First Of Ten Advocate Health Care ‘Neighborhood Care Clinics’ Opens In Chatham

Advocate Health Care recently opened a Neighborhood Care Clinic at New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church. Photo provided by Advocate Health.
Advocate Health Care recently opened a Neighborhood Care Clinic at New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church. Photo provided by Advocate Health.

First Of Ten Advocate Health Care ‘Neighborhood Care Clinics’ Opens In Chatham

By Tia Carol Jones

Advocate Health has opened the first of its ten neighborhood care clinics in New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church, located at 7640 S. Cottage Grove. The clinic at the church, which opened in early April, is part of Advocate Health Care’s $1 billion investment to improve health outcomes on the South side of Chicago.

“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. 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,” said Dia Nichols, President of Advocate Health Care, in a release.

Monica Scott-Smith manages the neighborhood care clinics for Advocate Health Care. She said the team chose the 10 clinics based on demographics and the area that Advocate Trinity Hospital serves. From there, the community engagement team had conversations with community representatives and partners.

She said the goal was to choose places that people respected and reflected the way people lived their lives. Scott-Smith said the New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church also has a mission to change the health equity narrative on the South side.

The Reverend Stephen John Thurston, Pastor of New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church, said in rebuilding the church and redesigning what ministry looks like, he wanted to ensure that the church provided people with the resources necessary for them to reach their desired destinations. Because the church has a large Baby Boomer population, who have various health issues and concerns, Thurston wanted to ensure that specific demographic was receiving all the resources necessary for them to live healthy and sustainable lives.

“When this opportunity was presented, I jumped on it,” he said. He added that the church had already been providing health testing and screening on First Sunday. He said having the clinic was an extension of the work the church was trying to do to benefit the lives of the people in the congregation and in the community.

Thurston said since the clinic opened, people are appreciative that it is convenient and in a trusted space. He said the staff at the clinic are amazing and have such great spirits. He said what has been created is a warm, welcoming, family environment. He said the clinic creates a space for people to have access to address their health needs without having to go to the emergency room. He wants people in the community to know that whatever they need, they can come to the church.

“We’re just excited about this experience, this opportunity. I know that we’re the first of many more to come. I’m just really looking forward to the data that shows that this really makes a difference and that we can be a model for other areas in the state, as well as other areas in the country to adopt this community-based model,” he said.

Scott-Smith said the neighborhood care clinics are meant to remove barriers. The clinics will take patients who are insured, as well as those who are uninsured. She said while the first clinic is in the church, it is not just for the congregation at the church, it is for the people in the community, too. She said she wants everyone in the community to know there is a neighborhood care clinic there and they are for the community.

Scott-Smith said as people are becoming aware that the clinic is at the church, the numbers of people coming in are increasing. She said she is confident as they continue to get the word out, people will use the service.

“Advocate’s first Neighborhood Care Clinic at New Covenant Baptist Church is an achievement worth celebrating because this site will help address some of the most common concerns community members expressed to us around access, preventive care and patient education,” said Michelle Y. Blakely, PhD, president, Advocate Trinity Hospital, in a release.

Scott-Smith said that her and her team are continuing to talk to community leaders about where to open the other nine clinics. She said people are reaching out to the community engagement team with their interests in having a clinic at their location.

The clinic is located in Suite 114. The hours of operation are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Walk-ins are welcome. To make an appointment, call (312) 268-6627.

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