expectancy gap between South Side residents and their North Side counterparts.
The cornerstone of this initiative is the construction of a new $300 million, 52-bed state-of-the-art hospital at the former U.S. Steel South Works site. This facility will replace the century-old Advocate Trinity Hospital, offering advanced services including a cardiac catheterization lab, enhanced emergency department, and robotic surgical procedures.
Beyond the new hospital, Advocate plans to establish 10 Neighborhood Care locations, expanding access to primary and specialty care. The first of these centers is set to open at the South Side YMCA in the coming months. Additionally, a mobile medicine vehicle will provide primary care across the community.
The investment also includes over $500 million for outpatient care expansion and $200 million for hospital and outpatient programs addressing chronic diseases and social determinants of health. Advocate aims to add 85,000 new appointments annually, significantly improving healthcare accessibility.
Dia Nichols, President of Advocate Health Care, emphasized the urgency of addressing health disparities: “The health disparity gap the South Side communities face keeps me up at night, and I am proud of the commitment Advocate Health Care is making to change that for generations to come.”
This initiative, developed with extensive community input throughout 2024, represents a holistic approach to healthcare, combining improved medical services with workforce development and environmental sustainability. Advocate’s commitment extends to hiring over 1,000 new team members within the next three years, further investing in the community’s economic health.
See: “Advocate Health Care unveils $1B investment for expansion on Chicago’s South Side” (December 24, 2024)