Category: State and National News

After working to analyze the health care needs of the community over the past several months, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians is announcing that it will implement a two-year revitalization plan for the tribe’s health system.

“As one of the largest health systems in Indian Country and among the largest in the Upper Peninsula, we recognize the continuous need to reevaluate and reassess the quality of care and services that our Health Division brings to tribal members. We are confident that implementing this plan will help make our community healthier and stronger,” said Sault Tribe Chairman Austin Lowes.

Read the full article here: https://www.dailypress.net/news/community/2024/05/sault-tribe-sets-health-care-revitalization-plan/

A new school-based health center will be opening next year on the northeast side of Grand Rapids, where children and young adults ages 3 to 21 will have access to medical and behavioral health services regardless of their ability to pay.

Catherine’s Health Center, a nonprofit community health care clinic in Grand Rapids, will operate the school health center inside Grand Rapids Public Schools’ Harrison Park Academy, located at 1440 Davis Ave. NW, GRPS officials announced April 25.

Read the full article here: https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2024/05/new-health-center-to-open-inside-grand-rapids-school-next-year.html

Woda Cooper Companies, Inc. (Woda Cooper) and Cherry Health are pleased to announce that Michigan State Housing Development Authority has awarded housing tax credits to Shea Ravines, a new $18.2 million 56-unit affordable housing community with 20 Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) units in Wyoming, Michigan. Woda Cooper has developed 41 affordable communities in Michigan since 2005 with this being the first development in partnership with Cherry Health. Shea Ravines is located at 2929 Burlingame Avenue SW, adjacent to Cherry Health’s Wyoming Community Health Center.

“Housing instability is a critical social determinant of health,” said Tasha Blackmon, President and CEO, Cherry Health, Heart of the City Health Center. “Shea Ravines will offer an option for people who have struggled to find suitable affordable housing, including some of the most vulnerable and cost-burdened individuals and families in our community.”

The neighborhood surrounding Shea Ravines offers excellent access to a host of community businesses and amenities via walking, biking or driving. Within just a short distance, there are many employment opportunities, retail stores and restaurants, the high school and ball fields, churches, parks, and other community amenities.

Read the full release here.

PONTIAC, MI — Michigan has too few family doctors, limiting access to medical care in a state where residents tend to be older, unhealthier and where not everyone can get the care they need.  Now a solution might be taking shape — at Honor Community Health six doctors-to-be meet to discuss patient care. They are the first six doctors of 18 that will be trained here over the next few years through an unusual residency program that rotates doctors through Honor Community Health’s network of 21 primary health clinics, 11 school health centers, and a specially-outfitted Ford Transit van that travels around treating homeless patients.

To read the full story, please visit the Bridge Michigan website.

TEMPERANCE, MI – Congratulations to Family Medical Center of Michigan in Temperance, Michigan for being named Hypertension Control Champions by Million Hearts!

Family Medical Center of Michigan is being recognized for demonstrating their unwavering dedication to help their patients with hypertension manage their blood pressure – achieving a hypertension control rate of at least 80%.

“Family Medical Center of Michigan has been on its journey for four years to improve care to patients suffering from hypertension,” says CEO, Ed Larkins, “We were looking at our quality measures in relationship to other health centers and we were in the middle of the pack for hypertension care.  We decided that  we needed to do better ,not only for FMC but more importantly for our patients. Our Board of Directors, the Executive team and clinical leadership all  made a commitment that we were going to work to improve care to our hypertension patients and be the best we could be.”

Larkins adds, “We are very proud of this achievement, and that it goes to the heart of what we are about as organization – that is to provide the best care possible to our patients.”

Medical Director, Dr. Roshani Jadai says, “As Family Medical Center’s mission states, we are dedicated to quality and excellence in providing integrated comprehensive cost-effective care. It is our privilege to serve our local rural communities. We are truly honored to receive the designation as a 2023 Million Hearts hypertension Controlled Champion and reflects on the passionate commitment of our providers and staff in healing others.”

Family Medical Center has over 18,000 enrollees and more than 4100 patients with hypertension. It is designated as a rural community health center serving communities in Monroe County and Lenawee County in southeastern Michigan. Almost 79% of the patients treated by Family Medical Center are on Medicaid or Medicare.

Michigan Primary Care Association applauds Family Medical Center of Michigan on this tremendous achievement.

Read the full list of Hypertension Control Champions here.

INKSTER– U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell of Ann Arbor and Rashida Tlaib of Detroit met at the Western Wayne Family Health Center to explain their efforts to tackle junk fees during National Health Center Week earlier this month.

To read the full story, please visit the Detroit News website.