Description:

Alarming AIDS/HIV statistics underline the urgent need for specialized facilities devoted exclusively to treating the patient's physical, psychological and emotional well being.  According to the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, at the end of 2001, an estimated 40,000,000 men, women and children worldwide live with these diseases, an almost unbelievable rise since the first isolated case was reported in 1983.  Also during 2001, AIDS and AIDS-related diseases caused the death of an estimated 3,000,000 individuals across the globe, including 1,100,000 women and 580,000 children. 

This critical public health crisis virtually overwhelmed the capabilities of Rush University Medical Center and Cook County Hospital to care for these special-needs patients.  To more effectively serve HIV-infected individuals, physicians at both hospitals decided to build a dedicated facility - called The CORE Center for the Prevention, Care and Research of Infectious Diseases - to provide specialized outpatient healthcare and support services.  The CORE Center consolidates and expands Rush's and Cook County's capability to treat patients through an innovative, wide-ranging approach by providing support and specialty care services to individuals and their families.  The facility also is a referral and resource hub for the growing network of public and private community-based healthcare providers that treat communicable diseases. 

Rather than financing The CORE Center entirely through public funding, the medical centers established The CORE Foundation.  This tax-exempt public/private partnership, comprised of Rush and Cook County, successfully raised millions of dollars of capital from business, government and philanthropic sources to design, build and equip the facility.  Completed ahead of schedule and under budget, The CORE Center saves millions of dollars annually by converting 30 percent of inpatient admissions to outpatient visits.  Alter+Care provided project development services for the 60,000 SF building.

Contact Information:

John Driscoll
President
(847) 568-5871
jdriscoll@altergroup.com