Medical Help in Chicago: Hospitals & Urgent Care

If you need medical help in Chicago, you can find hospitals, urgent care clinics, and 24-hour pharmacies across all Chicago metro area. Most minor health issues can be treated at urgent care clinics or pharmacies, while hospitals handle serious emergencies.

Quick decision guide: where to go in Chicago

Minor illness (cold, ear infection, UTI): visit an urgent care clinic such as Midwest Express Clinic or Northwestern Medicine Immediate Care.
Prescription refill: head to a 24-hour Walgreens. The location at 757 N Michigan Ave on the Magnificent Mile is open around the clock.
Serious emergency (chest pain, stroke symptoms, major bleeding, loss of consciousness): call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room. Do not drive yourself.
Poison exposure: call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 any time, day or night.
Dental pain or eye injury: Northwestern Medicine Immediate Care and Rush University Medical Center both handle these cases and can refer you to specialists.

Emergency rooms near the Loop and River North

Rush University Medical Center at 1620 W Harrison St is one of the largest academic medical centers in the Midwest and sits about 2 miles west of the Loop. The emergency department operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call (312) 942-5000 for general information. Take the CTA Pink or Green Line to the Medical Center station, a 5-minute walk from the main entrance.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital at 251 E Huron St sits in Streeterville, a 10-minute walk from River North and the Magnificent Mile. The emergency department runs 24/7 and the hospital ranks among the top facilities in Illinois. Call (312) 926-2000. The nearest CTA L stop is Chicago (Red Line) on State Street, about a 12-minute walk, or take a rideshare for a 5-minute ride.

University of Chicago Medical Center at 5841 S Maryland Ave serves the South Side and Hyde Park. The emergency department is open 24/7. Call (773) 702-1000. Travelers staying downtown will find this a longer trip, roughly 30 minutes by CTA Green Line to Garfield, then a short bus ride, so it works best for those already in Hyde Park.

Urgent care clinics near the Magnificent Mile and Lincoln Park

Northwestern Medicine Immediate Care operates multiple Chicago locations. The Gold Coast clinic at 680 N Lake Shore Dr, Suite 1025 is a 10-minute walk from the Magnificent Mile and handles everything from sprains to respiratory infections. Hours run Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (312) 926-8400 or book online at nm.org.

Midwest Express Clinic has a Lincoln Park location at 2022 N Halsted St, open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome and wait times are posted on their website at midwestexpressclinic.com. The nearest CTA L stop is Armitage (Brown and Purple Lines), a 6-minute walk.

Concentra Urgent Care at 180 N Michigan Ave, Suite 1900 puts urgent care in the Loop itself, making it the most convenient option for travelers staying downtown. Hours run Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (312) 726-1400. The Washington (Blue, Pink, Orange, Green, Brown, Purple Lines) and Monroe (Red Line) stations are both within a 3-minute walk.

Urgent care in Wicker Park and the near northwest side

Midwest Express Clinic also operates a Wicker Park location at 1620 N Milwaukee Ave, open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome. The Damen Blue Line station is a 4-minute walk. This clinic covers travelers staying in Wicker Park, Bucktown, and Ukrainian Village, neighborhoods that lack a major hospital nearby.

Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center at 836 W Wellington Ave in Lakeview is the closest full-service hospital to Wicker Park and Lincoln Park, about 2 miles north. The emergency department runs 24/7. Call (773) 975-1600. Take the CTA Brown Line to Wellington station, a 5-minute walk from the main entrance.

Chicago hospitals and urgent care at a glance

Facility	Neighborhood	Type	Hours	Phone
Rush University Medical Center, 1620 W Harrison St	Near West Side	Hospital ER	24/7	(312) 942-5000
Northwestern Memorial Hospital, 251 E Huron St	Streeterville / River North	Hospital ER	24/7	(312) 926-2000
Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, 836 W Wellington Ave	Lakeview	Hospital ER	24/7	(773) 975-1600
University of Chicago Medical Center, 5841 S Maryland Ave	Hyde Park	Hospital ER	24/7	(773) 702-1000
Northwestern Medicine Immediate Care, 680 N Lake Shore Dr	Gold Coast / Magnificent Mile	Urgent Care	Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Wknd 9am-5pm	(312) 926-8400
Concentra Urgent Care, 180 N Michigan Ave	Loop	Urgent Care	Mon-Fri 8am-5pm	(312) 726-1400
Midwest Express Clinic, 2022 N Halsted St	Lincoln Park	Urgent Care	Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Wknd 9am-5pm	See website
Midwest Express Clinic, 1620 N Milwaukee Ave	Wicker Park	Urgent Care	Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Wknd 9am-5pm	See website

24-hour pharmacies near River North and the Magnificent Mile

Walgreens at 757 N Michigan Ave on the Magnificent Mile is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and fills prescriptions around the clock. Call (312) 664-8686. The pharmacy counter closes at midnight and reopens at 8 a.m., but the store itself stays open for over-the-counter purchases all night. The Chicago (Red Line) station is a 4-minute walk.

