Northwestern’s new outpatient center puts community feedback into practice

On Sept. 3, Northwestern Medicine opened a new outpatient center in the Bronzeville neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side, shaped by community input that influenced everything from clinical services to the chairs in patient rooms.

“Everything was very intentional,” said Tanika Sykes, the facility’s director of operations, referring to chairs found in patient rooms and waiting areas, which were selected for their wraparound style intended to offer comfort and a sense of being embraced. Throughout the facility, there are also options for both high and low seating, with higher chairs designed to accommodate those who may have difficulty sitting down or standing up.

The 120,000-square-foot facility is meant as a one-stop shop, offering care in more than 14 specialties, including immediate and primary care, women’s health, cardiology, dermatology, pediatrics, oncology and mental health services. Clinical offerings at the center were informed directly by healthcare needs within the community, Northwestern leaders said during a tour of the facility.

“We looked at the data,” said Kimbra Bell, MD, medical director at the Northwestern Medicine Outpatient Center. “We looked to see what services were individuals who are currently in the ZIP code and surrounding ZIP codes seeking at another Northwestern site, and that informed us as to what we would have here.”

Initially, there were no plans to offer pediatric care at the outpatient center. However, as leaders began holding listening sessions with the community, residents requested pediatrics be included, which expanded the center’s footprint from 80,000 square feet to 120,000 square feet.

A significant portion of care delivery at the location will be dedicated to prevention, particularly for conditions that affect African Americans disproportionately. More than 50,000 patients are expected to receive care at the center annually. Officials also anticipate access to local urgent care will help prevent avoidable trips to the emergency department at area hospitals.

“This community is largely African American,” Dr. Bell said. “There are certain medical conditions that we tend to see more of, such as chronic kidney disease, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. With some of the services that we offer here, we’re hoping that we can not only prevent some of these things but also have early intervention with these conditions if they’ve already developed.” 

More than 110 employees were hired to staff the new facility, 76% of whom live in the Bronzeville area.

“We had two goals when it came to recruitment: One, our current employees want to work closer to home, and our second is to provide jobs in the community,” Ms. Sykes said. 

As the facility came together, leaders said they made a point to take community input seriously, extending that commitment to decisions related to project leadership to supporting local businesses. One of the building’s most visible design elements is a bronze metal weave wrapping the exterior, which was inspired by ideas shared during listening sessions.

“In African American culture, the weaving of the basket represents strength, solidarity and unity. That’s what’s being represented on the outside of the building,” Dr. Bell said. 

Inside, much of the artwork comes from a women-owned business. Another intentional design component was placing chemotherapy and infusion suites on the top floor, reserving views of the city skyline for patients and their families who often spend the most time receiving care. 

One of the center’s key features is a multi-use community space, which includes meeting tables, whiteboards and a commercial kitchen. Patients may be referred to the space for nutrition and cooking classes. The area is also open to the public, where space can be reserved for book clubs and community meetings. 

“We are very excited about the fact that we can offer classes — cooking demonstrations, about how to eat healthy when you have chronic kidney disease, how to eat healthy when you suffer from high cholesterol, how to eat healthy when you have an underlying diagnosis of cardiovascular disease,” Dr. Bell said. 

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