NorthShore University HealthSystem plans to open its first freestanding immediate care center in Evanston in the retail space on the southeast corner of Chicago Avenue and Main Street.
Plans for the project, in the building known as The Main, are scheduled to be reviewed by the city’s Design and Project Review committee this afternoon.
The plans call for three examining rooms and an x-ray facility.
The hospital system, which is headquartered in Evanston, also has hospitals in Glenview, Highland Park and Skokie.
It has seven other immediate care centers, the closest existing one is in Skokie. It also, according to the system’s website, offers walk-in services at some of its medical group offices, including the one at 909 Davis St. in Evanston.
The project will require special use approval by the City Council as a medical office in a ground-floor location in the Dempster-Main overlay district.
Update 9 p.m.: The committee recommended approval of the special use for the immediate care center. The proposal next goes to the Zoning Board of Appeals, likely at its meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 15.
The Main
Please do NOT let this prime corner go to an unnecessary emergency care facility! St. Francis, which is a level one trauma center, is a few blocks away! This should be utilized for SOMETHING that provides retail usage for the area! The city council insists that new buildings have retail space! Why insist and then waive the requirement! The Main was given many waivers originally! The Chicago avenue sidewalk is very narrow, barely room for one wheelchair between the planters and the building! And emergency care is a good idea? There’s very little parking on Main and the garage is difficult for egress/ingress. It is a terrible idea!
Walk in care
There is a huge difference between an emergency room and a walk in doctors office. Why tie up an emergency room with minor illnesses – something that happens all to often these days – because of a lack of facilities to just see a doctor for a non-life threatening emergency.
I am in favor of having this facility. I suspect that many people in Evanston have their medical care through Northshore University HealthSystems and will welcome this office. Note that I was told that as of Jan. 1st the 909 Davis walk-in was not going to be a walk-in place anymore.
Immediate Care vs. Emergency Care
Immediate care is when a doctor is needed and you can’t get in to see your primary care doctor.
Emergency room should be used for trauma level care.