CVS Pharmacy at 1 E Jackson Blvd in the Loop is open 24 hours for retail purchases. Pharmacy hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call (312) 922-4082. The Jackson station (Blue and Red Lines) is directly outside.

Walgreens at 2001 N Clark St in Lincoln Park is open 24 hours with a pharmacy counter open until midnight. Call (773) 549-1861. This location covers travelers staying in Lincoln Park and Old Town. The Sedgwick Brown and Purple Line station is a 7-minute walk.

Practical tips for getting medical care in Chicago

Download the MyChart app before you travel. Northwestern Medicine and Rush University both use it, and you can request a virtual visit for minor issues without leaving your hotel room in River North or the Loop.
If you need a prescription filled after midnight on the Magnificent Mile, the Walgreens at 757 N Michigan Ave keeps the store open 24 hours, but call ahead at (312) 664-8686 to confirm the pharmacist on duty can fill your specific medication.
Concentra Urgent Care at 180 N Michigan Ave in the Loop closes at 5 p.m. on weekdays and is not open weekends, so Loop-based travelers with evening or weekend needs should head to Northwestern Medicine Immediate Care at 680 N Lake Shore Dr instead.
Travel insurance that covers medical evacuation is worth carrying if you have a pre-existing condition. Chicago hospitals bill at full U.S. rates for uninsured international visitors, and a single ER visit can run several thousand dollars.
For non-emergency questions, call the Illinois Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 any time. Staff there can also advise on drug interactions and medication questions, not just poisoning cases.
If you are in Wicker Park or Bucktown late at night and need urgent care, the nearest 24-hour ER is Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center at 836 W Wellington Ave in Lakeview. A rideshare takes about 10 minutes.

Sustainable travel and healthcare in Chicago

Choosing a telehealth visit through Northwestern Medicine or Rush for minor illnesses cuts out a car or rideshare trip across the city, reducing your carbon footprint while you recover. When you do need to travel to a clinic, the CTA L reaches most major medical facilities, including the Medical Center station for Rush and the Chicago Red Line stop near Northwestern Memorial.

Official sources for medical help in Chicago

Illinois Department of Public Health: state health alerts, vaccination requirements, and disease outbreak notices relevant to Chicago travelers.
City of Chicago Department of Public Health: local health resources, clinic finder, and public health emergency updates.
Illinois Poison Center: 24-hour poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222, plus online resources for medication and chemical exposure questions.
Northwestern Medicine: online scheduling for immediate care visits, virtual care, and pharmacy services across Chicago.

FAQs

Common Questions

Rush University Medical Center at 1620 W Harrison St is about 2 miles west of the Loop and reachable by the CTA Pink or Green Line to the Medical Center station. For travelers in the northern Loop or River North, Northwestern Memorial Hospital at 251 E Huron St in Streeterville is closer, roughly a 10-minute walk or 5-minute rideshare. Both emergency departments run 24/7.

The Walgreens at 757 N Michigan Ave on the Magnificent Mile stays open 24 hours for retail purchases, with pharmacy counter hours until midnight. The CVS at 1 E Jackson Blvd in the Loop is also open 24 hours for over-the-counter items, with pharmacy hours Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. For Lincoln Park, the Walgreens at 2001 N Clark St is open around the clock.

Northwestern Medicine Immediate Care at 680 N Lake Shore Dr, Suite 1025 is a 10-minute walk from the Magnificent Mile and handles most non-emergency conditions including infections, sprains, and minor injuries. Hours run Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can book online at nm.org or walk in.

Call 911. For chest pain, difficulty breathing, stroke symptoms, major bleeding, seizures, or loss of consciousness, do not attempt to drive or take public transit. Chicago Fire Department paramedics respond across the city and will transport you to the appropriate hospital. If you are near Northwestern Memorial or Rush University Medical Center, you can also go directly to the emergency room entrance.

Midwest Express Clinic at 1620 N Milwaukee Ave in Wicker Park handles walk-in urgent care Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Damen Blue Line station is a 4-minute walk. For after-hours emergencies, the nearest 24-hour ER is Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Lakeview, about 10 minutes by rideshare.

Northwestern Medicine and Rush University both offer telehealth visits through their MyChart apps. You can book a same-day virtual appointment for minor illnesses, prescription questions, and follow-up care without leaving your hotel. This works well for travelers in the Loop, River North, or Lincoln Park who have a minor issue and want to avoid a clinic trip.

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