The IMD Guest House Plan

The Illinois Medical District possesses the world’s largest concentration of major health care institutions. Serving as tertiary care centers, these hospitals often care for patients who have been referred by smaller, community hospitals due to their inability to handle difficult or unusual cases.

Due to the constant influx of new patients to the IMD, countless families and friends seek temporary housing during their extended stays. Yet there are currently only two hotels within a short driving distance of the IMD’s hospitals. Both establishments are routinely sold out and charge rates unaffordable by many. Patients’ families and loved ones are routinely compelled to sleep in makeshift accommodations in patients’ rooms or in lobbies.

Target Population

More than four million patients visit the Illinois Medical District annually. The IMD Guest House will accommodate patients’ families and friends in need of temporary housing on a referral basis. Referrals to the IMD Guest House may come from the Illinois Medical District hospitals, which include Rush University Medical Center, the University of Illinois Medical Center and John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital. Each hospital will have a representative that will provide the Foundation with the names of those they feel are eligible for referral.

Permanent Home Quest

The IMD Guest House Foundation has been making progress towards meeting our mission of providing affordable housing to families of patients who are receiving medical treatment at one of the IMD healthcare facilities.

The Foundation has raised more than $1.2 million for our capital campaign but this isn’t enough to begin building. The Foundation needs $2 million.

In 2004, Guest House has received gifts from the Nathan Cummings Foundation, Cerner, U.S. Cellular and the CNA Foundation.