Advocate North Side Health Network

SERVE HEALTH NEEDS OF COMMUNITIES THROUGH WHOLISTIC PHILOSOPHY ROOTED IN FUNDAMENTAL UNDERSTANDING OF HUMANS AS CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE (CHARITY CARE) AND TRAUMA CARE. PROVIDING INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY REGARDLESS OF THE PATIENTS' ABILITY TO PAY. AS PART OF ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC MEDICAL CENTER'S (ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC) COMMUNITY HEALTH STRATEGY, THE MEDICAL CENTER IS COMMITTED TO PROMOTING INITIATIVES THAT ENHANCE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR THE UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED. AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IS THE PROVISION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC OFFERS A VERY GENEROUS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, REQUIRING NO PAYMENTS FROM THE PATIENTS MOST IN NEED, AND PROVIDING DISCOUNTS TO UNINSURED AND INSURED PATIENTS. PATIENTS EARNING UP TO SIX TIMES THE FPL, AND INSURED PATIENTS EARNING UP TO TWO AND HALF TIMES THE FPL, MAY QUALIFY FOR A FULL OR PARTIAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DISCOUNT. ADDITIONALLY, A CATASTROPHIC ASSISTANCE DISCOUNT IS AVAILABLE FOR UNINSURED AND INSURED PATIENTS WHOSE INCOMES EXCEED THE TRADITIONAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE INCOME GUIDELINES AND HAVE OUTSTANDING PATIENT BALANCES OF $25,000 OR MORE FOR A SINGLE DATE OF SERVICE OR SUM OF SEVERAL DATES OF SERVICE. THESE PATIENTS MAY QUALIFY TO RECEIVE A FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DISCOUNT THAT REDUCES THEIR OUTSTANDING BALANCE TO 25% OF THEIR NET INCOME. FOR UNINSURED PATIENTS, ADVOCATE WILL PRESUMPTIVELY PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IF THE FINANCIAL STATUS HAS BEEN VERIFIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IN THESE CASES, THE PATIENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A SEPARATE CHARITY APPLICATION. IF PRESUMPTIVE CRITERIA ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR UNINSURED PATIENTS, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ELIGIBILITY IS AVAILABLE USING AN INCOME-BASED SCREENING. ADVOCATE EXTENDS ITS INCOME-BASED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY TO ITS INSURED PATIENTS AS WELL. ADVOCATE CONTINUES TO REVIEW AND REFINE ITS POLICY IN AN ONGOING EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO NEED HELP.THE MEDICAL CENTER MAINTAINS HIGHLY VISIBLE SIGNAGE AND BROCHURES IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES TO INFORM PATIENTS OF THE AVAILABILITY OF FINANCIAL HELP AND FINANCIAL COUNSELORS. INFORMATION ABOUT THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND AN APPLICATION IS PROVIDED TO ALL UNINSURED PATIENTS DURING REGISTRATION AND IS MAILED TO THEM IN ADVANCE OF THE FIRST PATIENT BILLING. AFTER THAT, EACH UNINSURED PATIENT'S BILL INCLUDES SUMMARY INFORMATION REGARDING THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING EXPERT EMERGENCY AND TRAUMA CARE. THE MEDICAL CENTER'S LEVEL I TRAUMA CENTER, ONE OF ONLY FOUR IN CHICAGO, CARES FOR THE MOST SERIOUSLY INJURED PEOPLE WITHIN ITS SERVICE AREA. EMERGENCY AND TRAUMA SERVICES ARE PROVIDED REGARDLESS OF ABILITY TO PAY. IN 2021, THE MEDICAL CENTER EXPERIENCED 32,632 EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS, OF WHICH 1,320 WERE LEVEL I TRAUMA PATIENTS.

