At the forefront of health equity

In 2020, COVID-19 showed clear evidence of the health disparities that work against health equity. Our Black and Brown communities bore the heaviest burden of the pandemic, through illness, loss of life and economic hardship.

Within the tragedy, there were triumphs, as members of the community found ways to help each other during the crisis — with food, masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE), and financial donations. Many kind words went a long way when hugs were not possible.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, UChicago Medicine has been focused on providing world-class care to our patients and our community. With a commitment to excellence, innovation, and thought leadership, we responded to community needs, collaborating with partners and our Community Advisory Council to provide such needed resources as COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, educational resources, PPE, and more.

The demands for social and racial justice converged with the outcomes of the pandemic, making clear that racism is a public health crisis and that the pursuit of health equity must accelerate.

In fiscal year 2020, UChicago Medicine invested $567.1 million in benefits and services to the community. This investment included supporting patients who rely on Medicare or Medicaid or who were not able to pay for care. It also included teaching and training future healthcare professionals, funding medical research and donating to community groups for health and wellness programs.

We invite you to look over the following report, which shows the ways our medical center worked in partnership with our community to respond to crisis, deal with community health priorities and work to build a healthier South Side.

If you have questions or feedback on the report, please contact: communitybenefit@uchospitals.edu.

To learn more about UChicago Medicine’s community benefit programs, please visit: UChicagoMedicine.org/community.