Two major health care expansions from Advocate Health Care are reshaping access to quality medical services on Chicago’s South Side—bringing hope, healing, and high-impact investment to historically underserved communities.
As part of its sweeping $1 billion pledge to address long-standing health disparities in South Side neighborhoods, Advocate Health Care is building a new $10 million Immediate Care Center at its Imani Village location and has already opened its first-ever Neighborhood Care Clinic inside New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church.
At a recent gathering of health leaders, local officials, and community members, Advocate previewed its 4,600-square-foot expansion to the Imani Village outpatient care facility at 901 East 95th Street. The upgraded facility—set to open in late 2025—will add 16 exam rooms, two procedure rooms, imaging capabilities including mammography and ultrasound, cardio and vascular diagnostics, virtually assisted behavioral health care, and a new automated pharmacy kiosk.
The new Immediate Care Center will accommodate 14,000 additional patient appointments annually and offer walk-in and appointment-based care six days a week. Advocate has already hired new medical assistants and patient service representatives and is actively recruiting for nurses, radiology technicians, and cardiovascular technicians. By the time the center opens, five new physicians and two advanced practice professionals will join the Imani Village care team.
“This is about saving lives,” said Advocate Health Care President Dia Nichols. “We are moving forward quickly because people in this community tend to live 30 years less than their neighbors on the North Side. We must bring care to where people live, work, play and worship.”
Driven by community input, the Imani Village expansion also includes programs addressing maternal care, chronic disease management, and support for social factors that influence health. These offerings will extend the work of Trinity Hospital’s Cardiometabolic and Diabetes Clinics and include services such as a maternal navigator, group pregnancy centering, and clinical education for hypertension and heart failure.
Trinity Hospital President Dr. Michelle Y. Blakely called the expansion “a medical oasis for a community that has long suffered from limited access to care.” Chicago Alderman Michelle Harris, whose 8th Ward includes the site, said the project will provide “earlier diagnosis, earlier medical interventions and more help managing chronic diseases.” Reverend Otis Moss III of Trinity United Church of Christ added, “This new Immediate Care Center is a beacon of hope and an essential step in the renaissance of our community.”
Rosa Alonso, a patient at Imani Village, shared how the center’s high blood pressure program helped her manage her health. “I worked with an Advocate nurse and pharmacist. They gave me tips, and I came to feel better. The next time I went to see my primary care doctor, my blood sugar was lower than it had ever been.”
Earlier this month, Advocate celebrated the grand opening of its first Neighborhood Care Clinic at New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church, 7640 South Cottage Grove Avenue. The clinic, located inside the church, offers non-emergency care, health screenings, and chronic disease management from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Walk-ins are welcome, and appointments can be scheduled by calling 312-268-6627.
Staffed by a certified Advocate medical assistant and supported by telemedicine, the clinic treats minor illnesses such as flu and strep throat and connects patients with primary and specialty care when needed. It also provides a bridge for follow-up care after emergency room visits.
“The opening of our first Neighborhood Care Clinic at New Covenant Church brings us to an important milestone in Advocate’s larger strategy to redefine health care for all,” Nichols said. “This new clinic and its location in a space that’s not traditionally associated with health care delivery marks the beginning of a new era in accessible, comprehensive health services in Chicago’s South Side community.”
Pastor Stephen John Thurston of New Covenant said the partnership removes traditional barriers to care. “Everyone deserves affordable health care. Our church is proud to support not only spiritual wellness but physical well-being, too.”
In 2024, Advocate Health Care hosted listening sessions and focus groups with hundreds of residents, community leaders, and elected officials to determine how best to meet the health care needs of the South Side. Their $1 billion investment will fund 10 Neighborhood Care Clinics, the Imani Village expansion, and the construction of a new hospital at the former site to replace Trinity Hospital.
According to Advocate, 84 percent of hospitalized South Side residents have at least one chronic condition, and the region continues to suffer from a life expectancy gap of up to 30 years compared to more affluent areas. Through expanded outpatient access, neighborhood-based services, and programs designed around lived community experience, Advocate is working to close that gap.
More expansions are expected in 2025. For updates, residents are encouraged to visit MyVoiceMyHealth.com.