Insight Hospital and Medical Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Insight Hospital and Medical Center |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Geography | |
| Location | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Services | |
| Beds | 414 |
| History | |
| Founded | 1852 |
Insight Hospital and Medical Center, once known as Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, is a large hospital in Chicago, Illinois. It has 414 beds and helps teach new doctors. The hospital was started in 1852. It was the very first hospital in Chicago to get an official charter. In 1859, it became the first Catholic hospital to work with a medical school. This was Lind Medical School. It was also the first to have a step-by-step learning plan for students.
Contents
Hospital History in Chicago
The Sisters of Mercy are a group of nuns. They came from Ireland to the United States in the 1840s. Six of them came to Chicago in 1846. They first started a high school. Then, in 1852, they opened a hospital. This hospital was located at Rush Street and the Chicago River. It was the first hospital in Chicago to be officially recognized.
In 1859, Mercy Hospital joined with Lind Medical School. This made it the first Catholic hospital to do so. The hospital moved to a building at Wabash and Van Buren Streets. This area is now known as the Loop. In 1863, it moved again to 26th Street and Calumet Avenue. This was in the Near South Side. At that time, this location was considered quite far south.
The hospital grew bigger in 1869. Its address was then on Prairie Avenue. This street is just east of Calumet. This new location was very helpful during the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. The hospital was outside the burned area. But it was close enough to help many people hurt by the fire.
Famous Patients and Growth
In 1912, former President Theodore Roosevelt was running for president again. He was shot in Milwaukee. After giving his speech, he felt weak and was losing blood. He was quickly taken to Chicago. President Roosevelt was treated at Mercy Hospital.
In 1968, Mercy Hospital opened its current building. This new hospital is on South Michigan Avenue. It is just west of its old location. The hospital site goes from 25th to 26th Streets. It stretches from Michigan Avenue to Martin Luther King Drive. The mayor at the time, Richard J. Daley, helped the hospital get this land. This allowed it to keep serving the city of Chicago.
The Daley family often used Mercy Hospital. All seven of Mayor Richard J. Daley's children were born there. Robert Francis Prevost, who later became Pope Leo XIV, was born at Mercy in 1955. In 2008, Mercy sold some land north of the hospital for $60 million.
Mercy Hospital was a main center for women's cancer care in Illinois. It took in patients from Michael Reese Hospital when it closed in 2008. Mercy also took over its ambulance routes. In 2011, Mercy received a large loan. It was $66 million from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. This money was for a new heart care unit.
On November 19, 2018, a sad event happened. Four people were shot and killed near the hospital. This included the person who did the shooting.
In 2020, Mercy Hospital faced financial difficulties. It filed for special protection to reorganize its finances. This was due to fewer patients and more competition.
Hospital Services and Recognition
Mercy Hospital is a Level 2 trauma center. This means it can handle serious injuries. In its last reported year, the hospital had many patients. It had 16,359 admissions. There were 2,186 procedures for patients staying overnight. Also, 3,973 surgeries were done for patients who went home the same day. The emergency department had 52,692 visits.
The hospital is officially recognized by the American Osteopathic Association. This is through their Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program. In 2012, Mercy Hospital was ranked #35 in Illinois. It was also ranked #27 in the Chicago area by U.S. News & World Report.
Insight Hospital's New Beginning
Insight, a company focused on clinical technology, became the owner of Mercy Hospital. This happened on June 1, 2021. The hospital was then renamed Insight Hospital and Medical Center. Insight plans to invest $50 million into the hospital. This is part of a plan to offer more services. They also want to bring back the hospital's role as a teaching hospital.
Revitalization and Community Focus
Since 2021, Insight has worked to improve the hospital. They want to bring back important healthcare services. They also aim to strengthen its role as a trusted provider on Chicago’s South Side. These efforts include bringing back ambulance services. They have also restarted fully approved training programs for doctors. These are in internal medicine and emergency medicine.
Insight Hospital has expanded its services. This includes care for emergencies and trauma. They also offer general surgery, orthopedics, and neurosurgery. Other services include neurology, heart care, and women’s health. They also provide allergy and immunology, and mental health support. Diagnostic imaging, lab testing, and rehabilitation are also available.
Today, the hospital continues to serve the Bronzeville neighborhood. It also helps the wider Chicago area. It is a teaching institution. It is also an important part of Insight Health Systems. This system runs hospitals in Illinois, Michigan, and Iowa. Besides medical services, the hospital supports community health programs. These programs focus on preventing illness and education. They also help with social factors that affect health.
One key partnership is with the Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village. This group is in Flint, Michigan. It helps young people and families. They offer academic help, creative arts, and job training. They also provide leadership in sports. Through this work, Insight helps improve long-term health. They do this by supporting community stability, education, and well-being. Other outreach efforts include health fairs and neighborhood events. These programs aim to make healthcare more accessible. They also work to reduce health differences in areas that have not been well-served.
In May 2025, it was publicly shared that Pope Leo XIV was born at the hospital. This happened on September 14, 1955. At that time, it was called Mercy Hospital. This historical moment shows the hospital's long history. It also highlights its connection to Chicago and the world.
See also
- John Benjamin Murphy
