St. Bernard Hospital Breaks Ground on New Ambulatory Care Center

Deborah Bayliss | As of Friday, November 7, 2014

Pictured 6th and 9th from left, U.S. Cong. Bobby Rush and Ald. Willie B. Cochran take part in the groundbreaking ceremony for St. Bernard Hospital’s new 70,000 square-foot Ambulatory Care Center, at 63rd Street and Steward Ave., Oct. 29, 2014.
Pictured 6th and 9th from left, U.S. Cong. Bobby Rush and Ald. Willie B. Cochran take part in the groundbreaking ceremony for St. Bernard Hospital’s new 70,000 square-foot Ambulatory Care Center, at 63rd Street and Steward Ave., Oct. 29, 2014. Hurley Green III

Having exhausted the capacity to expand in their current buildings, St. Bernard Hospital broke ground on its new 70,000-square-foot, Englewood, Ambulatory Care Center Center last Wednesday at the corner of 63rd St. and Stewart Ave.

Both government and hospital officials were on hand for the groundbreaking event including

U. S. Congressman Bobby Rush (Dist.-1st) and Chicago Ald. Willie B. Cochran (20th Ward).

Planned for completion in 2016, the health center will offer outpatient pharmacy, orthopedics, and radiology services and will also house the Prenatal Women’s Wellness Clinic, specialty clinics like the Pediatric Asthma and Diabetes Clinic, as well as a walk-in clinic for non-emergent health care.

“We’ve worked very hard to bring this project to our community,” said Charles Holland, president and chief executive officer at St. Bernard Hospital. “Our endeavors to reach this milestone were not achieved alone. We have been fortunate to have city and community partners working with us at each juncture along the way.”

The project was approved by the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board earlier this month.

“For 110 years St. Bernard Hospital, has served this community and we are very grateful for the support we have received from our residents without whom we could not exist,” said Gregory Whitehead, chairman of the board of trustees for St. Bernard Hospital.

The hospital’s Community Health Needs Assessment, completed in 2012, identified the health care needs in the area.

Residents in the community near St. Bernard Hospital currently have to travel outside the community for outpatient and specialist services.

“The need for additional health care resources in our community has been recognized for some time,” Holland said. “People should be able to access health care services close to their homes. The Ambulatory Care Center is an exceptional opportunity for us to expand access to preventive medicine for thousands of people.”

The vision for the Center is a one-stop health care facility with a patient friendly environment.

The new structure will provide spacious and modern clinics and offices.

In 2013, the emergency department at St. Bernard received the highest number of Chicago Fire Department Emergency Medical Service runs citywide. Currently serving over 42,000 patients annually, the demand on emergency services has steadily increased.

A walk-in clinic has long been needed to provide access to non-emergency immediate care for which some emergency departments have been inappropriately used.

“This facility continues our mission to serve this community not only as a health care provider, but as an important economic, job producing engine in the Englewood community,” Holland added.

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