HEALTH CARE SERVICES PROVIDED BY PHYSICIANS EMPLOYED BY THE ORGANIZATION. HEALTH CARE SERVICES PROVIDED BY PHYSICIANS EMPLOYED BY THE MEDICAL CENTER ARE FOCUSED ON IMPACTING THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY. THE DIGESTIVE HEALTH TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING ACTIVELY TO INCREASE COLON CANCER SCREENINGS. EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIANS HAVE BEEN TRAINING LOCAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS (EMTS) AS WELL AS PROVIDING TRAINING IN CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR), BLEEDING CONTROL AND APPROPRIATE BIKE HELMET USAGE. A RANGE OF PHYSICIANS AND ASSOCIATES PROVIDE HEALTH EDUCATION, LECTURES AND SCREENINGS AT COMMUNITY HEALTH EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION. ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC IS COMMITTED TO TRAINING HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN A BROAD RANGE OF SPECIALTIES. IN 2021, THE MEDICAL CENTER TRAINED 391 RESIDENTS AND 331 MEDICAL STUDENTS IN THE FOLLOWING SERVICES: ANESTHESIOLOGY, CARDIOLOGY, EMERGENCY MEDICINE, FAMILY MEDICINE, INTERNAL MEDICINE, OBSETRICS/ GYNECOLOGY, ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY, PODIATRY, RADIOLOGY, GENERAL SURGERY, SURGICAL CRITICAL CARE AND UROLOGY. THE MEDICAL CENTER ALSO HAS TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR OTHER HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, INCLUDING PHARMACY, NURSING, PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIAL WORK AND REHABILITATION. A LIMITED NUMBER OF DENTAL STUDENTS RECEIVE SPECIALIZED TRAINING IN PROGRAMS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS DENTISTRY AND SERVE PATIENTS ON THE MOBILE DENTAL VAN. THE MEDICAL CENTER ALSO PROVIDES ACCREDITED CHAPLAINCY TRAINING THROUGH THE MEDICAL CENTER'S ACCREDITED CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION PROGRAM.

DESCRIPTION OF ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC. ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC IS A 397-BED TEACHING MEDICAL CENTER LOCATED ON CHICAGO'S NORTH SIDE AND IS ONE OF 28 ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS IN THE ADVOCATE AURORA HEALTH SYSTEM. ADVOCATE HEALTH CARE BASED IN ILLINOIS AND ADVOCATE AURORA HEALTH CARE BASED IN WISCONSIN MERGED TO BECOME ADVOCATE AURORA HEALTH IN APRIL 2018. THE MEDICAL CENTER, ONE OF ONLY FOUR LEVEL I TRAUMA CENTERS IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, TREATED 1,320 TRAUMA PATIENTS IN 2021. ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC ALSO HAS ONE OF CHICAGO'S MOST ACTIVE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS (EDS). THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 32,632 (INCLUDING TRAUMA) EMERGENCY VISITS TO THE MEDICAL CENTER IN 2021. THE MEDICAL CENTER'S LEVEL III NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (NICU) HOLDS THE STATE'S HIGHEST DESIGNATION. THE MEDICAL CENTER HAD 192 NICU ADMITS, 244 TRANSFERS IN AND 1,513 INFANTS DELIVERED (LIVE BIRTHS) IN 2021. ADVOCATE ILLLINOIS MASONIC IS FULLY ACCREDITED BY DET NORSKE VERITAS (NORWAY) AND GERMANISCHER LLOYD (GERMANY) (DNV-GL), WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OUTPATIENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, WHICH IS ACCREDITED BY THE COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION OF REHABILITATION FACILITIES (CARF). ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC HAS MORE THAN 1,000 ACTIVE PHYSICIANS ON STAFF REPRESENTING 43 MEDICAL SPECIALTIES. IT EMPLOYS ALMOST 800 REGISTERED NURSES. THE MEDICAL CENTER OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF MEDICAL SERVICES AND IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR ITS MEDICAL EXPERTISE, INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND DEDICATION TO PATIENT SAFETY, QUALITY AND SERVICE. ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC'S MAJOR SERVICES INCLUDE: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH; COMPREHENSIVE SURGICAL; EMERGENCY AND TRAUMA; CANCER CARE; OPHTHALMOLOGY; CARDIOVASCULAR; DIGESTIVE DISEASE; OBSTETRIC, GYNECOLOGY, MIDWIFERY AND PEDIATRIC; ORTHOPEDIC AND NEUROSCIENCE. AMBULATORY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES INCLUDE: PRIMARY CARE; A DENTISTRY PROGRAM, INCLUDING A MOBILE DENTAL VAN; VISION; A DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING PROGRAM; THE PEDIATRIC DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER; EAR, NOSE AND THROAT; UROLOGY AND UROGYNECOLOGY; PHYSICAL REHABILITATIVE; DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING; INFUSION THERAPY; PAIN MANAGEMENT; RHEUMATOLOGY; AND A HOSPITAL-BASED FOOD PANTRY.MULTIPLE ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC INSTITUTES BRING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE IN CARING FOR PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH THE FOLLOWING CHRONIC DISEASES.HEART DISEASE. GIVEN THAT HEART DISEASE IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE HOSPITAL'S PRIMARY SERVICE AREA, ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC ESTABLISHED A HEART AND VASCULAR INSTITUTE. AS ONE OF THE AREA'S FIRST MEDICAL CENTERS TO PERFORM OPEN HEART SURGERY, ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC OFFERS A COMPLETE RANGE OF STATE-OF-THE-ART CARDIAC SERVICES. MEDICAL CENTER STAFF ALSO PARTICIPATE IN ILLINOIS HEART RESCUE, A PROGRAM THAT SEEKS TO IMPROVE OUT-OF-HOSPITAL SURVIVAL RATES RELATED TO CARDIAC ARREST. CANCER. THE CRETICOS CANCER CENTER, LOCATED ON THE ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC CAMPUS, UNITES ALL CANCER CARE AND RESEARCH UNDER ONE ROOF FOR MORE EFFICIENT AND PERSONALIZED PLANNING AND TREATMENT. THE CENTER OFFERS A WEALTH OF SERVICES TO ADDRESS THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF CANCER PATIENTS THROUGHOUT THE CONTINUUM OF CARE. THE CENTER FOR ADVANCED CARE, WHICH OPENED IN 2015, ENABLED ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC TO EXPAND AND CENTRALIZE OUTPATIENT SURGERY, DIGESTIVE HEALTH AND CANCER SERVICES INTO ONE LOCATION, CREATING IMPROVED ACCESS TO CARE, CONTINUITY AMONG DISCIPLINES, ENHANCED EFFICIENCIES AND A BETTER OVERALL EXPERIENCE FOR PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC HAS AN EXTENSIVE RANGE OF CANCER SUPPORT SERVICES, INCLUDING BILINGUAL SPANISH/ENGLISH PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT, COUNSELING AND FINANCIAL NAVIGATION. NURSE NAVIGATORS PROVIDE LINKAGE WITH COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, PHYSICAL MEDICINE, REHABILITATION, PAIN MANAGEMENT SERVICES, PALLIATIVE CARE, HOSPICE AND HOME CARE PROGRAMS. THE CENTER HOSTS THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY'S LOOK GOOD, FEEL BETTER PROGRAM. EACH YEAR AT THE MEDICAL CENTER, THE AMBER FOUNDATION FACILITATES THE SPONSORSHIP OF FREE MAMMOGRAMS, COUNSELING AND EDUCATION REGARDING BREAST CANCER SPECIFICALLY TARGETING THE POLISH COMMUNITY IN CHICAGO. THE CANCER CENTER PROVIDES A LUNG SCREENING PROGRAM AND A DIRECT ACCESS SCREENING PROGRAM FOR COLORECTAL CANCER. THE DIRECT ACCESS PROGRAM ALLOWS PATIENTS TO SCHEDULE COLONOSCOPIES WITHOUT FIRST HAVING A FACE-TO-FACE CONSULTATION WITH A GASTROENTEROLOGIST.STROKE/PRIMARY STROKE CENTER. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITHIN THE STROKE PROGRAM IS A KEY INITIATIVE. ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC PARTNERS WITH MANY ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE OUTREACH EDUCATION IS PROVIDED FOR ALL AGES AS STROKE CAN HAPPEN AT ANY AGE. MEDICAL CENTER PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDE NURSING HOMES, ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITIES, CHICAGO HOUSING AUTHORITY COMMUNITIES (>50 AT RISK POPULATIONS); HEALTH FAIRS; AND EDUCATION DAYS WITH THE CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT. A FEW EVENTS THAT THE MEDICAL CENTER ATTENDED ARE AHA/ASA CYCLE NATION, AHA HEART AND STROKE WALK, CENTRO ROMERO, CENTER ON ADDISON/HALSTED AND MANY OTHERS. THE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE: STROKE RISK SCREENING; STROKE IDENTIFICATION AND TREATMENT EDUCATION; AND WELLNESS SCREENINGS/TALKS (BLOOD PRESSURE, DIET, MANAGING OBESITY, SMOKING CESSATION). DUE TO COVID-19, THERE WAS SIGNFICANT IMPACT ON OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY, HOWEVER