Family Care Center hopes to increase local health care access – Evanston RoundTable

Report on the Endeavor Health Family Care Center Initiative

Introduction: A Health Initiative Aligned with Sustainable Development Goals

The Endeavor Health Family Care Center, a new facility at Evanston Hospital, has been launched in partnership with the University of Chicago Family Medicine Residency Program. This initiative is strategically aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily focusing on ensuring access to quality healthcare for all community members. The collaboration itself exemplifies SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, leveraging institutional cooperation to achieve public health objectives.

Core Mission: Advancing SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

The center’s primary objective is to advance SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being by providing a consistent “medical home” for residents of all ages, thereby promoting healthy lives and well-being.

Universal Health Coverage and Accessibility

The facility aims to expand access to essential health services, a key target of SDG 3. It functions as both a walk-in clinic and a full-service primary care provider, directly contributing to the goal of universal health coverage. Services are comprehensive and designed to serve the entire family lifecycle:

• Newborn and geriatric patient care
• Sick visits and annual physicals
• Prenatal care
• Pre-operation testing and clearance
• Behavioral health support
• Chronic condition management

Proactive Management of Non-Communicable Diseases

A significant goal is to reduce the burden on emergency services by providing preventative and ongoing care for chronic conditions. By helping patients manage conditions such as asthma, hypertension, and diabetes before they reach a crisis state, the center directly supports SDG Target 3.4, which aims to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment.

A Holistic Approach to Reducing Inequalities (SDG 1, SDG 2, SDG 10)

The center employs a holistic model that recognizes the interconnectedness of health with social and economic factors, thereby addressing multiple SDGs simultaneously.

Targeting Health Disparities

In alignment with SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, the center is strategically located to serve communities with prevalent health disparities, such as Evanston’s Fifth Ward. The initiative seeks to provide equitable access to care and directly support populations that have historically lacked consistent medical services.

Addressing Social Determinants of Health

The program integrates screening and support for non-medical needs that impede health outcomes. This approach addresses the root causes of poor health, contributing to SDG 1: No Poverty and SDG 2: Zero Hunger. Community health workers engage directly with patients to identify and provide resources for challenges including:

• Food insecurity
• Housing insecurity
• Transportation needs
• Household safety

This proactive intervention ensures that social needs are addressed in real-time alongside medical treatment, fostering a comprehensive support system.

Operational Framework and Initial Impact

Collaborative Staffing Model

The center operates through a collaborative staffing model, comprised of five physicians and approximately 20 medical residents. This structure not only provides patient care but also serves as a training ground for future medical professionals, reinforcing the partnership framework of SDG 17.

Initial Performance Metrics

Since its launch, the center has demonstrated growing community engagement. Patient visit metrics indicate a positive trajectory:

1. February Launch: 250 patient visits
2. Subsequent Monthly Average: 400 to 500 patient visits

Conclusion: Fostering a Sustainable and Healthy Community (SDG 11)

The Endeavor Health Family Care Center represents a significant step toward building a more sustainable and inclusive community, in line with SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. By integrating comprehensive medical care with support for social determinants of health, the initiative not only improves individual well-being but also strengthens the community’s overall health resilience and equity. This model serves as a practical application of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the local level.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • The article’s central theme is the establishment of the Endeavor Health Family Care Center to provide accessible medical care. It directly addresses the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages by offering services like “primary care to everyone from newborns to geriatric patients,” “prenatal care,” “behavioral health support,” and “chronic condition care.” The center’s mission to “offset some of the volume that we see in the emergency room” and become a “medical home” for residents without consistent care aligns perfectly with this SDG.

2. SDG 1: No Poverty

   • The article connects health with socio-economic factors by acknowledging that “food insecurity, housing insecurity and household safety” can “impede on their ability to achieve and maintain health.” The center actively screens for these non-medical needs and connects patients with resources, which is a direct effort to address different dimensions of poverty that affect well-being.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • The initiative specifically aims to reduce health disparities. The article notes the center’s location is “less than 2 miles from Evanston’s Fifth Ward” and that there is an “opportunity to directly impact that community” where “chronic diseases [are] more prevalent in these zip codes.” By providing accessible and holistic care to underserved communities, the center works towards reducing inequalities in health outcomes.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

1. Target 3.4: Reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases

   • The article states a key goal is to help patients “get on top of your asthma, you can get on top of your hypertension, you can get treatment for diabetes without being in crisis.” This directly relates to the prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) to reduce premature mortality and improve quality of life.

2. Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage

   • The center’s purpose is to be a “landing spot for residents of all ages without access to consistent medical care” and to create a “medical home” for them. By providing a “full service” primary care clinic that is accessible to the community, it contributes to the goal of universal health coverage, ensuring people have access to quality essential health-care services.

3. Target 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems

   • The center’s model includes community health workers who screen for “social drivers of health” such as “housing insecurity or transportation needs” and connect patients to “resources that we have available.” This process acts as a localized social protection measure, providing a safety net for vulnerable individuals to address basic needs that impact their health.

4. Target 10.2: Promote the social inclusion of all

   • By focusing on communities like Evanston’s Fifth Ward, the center works to ensure that vulnerable populations have equal access to essential services. The effort to “meet the patient where they are” and provide holistic care that considers social factors promotes the inclusion of individuals who may have been previously marginalized from the healthcare system.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. Indicator related to Target 3.8: Coverage of essential health services

   • The article provides a direct quantitative measure of service coverage by stating that “the clinic has seen between 400 and 500 patients a month on average.” This figure serves as an indicator of the number of people accessing essential primary care services through the new center.

2. Indicator related to Target 3.4: Treatment of non-communicable diseases

   • While not providing a specific number, the article implies that progress can be measured by the number of patients receiving care for chronic conditions. The goal to help people “get on top of your asthma…hypertension…diabetes” suggests that tracking the number of patients whose chronic conditions are being managed by the clinic would be a key indicator of success.

3. Indicator related to Target 1.3: Proportion of population covered by social protection floors/systems

   • The article implies an indicator through its description of the screening process. The number of patients screened for “social drivers of health” (like food, housing, and transportation insecurity) and the number of subsequent referrals or connections made to support resources can be used to measure the reach of this social protection mechanism. The follow-up “to make sure you got what you need” is a qualitative measure of the system’s effectiveness.

Summary Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: evanstonroundtable.com