Political leaders tour new Mile Square Health Center

Although it’s been only a few weeks since the official opening of the new home of UI Health’s Mile Square Health Center, the facility has already been visited by prominent political leaders interested in its role in providing care to patients newly insured through the Affordable Care Act.

Sen. Dick Durbin, Rep. Danny Davis and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel have toured the center at Roosevelt Road and Wood Street since it opened its doors Jan. 6.

University officials, local politicians and community leaders presided at the center’s ribbon-cutting Jan. 21.

Mile Square is the first federally qualified health center in Chicago to offer urgent care and a broad array of specialty medical services.

The new community health center is “unlike any neighborhood clinic I’ve ever visited,” Davis said at the ribbon-cutting.

Robert Winn, UI Health’s associate vice president for community based practice, said he expects Mile Square will see many new patients thanks to the Affordable Care Act.

“But they are going to get a lot more than what they may be used to at a typical community clinic,” he said.

“Here we specialize in primary care plus, meaning you can get your prescription filled, get labs taken, see a specialist, and we can even help enroll you in insurance if you walk in the door without it.”

Mile Square will accept all patients, regardless of ability to pay or insurance status. For more information or an appointment, visit hospital.uillinois.edu or call 312-996-2000.