A Prescription for Urban Health
The Urban Health Initiative (UHI) is harnessing the collective resources of Chicago’s South Side to the intellectual, strategic, and financial assets of the University of Chicago to transform long-term health in one of the city’s historic communities. The comprehensive health care system it is building is founded on strong, lasting relationships with civic leaders, community organizations, health care providers, and local residents.
By expanding access to care, inspiring new doctors to practice medicine on the South Side, undertaking rigorous, groundbreaking research, and addressing the social, economic, and environmental determinants of health, UHI aims to shift the paradigm from reactive, episodic care to wellness and prevention in one of the nation’s largest underserved communities.
Delivering the Right Care in the Right Place at the Right Time
Through the South Side Healthcare Collaborative, the University of Chicago Medical Center is partnering with neighboring health care providers to build a cohesive community-wide system of care. At the heart of the program is a commitment to helping South Side residents make a long-term connection to a regular doctor, who will coordinate their health care to prevent sickness and help manage chronic health conditions.
Investing in Human Capital and Health Care Capacity
To increase the number of primary care physicians serving the South Side, UHI is spearheading academic and service learning offerings at the Pritzker School of Medicine that expose students to community medicine and train them for careers in the field, with specific incentives to practice on the South Side. In fall 2009, the first cohort of students enrolled in the community health track of Pritzker’s new curriculum.
Also, the REACH Incentive Program is providing financial assistance to Pritzker graduates who complete a residency in primary care or much-needed specialty, then commit to practice at a Federally-Qualified Health Center or community hospital on the South Side.
Furthering Knowledge of Urban Health
To inform effective policies and programs, UHI is conducting wide-ranging research into the drivers behind urban health. In partnership with the community, the South Side Health and Vitality Studies will track 5,000 households for more than a generation, generating a dataset that will encompass the complex mix of social, economic, environmental, and biomedical variables involved in urban health. The studies will not only promote understanding of the risk factors for chronic diseases like diabetes, but delve beyond disease states to inquire into the drivers behind resilience.
Tackling Socio-economic and Environmental Determinants of Health
Through the Center for Community Health and Vitality, UHI will spearhead a broad portfolio of community-driven initiatives designed to address the wide range of factors affecting health on the South Side. These programs will, among other functions, connect residents to essential social, economic, and educational services; open up opportunities for social entrepreneurs and start-up programs; and make important health information available to the community.
