UChicago Medicine begins offering urgent care in downtown Chicago

The University of Chicago Medicine is launching walk-in urgent care services at its River East location, following the March launch of urgent care in Dearborn Station and January launch of urgent care in Homewood. This new service provides south suburban and Chicago residents with afterhours, weekend and holiday access for time-sensitive medical needs, including minor illnesses and injuries.

UChicago Medicine River East began offering urgent care to adults and children May 15. That facility joined UChicago Medicine – Dearborn Station and UChicago Medicine Medical Group - Homewood, which began urgent care services on March 13 and Jan. 17, respectively. These locations already offered primary care, which includes Pediatrics and Family or Internal Medicine. UChicago Medicine Medical Group* physicians will be available for urgent care from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends and all major federal holidays.

The three sites are the first of several new urgent care locations the Hyde Park-based health system plans to operate in Chicago and the suburbs this year.

"UChicago Medicine saw a gap for our patient population,” said Joseph Newberg*, MD, Interim Urgent Care Medical Director. “For us to continue to serve our communities and build on our stellar reputation, we took a step to provide urgent care to our patients."

The urgent care clinics will offer care for everything from headaches, nausea, and upper respiratory infections to sprains and fractures. They will also offer point-of-care lab (for COVID-19, influenza or urinary tract infection) testing and x-ray imaging.

"We don't want urgent care to replace your primary care physician or occupational medicine," said Dr. Newberg, who will also be one of several physicians at the location. "It will serve as the in-between so that you are able to follow up with a primary care physician or specialist."

Insurance is accepted or patients have the option to self-pay for care. No appointments are necessary, but patients can use UChicago Medicine at Ingalls – Calumet City, UChicago Medicine at Ingalls – Flossmoor and UChicago Medicine at Ingalls – Tinley Park which offer “urgent aid” treatment for more serious injuries and illnesses that require immediate care. It operates as an extension of the emergency department at UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial in Harvey.

*UChicago Medicine Medical Group is comprised of UCM Care Network Medical Group, Inc. and Primary Healthcare Associates, S.C. UChicago Medicine Medical Group providers are not employees or agents of The University of Chicago Medical Center, The University of Chicago, UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial, UChicago Medicine Medical Group — Homewood or UChicago Medicine — Dearborn Station.