Category: Health Centers in the News

ALCONA–Alcona Health Center (AHC) was recently the recipient of a gift from the White House. The annual White House Easter Egg Roll was cancelled this year due to COVID-19. The Commemorative Eggs instead found their way to healthcare facilities around the nation, with Alcona Health Center in Northern Michigan being selected for the honor.

AHC is a Federally Qualified Health Center with locations in seven counties through out the region, serving patients from an area encompassing over 18,000 square miles. They serve over 30,000 patients on an annual basis and have been working with the Health Resources and Services Administration, an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, to get COVID-19 vaccines distributed to anyone in these rural communities who is eligible and wants the vaccine.

“It is such an honor for Alcona Health Center to be selected by President Biden and the First Lady to be the recipient of these commemorative eggs. Our staff has done such an amazing job throughout this pandemic. It has not been easy for them, but each step of the way they have risen to the challenge.  I am proud of our team and happy that they are being recognized for their work through this gift from the White House.”, states AHC CEO, Nancy Spencer. “As COVID-19 cases are increasing again in the areas we serve, it can become difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  The hope that comes with people getting vaccinated and through kind gestures like this, whether from government leaders or community members, really makes a difference.”

To see/download the full letter from the White House click here.  Download the enclosed photo here.

View the video on Facebook here.

JACKSON–The Center for Family Health Jackson this week published its April 2021 newsletter.

This month’s edition of the CenterPiece issue includes what vaccines are available; dispelling myths; fluoride initiative; and new walk-in staff.

Click on the link to read about the latest news in CenterPiece.

MUSKEGON–Mercy Health Muskegon Hackley Campus Urgent Care operations will officially transition to Hackley Community Care (HCC) on May 10. Hackley Community Care plans to bring enhanced patient services to the 30,000-square-foot space, formerly Mercy Health Hackley Campus Emergency Department.

This expands Hackley Community Care’s services to the Clinton Street location in Muskegon. HCC will provide NowCare medical services and mental health services for all Muskegon County residents. NowCare medical services include treatment for acute symptoms that require immediate care such as allergies, bites and stings, headaches, pink eye, pain, rash, insomnia, sprains, toothaches, and so on. Mental health services will include counseling for depression, anxiety, recovery from sexual abuse or childhood abuse and neglect, and other specialized physical and emotional outpatient therapy.

“Hackley Community Care is excited to join with Mercy Heath in this endeavor,” said Linda Juarez, Chief Executive Office of Hackley Community Care. “We are expanding services to the surrounding residents near the Clinton Street location because we are committed to providing access to those who have relied on having health care options within walking distance to where they live.”

Hackley Community Care provides comprehensive medical, dental, mental health and pharmacy services at 2700 Baker Street. HCC operates at the Hackley Campus Professional Building, providing medical and mental health services. Hours of operation at 1675 Leahy, Suite 103, (Professional Building) are Mondays – Wednesdays, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Thursday and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. HCC’s NowCare medical services and expanded mental health services will be an enhancement to the services HCC currently provides.

HCC NowCare medical services at 1550 Clinton Street will be provided Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Mental Health services hours will be available from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Patients can make an appointment by calling 231.737.1335. Walk-ins are welcomed.

The Clinton space will temporarily close from April 23 through the first week in May to allow for HCC redesign and renovations. During this time period, patients may seek Urgent Care at Mercy Health’s Sherman, Norton Shores and Lakes Campus (reopening April 26, 2021) locations, with all emergency and trauma care services at Mercy Campus, 1500 E. Sherman Blvd. in Muskegon. Mercy Health will continue to offer Behavioral Health, Primary and Specialty Care services on the Hackley Campus.

“When Mercy Health planned the hospital consolidation project years ago, the goal was to build a world-class medical center that would serve the needs of our community for years to come and to ensure that seamless health care services remained available for the residents who live near Hackley Campus,” said Gary Allore, president of Mercy Health Muskegon. “Now that all acute care services have transitioned to Mercy Campus, we are proud that Hackley Community Care, a longtime partner, will build upon a legacy that that started there over 115 years ago.”

Hackley Community Care has been providing patient care in Muskegon County for almost 30 years.

“Our humble beginnings began on the Hackley Hospital campus in a little brown house,” said Juarez. “We are now coming full-circle, and we are humbled to be returning to our first home, to continue and enhance the health of our community.”

Visit MercyHealth.com. Learn more at www.hackleycommunitycare.org.

BRIMLEY–Bay Mills Health Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Ambulatory Health Care, Behavioral Health Care and Human Services, as well as Primary Care Medical Home Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.

Bay Mills Health Center underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review on last July. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with program standards spanning several areas including emergency management, environment of care, infection prevention and control, leadership, medication management, and rights and responsibilities of the individual.

The Joint Commission’s standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. They are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help health care organizations measure, assess and improve performance. The surveyors also conducted onsite observations and interviews.

This accreditation was achieved in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. It became effective July 2020 and is valid for three years.

