SSHCO MODEL CUTS EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS BY 70%, AVOIDS $12.7 MILLION IN MEDICAL COSTS

SSHCO MODEL CUTS EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS BY 70%, AVOIDS $12.7 MILLION IN MEDICAL COSTS

Latest data shows reductions in emergency department use and inpatient admissions through coordinated, community-based care

CHICAGO – The South Side Healthy Community Organization (SSHCO), a state-funded nonprofit healthcare collaborative working to close health gaps across Chicago’s South Side, released its latest impact data, demonstrating significant improvements in outcomes, service utilization, and cost efficiency, at both a system level and for South Side residents.

Since its inception in 2022, SSHCO has screened more than 22,000 patients in coordinated care, resulting in more than 150,000 total completed appointments from our subsidized providers. Data shows that patients currently enrolled in SSHCO services visit the emergency department 70% less than they did before, and those who graduate from care coordination visit the emergency department 50% less often and have 43% fewer acute care inpatient visits. As a result, SSHCO’s community-based care coordination has helped avoid an estimated $12.7 million in medical costs.

“These results reflect what is possible when systems of care are designed to comprehensively address the needs of specific populations,” said Kimberly Hobson, CEO of SSHCO. “By coordinating clinical care with social support and meeting patients where they are, we’re improving outcomes, reducing strain on emergency rooms, and building equity into the foundation of healthcare on the South Side.”

Funded through the Illinois Healthcare Transformation Collaboratives (HTC) initiative of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, SSHCO serves 15 South Side ZIP codes, prioritizing residents who are uninsured or covered by Medicaid. In a community where nearly 39% of residents rely on Medicaid and uninsured rates range from 13.5% to 15.1%, SSHCO fills a gap by providing care coordination in partner clinics and emergency departments.

The organization has subsidized over 140 primary care and obstetrics providers and specialists since inception and embeds community health workers and nurse care coordinators directly into care settings to help patients stay connected and follow through on their care plans.

“We are seeing measurable progress that tells a powerful story about how coordinated, community-based care improves our patients’ day-to-day lives,” said Dr. Sofia Adawy Akintunde, MD, FAAFP, Chief Medical Officer of SSHCO. “When residents have reliable access to care and strong support in their neighborhoods, they are better equipped to stay well, care for their families, and fully engage with their communities.”

In 2025, those enrolled in SSCHO services were 1.6 times more likely to have controlled blood pressure and 1.85 times more likely to achieve A1C control.

Beyond clinical care, SSHCO addressed critical social needs by:

Facilitating nearly 9,000 social service referrals

Arranging more than 4,300 rides to medical appointments

Helping 72 families into stable housing

Distributing $55,000 in emergency financial assistance.

Supporting 249 maternal care patients and 101 patients receiving mental health services

Visit SouthSideHealthyCommunity.com to learn more.

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