Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center was founded in 1901 by the Belden Avenue Baptist Church (founded 1897)[8] Steadfast Sunday School class (2309 N. Halsted Street) as the Chicago Union Hospital.[9][10][11] Originally a two-and-one-half story frame building which was rented for $50 a month, it contained 30 beds, 10 used by nurses, house physicians and staff, and 20 by patients, 5 of whom could afford to pay for their hospitalization.[12][13] On March 3, 1905, the main building was destroyed by fire when a blaze broke out in the laboratory. In 1909 a new hospital building opened, which was equipped with an x-ray machine.[10] In 1910, Martha A. Pippereit was superintendent.[11]
Illinois Masonic Hospital in 1922
When the operation outstripped the church group's ability, leaders of the hospital turned to the Masonic Order, who were planning to develop a hospital to provide care for their own. In 1921, the Masonic Order purchased the Union Hospital and renamed it Illinois Masonic Hospital.[12][13] In 1921, the Illinois Masonic Hospital Association purchased Chicago Union Hospital[9] for $100,000.[10] By the end of the 1930s, the hospital had more than 150 beds.[11]
In November 2000, Illinois Masonic Medical Center became a hospital member of Advocate Health Care. In 2002, the hospital suffered losses of $18 million due to reductions in federal and state government payments to providers of medical care.[3]
On April 27, 2015, a new $100 million Center for Advanced Care at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center was opened. The 164,000-square-foot, three-story facility was designed by SmithGroup. The new building, attached to the main hospital, allowed Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center to expand and centralize three medical specialties—cancer care, digestive health and outpatient surgery services—in a single, integrated platform.[14]
The hospital also provides graduate training in pharmacy, dentistry and podiatry. The pharmacy residency is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.[16]
Advocate Health Care
Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center is part of Downers Grove-based Advocate Health Care, which is the largest health care provider in Illinois and the largest accountable care organization in the US.[17] With more than 25,000 employees and 4,600 affiliated physicians, Advocate Health Care operates 10 acute care hospitals, including two children's hospitals and a specialty hospital for extended care needs, three large medical groups, and comprehensive home health and hospice services. Advocate Health Care is a not-for-profit, faith-based organization related to both the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the United Church of Christ.[18]
CTA
Brown Purple 