THE MEDICAL CENTER WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE OUTEACH THAT INCLUDED: VIRTUAL MEETINGS WITH OAK STREET HEALTH, A KEY PARTNER WITH AIMCC; VIRTUAL AHA CYCLENATION 2021, VITRURAL AHA HEART WALK 2021, SYSTEM VITRUAL STOKE SUPPORT GROUP; SITE OUTREACH, WHICH INCLUDED 50+ STAFF MEMEBERS DURING MAY STROKE AWARENESS MONTH; 50 STAFF MEMEBERS DURING WORLD STROKE DAY FOR STROKE INDENTIFICATION AND ADVOCATE AURORA HOSTED AN OUTREACH EVENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR WORLD STROK DAY, WHICH INCLUDED 12,000 TOTAL EVENT VISITS. IN 2021 THE SYSTEM STROKE COORDINATORS WERE HONOERED WITH THE STRONGER TOGETHER AWARD.CANCER SUPPORT PROGRAMS. THE MEDICAL CENTER WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE ILLINOIS BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER PROGRAM TO ENSURE THAT UNINSURED WOMEN HAVE ACCESS TO SCREENING AND TREATMENT FOR BREAST OR CERVICAL CANCER. ADVOCATE ILLLINOIS MASONIC ALSO HAS A BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP FOR LATINAS AND IS DEVELOPING A CANCER SUPPORT GROUP FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.BABY FRIENDLY HOSPITAL. ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC IS CERTIFIED AS BABY FRIENDLY, A DESIGNATION FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SUPPORT FOR BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS AND BABIES. THIS DESIGNATION AND RELATED PRACTICES ARE A STRONG STEP FORWARD IN ADDRESSING THE CITY'S CHILDHOOD OBESITY EPIDEMIC. PROVIDING INFANTS WITH HUMAN MILK GIVES THEM THE MOST COMPLETE NUTRITION POSSIBLE BECAUSE IT PROVIDES THE BEST MIX OF NUTRIENTS FOR EACH BABY TO THRIVE. THE BABY FRIENDLY DESIGNATION, WHICH IS GRANTED BY BABY-FRIENDLY USA, RECOGNIZES THE MEDICAL CENTER'S SUCCESS AT PROVIDING AN OPTIMAL LEVEL OF SUPPORT FOR BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS AND BABIES. THE DESIGNATION WAS ACHIEVED AFTER A RIGOROUS FOUR-PHASE PROCESS CULMINATING WITH COMPREHENSIVE ON-SITE EVALUATION. SCIENTIFIC STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT BREASTFED CHILDREN HAVE FAR FEWER AND LESS SERIOUS ILLNESS THAN THOSE WHO NEVER RECEIVED BREAST MILK, INCLUDING A REDUCED RISK OF SIDS, CHILDHOOD CANCER AND DIABETES.CURRENTLY, THE MEDICAL CENTER EMPLOYS 2,049 ASSOCIATES AND HAS 65 VOLUNTEERS. ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC TRAINS 391 RESIDENTS AND 331 MEDICAL STUDENTS EACH YEAR. THE MEDICAL CENTER IS ONE OF ILLINOIS' LARGEST NON-UNIVERSITY MEDICAL TEACHING HOSPITALS AND IS AFFILIATED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER, ROSALIND FRANKLIN UNIVERSITY AND MIDWESTERN UNIVERSITY, CHICAGO COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, ARIZONA COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AND DES MOINES UNIVERSITY. THE MEDICAL CENTER ALSO PROVIDES COMMUNITY HEALTH DATA-DRIVEN HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS, EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES TO MEASURE COMMUNITY HEALTH OUTCOMES, COMMUNITY LECTURES AND OTHER SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF ITS VISION "WE HELP PEOPLE LIVE WELL AND TO FULFILL ITS VALUES OF: EXCELLENCE WE ARE A TOP PERFOMER IN ALL THAT WE DO; COMPASSION WE UNSELFISHLY CARE FOR OTHERS; AND RESPECT WE VALUE THE UNIQUE NEEDS AND PREFERENCES OF ALL PEOPLE. POPULATION SERVEDADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC PROVIDES QUALITY HEALTH CARE TO INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF RACE, GENDER, CREED, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE OR ABILITY TO PAY. IN 2021, THE MEDICAL CENTER'S PHYSICIANS AND ASSOCIATES PROVIDED 12,223 INPATIENT ADMISSIONS, INCLUDING 1,513 DELIVERIES, AND HANDLED 212,200 OUTPATIENT VISITS. AS A LEVEL I TRAUMA CENTER, ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC EXPERIENCED 1,320 LEVEL I TRAUMA VISITS AND A TOTAL OF 32,632(TRAUMA VISITS INCLUDED) EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS IN 2021. (FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THE MEDICAL CENTER'S SERVICE AREA, PLEASE SEE THE SUMMARY PROVIDED IN SCHEDULE H, PART VI. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION, LINE 4.)