“It takes a lot of time and effort to prepare for their visit and to complete the visit on a normal reaccreditation year, but even more so while trying to still maintain focus on COVID-19,” BMHC noted in a news release. “We are so proud of our staff for handling the pressures of the pandemic and handling the site visit. Without the hard work day-in and day-out, this accreditation would not be possible.”

MIDLAND–Michigan Performance Excellence (MIPEx) has awarded MidMichigan Health the 2021 Michigan Performance Excellence Award, the state’s highest honor for organizations that have demonstrated outstanding performance, leadership, and operational excellence. As a Michigan Performance Excellence Award recipient, MidMichigan Health is now eligible to apply to the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Program.

“Receiving this top tier award by the Michigan Baldrige-based examiners is an outstanding milestone on our Journey to Excellence,” said Diane Postler-Slattery, Ph.D., FACHE, president and CEO, MidMichigan Health. “This award not only demonstrates our operational excellence, but it represents our focus on systematic, well deployed approaches to processes and results that are designed to best serve our patients and communities.”

The MIPEx award program is modeled after the national Baldrige Performance Excellence program. Both programs have a robust framework for improving the operations and performance of organizations of all kinds. To be considered for the award, MidMichigan Health completed a rigorous evaluation process that included a three-day site visit by MIPEx examiners to demonstrate continuous quality improvements in every area of the health system.

“The process to receive this award was nothing short of amazing as employees from across the system worked tirelessly to carefully examine and incorporate the Baldrige Framework into our workflows,” said Kay Wagner, D.H.A., M.S.N., R.N., vice president of quality and patient safety, MidMichigan Health. “The March site visit alone was extensive, but truly exciting. In fact, it included six examiners, 39 simultaneous work sessions, 233 plus employees participating in virtual sessions, over 15 areas were visited on walking rounds, and 260 plus documents were shared with the exam team. The time together afforded the examiners an opportunity to experience first-hand the culture of MidMichigan Health where our core competencies of a Culture of Safety, Collaboration with Others, and our Investment in People were palpable.”

Using the Baldrige Framework, MidMichigan improved many areas, including identifying its core competencies; strengthening its approach, deployment, learning and integration of processes; integrating a holistic assessment of the health system’s overall performance and results, as well as reviewing overall opportunities for improvement.

“MidMichigan Health exemplifies an organization striving for excellence” said Geri Markley, executive director of MIPEx. “MidMichigan demonstrates daily that it values people: patients, the workforce, and communities, even while responding to the unprecedented events of last year. MIPEx is excited to name the organization a top recipient in 2021.”

About MIPEx: Michigan Performance Excellence exists to enhance the quality of life in Michigan by helping organizations improve their performance using the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence. MIPEx is a non-profit 501c3 organization formed in 1993 as the Michigan Quality Council. MIPEx uses the national Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence as its framework. MIPEx provides services by relying upon the support of many volunteers from businesses, education and health care institutions, and non-profit and government agencies. Volunteers receive training that enables them to provide these services and improve their own organizations. www.miperformanceexcellence.org

UPPER PENINSULA – Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center (UGL) receives $3,840,000 to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines, testing and treatment in communities hard hit by the virus and to increase operational capacity.

On March 25th, the White House announced a historic investment of $6 billion dollars in the nation’s community health centers. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will release funds to nearly 1,400 health centers that provide primary care and preventive health services to 30 million people in urban and rural medically underserved communities.

“These funds will allow Michigan community health centers to expand COVID-19 vaccinations for vulnerable populations in an equitable manner, while at the same time providing preventive and primary health care services to those at high risk,” said Donald Simila, Chief Executive Officer of Upper Great Lakes Family Health Centers.

The funding, derived from the American Rescue Plan Act approved by Congress and signed into law by President Biden on March 18th, recognizes the shared priorities between the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) and the Biden Administration to bring greater health equity to at-risk communities and populations that health centers serve on the health care frontlines every day. Tom Van Coverden, NACHC President and CEO, stated, “This is a historic investment. Not only is it aimed at ensuring equitable access to our patients in the fight against COVID, but it also marks a significant step forward to ensuring greater equity in the nation’s health system overall.”

More than 60 percent of health center patients are members of racial or ethnic minorities, and more than 91 percent of health center patients are individuals or families living at or below poverty levels.

Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center operates nine sites located throughout the Central and Western Upper Peninsula in Houghton, Iron, Marquette, Menominee, and Ontonagon Counties. More than 20,000 patients receive medical, dental, behavioral health, care management and enabling services. New patients are welcome and same day appointments are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Visit www.uglhealth.org for more information.

Media Contacts: Michaela McKeen, Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center – Outreach & Communications Manager, 906-372-3220, [email protected].

About Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center

Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) dedicated to providing high quality health care services (medical, dental and behavioral health) to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.

Our team of health care providers and support staff practices the Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model. PCMH is a model of healthcare where the patient is at the center of their health care team. Each patient is empowered to develop an ongoing, personal relationship with their provider, clinical staff and care team. Whatever the healthcare needs – primary or secondary, preventive care, acute care, chronic care, oral health, behavioral health, or end-of-life care – the patient has a medical “home”; a single, trusted provider and care team, through which continuous, comprehensive and integrated care is provided.