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2010 Annual Conference
The 2010 MPCA Annual Conference In Review
"Home Sweet Patient Centered Medical Home"
October 10-12, 2010
Amway Grand Plaza, Grand Rapids, MI
On October 10-12, Michigan Community Health Center staff, clinicians, and board members gathered together at the Amway Grand Plaza in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to celebrate Health Centers and Michigan Primary Care Association's 30th anniversary through the theme, "Home Sweet Patient Centered Medical Home." State and national experts shared resources, best practices, lessons learned, and success stories focused on the nationally recognized Patient Centered Medical Home Principals. Click here for the full agenda.
“Now that health reform is a reality of today rather than a vision for the future, Community Health Centers can make major strides toward our vision of quality health care for all. Together we face tremendous opportunities as well as great challenges. How we choose to address both will define our success in the years to come,” said Kim Sibilsky, Executive Director, Michigan Primary Care Association.
It is projected that under the Affordable Care Act, Health Centers across the country will be the health care home for 40 million U.S. residents by 2015, expanding access to quality health care, catalyzing healthy communities, saving the country billions of dollars in unnecessary medical expenditures, and creating thousands of jobs within Health Centers and the communities they serve. The impact in Michigan is sure to be historic and life-changing.
Read on for an overview of the highlights of the 2010 MPCA Annual Conference - and mark your calendar to attend next year's conference at Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa in Thompsonville, Michigan, August 7-9, 2011.
Online photo album of pictures taken at the 2010 MPCA Annual Conference
Happy 30th Birthday
This year marks the 30th anniversary of MPCA promoting, supporting, and developing comprehensive, accessible, and affordable community-based health care services to everyone in Michigan.
MPCA, a nonprofit organization, is the voice for Community Health Centers and other community-based providers across the state of Michigan. Today, 31 Community Health Centers operate over 160 sites in the state, providing quality, comprehensive, affordable health care to nearly 600 Michigan residents.
“The number of Michigan residents relying on Community Health Centers as their health care home of choice is increasing at a rapid rate in today’s economic climate,” said Kim Sibilsky, Executive Director, Michigan Primary Care Association. “Health Centers provide quality health care – from medical care, to dental services, to pharmacy services, to behavioral health care and more – regardless of a patient’s insurance status or income. As a health care home, Community Health Centers provide care where patients need it, when they need it.”
MPCA got its beginnings in 1978 as the Michigan Association of Rural Health Care (MARHC), a networking organization of Health Centers and stakeholders interested in fostering primary care in rural underserved communities across the state. With the realization that urban communities also had great health care needs, the association broadened its scope to include urban Michigan communities as well. To better reflect this broadened scope, MARHC changed its name to Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA), which incorporated in 1981. The members of MPCA recognized the benefit of a statewide advocacy organization as Health Centers faced the political realities of the impending Reagan years.
To recognize the 30th anniversary, the National Association of Community Health Centers presented MPCA board and staff with an award celebrating the Association’s years of service to those who provide quality, comprehensive primary and preventive health care to America’s most vulnerable populations.
Click here to watch a video of the award presentation.
Michigan Community Health Centers Honor Senator Stabenow for Leadership in Promoting Health of Michigan, U.S. Residents
MPCA honored Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) with its Legacy of Leadership Award during the Annual Conference. Community Health Center staff, board members, and stakeholders were present at the Amway Grand Plaza to recognize Senator Stabenow for championing wider access to primary care, and for strengthening America’s investment in Community Health Centers.
“The Legacy of Leadership Award is Michigan Primary Care Association’s premier award that annually recognizes the performance of exemplary leadership to benefit Michigan Community Health Center patients,” said Kim Sibilsky, Executive Director. “Senator Stabenow is most deserving of this award because of her steadfast commitment to ensuring that everyone has access to quality, affordable health care, regardless of insurance status or income.”
As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Stabenow was instrumental in helping to shape the Affordable Care Act. A key component of health reform is expanding and strengthening the nationwide network of Community Health Centers so young and old, rich and poor have a health care home. Funding provided under health reform will enable Health Centers to expand their capacity to double the number of patients currently served to 40 million in five years. This investment is projected to save up to $122 billion in total health care costs between 2011 and 2015.
“I am honored to receive this award and proud to partner with the Michigan Primary Care Association, which is dedicated to providing quality, affordable health care to families who do not have access to basic medical services,” said U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow. “Since being elected to the Senate, securing funding for Community Health Centers has been one of my top priorities, and I am pleased that 16 new centers have been built in Michigan since 2001. I will continue fighting for additional resources, so we can open more Community Health Centers across our state.”
Today, Health Centers serve as the health care home for over 20 million people in more than 7,500 U.S. communities, including nearly 600,000 Michigan residents at over 160 delivery sites across the state. Many Health Center patients would otherwise go without care because of where they live, the language they speak, and their complex health care needs.
