The Patient Portal

The IWS patient portal is a secure, online web site where you can access your health information electronically 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Patient Portal FAQs

Using the Patient Portal

You can use the patient portal to:

  • Join telehealth appointments
  • Answer assigned questionnaires
  • Access patient education material
  • Receive alert reminders
  • View a summary of your medical and dental records
  • Retrieve test results
  • Communicate with your IWS Family Health provider by sending and
    receiving messages

It is recommended you download the Healow app on Google Play or the App Store.

Links to download the app on your device can be found here.

NOTE: Do not use the portal for medical emergencies, if you are having a medical emergency, please dial 911. If you are not feeling well and would like to speak with someone on your care team, please call (773) 782 – 2800.

The patient portal can only be accessed by patients of IWS Family Health upon being web enabled. To complete this process, you must have a valid email address. Please call 773-782-2800 and ask our call center staff to web-enable you.

Yes, you can be assigned as a proxy to a child, spouse, or parent’s patient portal account. This needs to be done at the time of your visit as both the patient and proxy need to provide consent.

You can register for the patient portal via the following methods:

  1. To complete this process, you must have a valid email address. At the time of check-in, let the patient support staff know that you would like to be web-enabled for the patient portal. Once they enter your email information  and enable you for the portal, you will then receive an email with your assigned username and instructions on how to access the portal itself.
    1. It is recommended you download the Healow app on Google Play or the App Store. Links to download the app on your device can be found here.
  2. To complete this process, you must have a valid email address. Please call 773-782-2800 and ask our call center staff to web-enable you for the patient portal. You will then receive an email with your assigned username and
    instructions on how to access the portal itself.
    1. It is recommended you download the Healow app on Google Play or the App Store. Links to download the app on your device can be found here.
  3. Stop by our Portal Palooza events happening every Friday from 1-2PM in our Community Room. First-time access and troubleshooting assistance will be provided by our staff.

Need to register for the Patient Portal?

You can register for the patient portal via the following methods:

  1. To complete this process, you must have a valid email address. At the time of check-in, let the patient support staff know that you would like to be web-enabled for the patient portal. Once they enter your email information  and enable you for the portal, you will then receive an email with your assigned username and instructions on how to access the portal itself.
    1. It is recommended you download the Healow app on Google Play or the App Store. Links to download the app on your device can be found here.
  2. To complete this process, you must have a valid email address. Please call 773-782-2800 and ask our call center staff to web-enable you for the patient portal. You will then receive an email with your assigned username and
    instructions on how to access the portal itself.
    1. It is recommended you download the Healow app on Google Play or the App Store. Links to download the app on your device can be found here.
  3. Call 773-782-5050 for help on setting up your account. Leave a voicemail with a good callback number if you don’t receive an answer. 

Is my personal health information safe?

Yes, your personal health information is completely safe and secure. You must log in to view your personal health information, and you are the only person with the password to your account.

This feature is currently not available but is coming soon! For now, to request an appointment please call (773) 782–2800.

To change or cancel an appointment, please call (773) 782–2800.

You can find a summary of your medications, pharmacies, allergies, immunizations, lab results, and health conditions on the Patient Portal.

Information available to your patient portal can include the following:

  • Medications
  • Allergies
  • Problem list
  • Health tracker
  • Lab results

Please Note:

It is extremely important that you keep your username and password in a secure location and to keep your username or password completely confidential. Please do not share your username or password with anyone. Your username and password are specific to you and your secure account on the portal. It is your responsibility to keep your username and password secure. Please change your username or password if you feel that someone else may have access to your personal patient portal account.

Your Practice Code is: IDDBDD

Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Cathy Alvarez, MSN, CPNP-PC

Family Practice

Cathy Alvarez, MSN, CPNP-PC, is a board-certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with over two decades of experience dedicated to nurturing the health and well-being of children from birth through adolescence. Known for her warm, individualized approach to care, Cathy is passionate about building lasting relationships with her patients and their families—many of whom she’s supported through every milestone of childhood.

Cathy began her nursing career after earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1999. She gained valuable experience working on the inpatient pediatric unit at Advocate Lutheran Children’s Hospital in Aurora. Driven to deepen her impact, she returned to UIC to complete the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program, earning her Master of Science in Nursing in 2005. She is certified by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) and has since devoted her career to providing expert care to diverse pediatric populations.

She is an active member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association, always staying at the forefront of pediatric healthcare.
Fluent in English and Polish, with conversational Spanish skills, Cathy connects seamlessly with families from many cultural backgrounds.

Outside of work, you can find her cheering on her son at soccer games, exploring new destinations, and enjoying quality time with her family. Her caring spirit and clinical excellence make her a trusted partner in every child’s healthcare journey.” 

Marixa Alvarez, ARN, MSN, FNP-BC

Family Practice

Marixa Alvarez, ARN, MSN, FNP-BC, is a dedicated and compassionate Family Nurse Practitioner, board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Lewis University, where she cultivated her passion for holistic, patient-centered care.

Fluent in both English and Spanish, Marixa connects deeply with diverse communities, ensuring every patient feels heard and supported. Outside of the clinic, you’ll likely find her in the kitchen—cooking, baking, and bringing people together over a homemade meal. A fun fact? Marixa has a knack for solving puzzles and putting things together—whether it’s a 1,000-piece jigsaw or helping patients piece together their path to better health.

Carlos Sian, PA

Physician Assistant

Carlos is a board-certified Physician Assistant who joined the IWS Family Health team in January 2024. He was born and raised in Antigua, Guatemala and is fluent in both English and Spanish.

His academic journey began at Saint Michael’s College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology alongside minors in Chemistry and Religious Studies. Driven by a commitment to service, he devoted a year to volunteering as a medical assistant at a health clinic in Albuquerque, NM, through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. This experience solidified his interest in medicine, inspiring him to delve deeper into healthcare and ultimately leading Carlos to pursue a Master of Public Health in Community Health Sciences and Infectious Diseases from Boston University School of Public Health.

Following his MPH, Carlos dedicated several years to the public health sector, primarily serving as a linkage to care coordinator,  clinical research coordinator, and COVID-19 contact tracer. Moved by a need to help his community during the 2020 pandemic, he secured admission to and completed the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine PA program, earning his Master of Medical Science degree.

Carlos aims to integrate his public health training with his medical practice to bring culturally competent and inclusive medical services to all his patients, but specially the Hispanic/Latino and LGTBQ+ communities he serves. In his downtime, Carlos enjoys cooking, collecting plants, fostering dogs, playing video games, watching reality TV shows, and adding more stamps to his passport!

Dr. Tara Ioffe

Family Practice

Dr. Tara Ioffe is a dedicated and compassionate Board-Certified Family Medicine physician with a strong commitment to providing excellent care to her patients. She obtained her medical degree from Avalon University in Curacao and went on to complete her Family Medicine Residency at the University of Oklahoma. She has worked at the University of Chicago and most recently NorthShore University. She has since returned to Chicago and is thrilled to join the IWS Family Health team in 2023, where she will continue to provide excellent care to her patients.

Throughout her career, Dr. Ioffe has gained experience in diverse medical fields, such as immediate and urgent care medicine while working at NorthShore Immediate Care. She did clinical research at the University of Chicago. Dr. Ioffe strives to foster a secure and inclusive environment for all her patients. She believes in an integrated approach to medicine, dedicating her time to understand each patient’s unique needs.

During her leisure time, Dr. Ioffe indulges in reading a variety of books for pleasure, plays boardgames, and loves to explore Chicago with her spouse and young child.