Sylvia has been living in Englewood since 2000, when she came back home to help her family. For the last 20 years, she’s made the community home – and has no problem making friends. She loves having the chance to walk around her block and connect with people from any walk of life.
Two years ago, that included making friends with the social workers and clinicians at Heartland Alliance Health’s Englewood Health Center.
“I needed to find a new doctor, and my brother recommended this health center he saw on 55th,” said Sylvia. “The relationship I have with that place has been perfect ever since walked in.”
For years, Sylvia has been coming to Heartland Alliance Health (HAH) for her general medicine needs – and picking her prescriptions up at our in-house ReCept Pharmacy. The one-stop-shop has made accessing Sylvia’s healthcare needs as easy as it has ever been in her 20 years in Englewood.
More importantly to Sylvia, she feels a real connection with the staff.
“I’ve never heard of a facility that provides so much to the community. But I really love the people. You’re always welcome here, and you can feel it.”
One of her favorite people at the health center is her general practitioner, Dr. Farqan Kahn. She drops in for her regular check-ups, but someone like Sylvia loves to pop in for regular visits as well. The connection – and trust – has allowed Farqan to make connections with physical therapists and pain management doctors. These relationships have not just helped Sylvia stay well – she can actually look forward to even better health.
“Dr. Kahn is just so patient. He explains them in a way that’s easily understandable. Most importantly, he starts every conversation with how I’m feeling and what I feel I need. I’ve never had a doctor like that.”
Most recently, Sylvia came in for her check up during a day-long mass COVID-19 testing clinic. Anyone was allowed to get a free test, with no need for insurance or previous engagement with our health center. As the pandemic continues to hit hardest in Chicago’s south and west sides, the clinicians and nurses at the Englewood center have made it a priority to provide safe, socially distanced testing to anyone who needs it.
Fortunately, Sylvia’s test came back negative. The HAH team was able to help provide answers to some long-nagging questions around safe social-distancing practices, and give her at least some peace of mind around general concerns like grocery shopping and connecting with friends.
“Any time I have questions, or if I’m feeling unwell, I know I can trust my people at HAH”
Ultimately, that’s the goal at our healthcare centers across the city. We believe that strengths-based, trauma-informed, quality access to healthcare makes entire communities stronger. When we build relationships with people like we have with Sylvia, we make communities stronger.
We believe that healthcare is more than just a doctor’s visit. For people like Sylvia, the added human element in care makes all of the difference.
“You know I’m a joker, and we interact and still have a great time. I don’t walk in here feeling like a patient, I walk in here feeling like a person.”
