2022 marked a milestone for AllianceChicago: we celebrated 25 years of work in our mission to improve personal, community and public health through innovative collaboration.
In 2006, Near North Health became the first of our founding Health Centers to go live on our version of an electronic health record (EHR) system. It literally became a foundational moment in the history of EHR adoption. Enhancing Quality in Patient Care (EQUIP) Project | Digital Healthcare Research
Our leaders focused on electronic health records as a key enabler for Health Centers to utilize health information to support care delivery, patient engagement, promotion of evidence-based recommendations, continuous learning and quality improvement, and the generation of population-based insights to drive more effective practice recommendations, support advocacy, and promote health equity.
Today AllianceChicago’s areas of focus are representative of a broader vision that range far beyond the support of any vendor specific technology. While we continue to provide opportunity for Health Centers to collectively maximize their use of athenahealth products, our strategic partnership with Health Choice Network provides access to other EHR technology, and to a leading-edge data analytic platform that encompasses more than 8 million diverse Health Center patients and growing. We are leaning forward into broader digital health and patient engagement technology. Our focus bridges beyond mere technology to supporting the evolution of health care delivery in practical and innovative ways while continuing to innovate and advance the adoption and use of leading-edge technology. Our deepening partnership with the Illinois Primary Health Care Association and Health Centers here in Illinois have provided new opportunities to advance new models of care delivery, alternative payment approaches, support regional public health priorities, leverage data for advocacy, and prepare for alternative Medicaid payment models.
Celebrating our 25th anniversary in the midst of global public health crisis makes us thoughtful both about the impactful resources we bring to help Health Centers act as a system, and about the tremendous obligation and opportunity to do more.
Although the emergency phase of the COVID pandemic is coming to an end, there will be ongoing management needs. And our Health Centers are working in a context of other challenges including workforce shortages and concerns, worsening chronic disease impacts, increasing impact of social determinants, violence, climate change, constantly evolving technology, 340B erosion, funding changes, and transitions in payment models.
It is so gratifying to be part of an organization whose staff are all dedicated to a mission that recognizes health is determined at multiple levels, and the determination to promote collaboration and innovation to meet the challenges with positive change. They each, are oriented to be of service to Health Centers and the communities they serve.
I am very proud of the representative accomplishments we highlight in this annual report – accomplishments that span the range of services we provide. Our success is inspired by, and dependent upon all of you, and we dedicate this report to our Health Centers, partners, and other stakeholders.
As I look back to that first foundational EHR go live, I must also recognize the transition of our Founding Board Chair, Berneice Thomas, who retired at the end of 2022. Her leadership shaped not only the incredible work that Near North Health has accomplished, but the entire direction and success of AllianceChicago. All of us owe her a debt of gratitude.
Thank you Berneice, and all of our stakeholders, for continuing to inspire our work.
Best,
Fred D. Rachman, MD, CEO
Our Network
AllianceChicago (AC) is a health center-controlled network and practice-based research network, linking more than 70 organizations serving Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) patients across Illinois and 17 other states. The Network provides support for health information technology that enables practice improvement, advanced data analytics and curates a comprehensive health database comprising over 4 million highly diverse patients. The communities represented include urban and rural populations, low-income and uninsured individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, the LGBTQ community, and refugee and homeless populations. At the core of our work, we strive for health equity. Everyone should have access to affordable, quality health care regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, geographic location or socioeconomic status.
Impact & Achievements
We provide expert technical and clinical support.
The technical support AllianceChicago provides has assisted my health center through challenging times with immediate response; going beyond the call of duty. It’s a strong collaboration. When meeting with AllianceChicago, I walk away with new knowledge. ~Jimmy Valentin, Heartland Alliance Health
We lead practice-based research and innovation.
The support provided by AllianceChicago has been invaluable in the development of our research infrastructure. The research team surveyed our health center’s interest in and ability to engage in research and shared findings with our internal team. We are now armed with data to inform our next steps. I always appreciate working with AllianceChicago’s research team as they understand the work our health centers do and have the technical expertise to design research projects that are mutually beneficial. ~ Jermy Domingo, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association
Board of Directors
- Berneice Mills-Thomas, RN, MSM, MPH, MBA, Chair | Chief Executive Officer, Near North Health
- Ed Stellon, MS, MA, CADC, Vice-Chair | Vice President and Executive Director, Heartland Alliance Health
- Lee Francis, MD, MPH, Treasurer | President and Chief Executive Officer, Erie Family Health Centers
- David Munar, Secretary | President and Chief Executive Officer, Howard Brown Health
Congratulations to Berneice Mills-Thomas, CEO of Near North Health and Board Chair of AllianceChicago, on her retirement! She has been a board member of AllianceChicago since its inception 25 years ago. Berneice has dedicated her career to improving the health and well-being of individuals in low-income, medically underserved Chicago communities. She is an influential and active leader and has been able to set critical healthcare policies at local, regional and national levels. Berneice has also been inducted into the National Association of Community Health Centers Hall of Fame.
