University of Chicago Medicine announced Thursday plans to build a Level 1 adult trauma center on its south side campus, forgoing plans to partner with Chicago-based Sinai Health System to open a unit at Holy Cross Hospital.
In addition to a trauma center, the health system said it will expand its emergency room and increase inpatient beds to address capacity needs and care access for communities in the area.
"We deeply value our relationship with Sinai Health System and its enormous contributions to the network of care in Chicago," U. of C. Medical Center President Sharon O'Keefe told the Chicago Tribune. "We recognize Sinai's experience and excellence in trauma care. At the end of the day, we realized that integrating all of these services on one site, on our campus, made the most sense for South Side patients."
Sinai Health System CEO Karent Teitelbaum said, "Ultimately, we are gratified that trauma care will be restored in an area of Chicago that is in urgent need of these services."