Erie Evanston/Skokie Health Center opens state-of-the-art facility, expanding access to affordable healthcare services

Approximately 100 representatives from Erie Family Health Center, the City of Evanston, Village of Skokie, NorthShore University HealthSystem and the North Suburban Healthcare Foundation gathered Wednesday for a formal ribbon-cutting at the new permanent location of the Erie Evanston/Skokie Health Center. The health center, located at 1285 Hartrey Avenue in Evanston, began seeing patients on November 4, 2013.

Since October 2012, Erie Evanston/Skokie Health Center, the area’s first community health center, has cared for more than 1,400 medical and 850 dental patients from its temporary location at the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center. Erie anticipates caring for approximately 5,500 patients through more than 18,500 annual patient visits at its new larger state-of-the-art facility.

Erie Evanston/Skokie Health Center provides pediatric care, internal medicine, family medicine, women's health and oral health services for children. It also offers Erie’s signature “wraparound” services such as behavioral health, health education and case management. In addition, Erie patients can access an expanded network of locations providing services such as optometry and podiatry as well as other specialty services at local hospital partners NorthShore University HealthSystem and Presence Saint Francis Hospital.

The new location maximizes access for Evanston and Skokie’s diverse communities through a convenient location and proximity to public transportation. It also utilizes Spanish-speaking providers and utilizes the Language Line for interpretation services.

Erie has partnered with the City of Evanston, Village of Skokie, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Presence Saint Francis Hospital and other community resources to meet the health care needs of these communities. The City of Evanston experienced a reduction in the availability of primary health care services in recent years due to costs. In 2007, after more than 100 years of operation, the Evanston Health Department eliminated all direct medical services except pediatric dentistry. The Skokie Health Department provides limited services, such as blood pressure screenings, and refers low-income patients to Chicago for care. As a result of these reductions and limitations, many Erie Evanston/Skokie Health Center patients had been without access to care for several years.

NorthShore University HealthSystem contributed $1.2 million for the new, permanent health center, as well as a total of $600,000 in operating support over three years. North Suburban Healthcare Foundation contributed $1 million towards capital renovations. The new health center was also made possible by an annual operating grant of $650,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of the Affordable Care Act.

“Erie is grateful to the City of Evanston and the Village of Skokie as well as our funders and partners. Their vision and support enabled us to open the area’s first community health center   and make a significant impact in our first year of operations,” said Dr. Lee Francis, President and CEO, Erie Family Health Center.

“Erie Family Health Center has done a fantastic job serving the residents of Evanston and their families. We are thrilled that they will now have a new, state of the art facility here in Evanston and will be able to provide expanded health services to many more people,” said Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl.

“Congratulations on opening a new Erie Family Health Center location and for providing our community with important health services. This is an exciting event for the residents of our community as now we can extend healthcare to those who can least afford it,” said Skokie Mayor, George Van Dusen. “We look forward to continuing to work with Erie Family Health Center.”

"NorthShore University HealthSystem is excited to be a partner and supporter of this new clinic that is providing vital health services to the underserved in our community,” said J.P. Gallagher, Chief Operating Officer at NorthShore University HealthSystem. “We have been involved in this from the outset and want to welcome Erie to the northern suburbs, and reiterate our commitment to this partnership that will benefit so many in need."

“The mission of the North Suburban Healthcare Foundation is to promote the health of our community. We were excited to partner with Erie Family Health Center to help meet this critical objective. Now that Erie Evanston/Skokie has opened its permanent site, we are thrilled that so many more in the community will benefit from expanded access to high quality health care,” said Beverly J. Kroll, Board Chair, North Suburban Healthcare Foundation.

“We are delighted that our beautiful new location will enable us to provide high quality health care to many more residents and look forward to expanding local partnerships to best meet their needs,” said Francis.