“Community Health Centers are deeply grateful to Senator Stabenow for her tremendous support, and her commitment to preserve, strengthen, and expand access to quality health care for America’s medically underserved,” said Sibilsky. “She continues to be a strong voice on behalf of Health Centers and the patients they serve, and she understands that Health Centers are a vital part of the solution to this nation’s health care crisis by ensuring more people have access to a health care home that provides affordable, quality medical, dental, and behavioral health care that saves money.”
MPCA and Michigan Community Health Centers look forward to continuing to work with Senator Stabenow to further expand the state’s Health Centers so they can meet the increased need for quality, affordable care among Michigan residents.
Click here to watch a video of the award presentation.
MPCA Recognizes Health Center Staff, Board, Members, Volunteers for Exemplary Service
A tradition of the MPCA Annual Conference is recognizing the dedication and accomplishments of Community Health Center staff, board members, and volunteers. Congratulations to the 2010 award recipients:
Ralph C. Mills Board Member of the Year
Shirley Lee, Cassopolis Family Clinic, Casspolis, MI
“Over the past 18 years, Shirley Lee has been a dedicated board member of Cassopolis Family Clinic. She has supported the clinic as it has grown from a private practice, to a Rural Health Center, to a Federally Qualified Health Center ‘Look-a-Like’, to a fully-designated Federally Qualified Health Center,” said Laura Murphy-Rizk, Operations Director, Cassopolis Family Clinic. “Cassopolis Family Clinic now operates multiple sites serving 9,000 patients in Cass and Southeast Berrien Counties. Shirley has provided insight and supported the growth of services by listening to the community and responding to its needs.”
Cindy Cooley Nursing Leadership Award
Patricia Soares, RN, MPH, Advantage Health Centers, Detroit, MI
“Patricia Soares is the epitome of leadership in any category, but when it comes to the principals engrained within the nursing profession, she exhibits a passion demonstrated by very few of her colleagues,” said Joe Ferguson, Executive Director, Advantage Health Centers. “Pat’s title of Clinical Director for Advantage Health Centers does not begin to describe her day-to-day actions within the organization. In any given day she can go from AHC’s Community Representative to the various organizations that AHC touches upon, to being a counselor to various providers, to actually providing transport to another facility for a patient desperately in need of specialty services.”
Clinician of the Year
Patricia Abinoja, MD, The Wellness Plan Medical Centers, Detroit, MI
“When it comes to high quality patient centered pediatric care, Dr. Abinoja is perhaps the best kept secret in the State of Michigan,” said Anthony King, FACHE, MHSA, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, The Wellness Plan Medical Centers. “Her 45 years of dedicated, unwavering service and commitment to patients and the community is priceless. She treats hundreds of patients each month and thousands every year. Her patients absolutely love her, and her staff adores her.”
Advocate of the Year
Clarence Pierce, Hamilton Community Health Network, Flint, MI
“Clarence is willing to do whatever is needed to raise the visibility of Michigan Community Health Centers among legislators and to keep our priorities for ensuring Michigan residents have access to quality, comprehensive, affordable health care top of-mind,” said Doug Paterson, Director of State Policy, MPCA. “He contacts his elected officials to educate them about how Health Centers benefit their constituents and to discuss legislation that will impact Health Centers and patients. Clarence has learned first-hand that one person can make a difference.”
Finance Director of the Year
Jim Raschke, MPA, FHFMA, MidMichigan Health Services, Houghton Lake, MI
“Jim has been a natural leader for the MPCA Finance Officers’ network going back to 2001, when the network had very little structure. Jim had a vision for the network – a vision that it could one day become a valuable resource and integral component of the MPCA structure. That vision has become a reality,” said Pat Burke, Director of Finance and Operations, MPCA. “As a result of Jim’s leadership and innovation, the network has implemented a number of initiatives to help Health Centers improve their operational efficiencies and save money.”
Distinguished Service Awards
Robin Korona, Sterling Area Health Center, Sterling, MI
Dawn McKenzie, Sterling Area Health Center, Sterling, MI
Richard Mrozinski, Sterling Area Health Center, Sterling, MI
Natsumi Asanuma, Michigan Primary Care Association, Lansing, MI
Lori O'Neal, Family Medical Center of Michigan, Temperance, MI
Dr. Paul Clodfelder, Cherry Street Health Services, Grand Rapids, MI
Paul Bryant, PA-C, Cherry Street Health Services, Grand Rapids, MI
Dr. Neil See, Cassopolis Family Clinic, Cassopolis, MI
Patty Wiggins, Cassopolis Family Clinic, Cassopolis, MI
Betty Shelton, The Wellness Plan Medical Centers, Detroit, MI
Michigan Journalist Recognized for Raising Visibility of Medically Underserved
New this year to the MPCA awards ceremony was the Faces of Michigan Health Care Media Award. This award honors a journalist or reporter who, through accurate reporting, has helped raise the visibility of Community Health Centers, the issues facing the medically underserved, and the critical need for access to quality, comprehensive, affordable health care. The innaugural award was presented to Jackson Citizen Patriot Staff Writer Tarryl Jackson.
Jackson was recognized for providing high-profile coverage of the Center for Family Health, a Michigan Community Health Center that provides care to residents of Jackson County. The Center for Family Health also operates School-Based Health Centers at Northeast Elementary School and Parkside Middle School, and is constructing the new Jackson High School Teen Health Center.
“Jackson’s accurate reporting helped raise awareness in the Jackson community of the broad array of health care services – from primary care, to dental care, to behavioral health care and more – that the Center for Family Health offers, regardless of insurance status or income,” said Molly Kaser, Executive Director, Center for Family Health. “She also reported how those services benefit the local community, not only in terms of increasing access to health care but also through the use of local labor during construction. Her articles have helped to remind the Jackson community that the Center for Family Health is providing services for everyone in the community, and thus ‘Making a Difference…Close to Home.’”
MPCA Thanks Annual Conference Sponsors, Exhibitors, Advertisers
The 2010 MPCA Annual Conference planning committee extends its tremendous appreciation to the organizations that sponsored the 31st Annual Conference, exhibited their goods and services during the annual Exhibitors Showcase, and advertised in the conference program.
“The Sponsorship and Exhibit Program truly enhances the overall quality of the conference for Health Center staff, clinicians, and board members,” said Barb Whitlow, MPCA Program Manager responsible for coordinating the Annual Conference planning. “The Program also greatly complements the educational focus of the conference by allowing participants to talk with experts, network with peers, gather information materials, and learn about health-related organizations that offer the products, services, and expertise that Health Centers need to strengthen their operations and services”.
Sponsors: CareSource, ChallengerSoft, Great Lakes Health Plan, Healthcare Recruitment Professionals, Hooker DeJong Architects Inc., Medical Advantage Group, Polycom Inc., Value in Purchasing Program (ViP)
Exhibitors: CareSource, ChallengerSoft, Cielo MedSolutions LLC, Commonwealth Purchasing Group, Council Connections, Early On / Project Find, EHS Inc., Essential Learning, Frank W. Kerr Co. / Novixus Pharmacy Services, GlaxoSmith Kline, Great Lakes Health Plan, Great Lakes Home Health & Hospice, Healthcare Recruitment Professionals, Hooker DeJong Architects Inc., i2i Systems, M-CEITA, Medicaid EHR Incentive Program, Medical Advantage Group, Merck & Co., Michigan Department of Community Health, MPC Insurance Agency, NextGen Healthcare, Polycom Inc., Saginaw Bay Underwriters, Staff Care Inc., Value in Purchasing (ViP), VirtualCHC
Advertisers: CareSource, Commonwealth Purchasing Group, Great Lakes Health Plan, Healthcare Recruitment Professionals
If your organization is interested in the Sponsorship and Exhibit Program for the 2011 MPCA Annual Conference, please contact Barb Whitlow at bwhitlow@mpca.net or 517.381.8000. The 2011 conference will be held August 7-9, 2011 at Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa in Thompsonville, Michigan.
MPCA Recognizes Staff for Years of Service
It is the commitment and expertise of MPCA staff members, past and present, that has enabled Michigan Primary Care Association to successfully promote, support, and develop comprehensive, accessible, and affordable community-based health care services in Michigan for the past 30 years. During the 2010 Annual Conference, the following MPCA staff members were recognized for their years of service:
Fay Thiel, Network Development Director, 18 years
Kim Sibilsky, Executive Director, 16 years
Carolee Besteman, RN, MS, Clinical Consultant, 14 years
Bruce Wiegand, CISSP, CPHIT, Director of Health Information Technology, 11 years
Rob Pazdan, Manager of Network Operations, 10 years
Barb Whitlow, Program Specialist, 10 years
Amanda Campbell, MidWest Clinician’s Network Director, 10 years
Pat Burke, Financial/Operations Director, 10 years
Neal Colburn, CPHIT, CPEHR, Health Care Consultant, Planning & Development, 8 years
Rebecca Cienki, MPH, Director of Strategic Growth, 7 years
Dana Hughes, Communications Manager, 7 years
Matt Herwaldt, CMA, Accounting Manager, 6 years
John Cahill, Information Systems Manager, 5 years
John Taylor, AmeriCorps Program Manager, 5 years
LaVerne Wiley, RN, Quality Improvement Consultant, 5 years
The 2010 Pork Chop Award Recipients
Dr. Herb Smitherman of Health Centers Medical Group in Detroit, and Wayne Bradley of Detroit Community Health Connection in Detroit were named the 2010 Pork Chop Award recipients.