WESTLAND, MI| by Anisa Jibrell| May 2, 2019
Original article can be found at: https://crainsdetroit.com
Saint Joseph Mercy Health System opened an integrated primary care and behavioral health clinic Thursday in partnership with Detroit-based Covenant Community Care.
Funding for the 10,000-square-foot Westland Health Center at 32932 Warren Road in Westland came in part from a $1.4 million community benefit grant from Saint Joseph Mercy, $1 million of which will support the clinic’s operations, according to a Thursday news release.
The cost to renovate the building was $1.6 million, Saint Joseph Mercy spokeswoman Laura Blodgett said in an message to Crain’s.
Covenant Community Care, a federally qualified health center organization, operates six clinics in metro Detroit, providing services to more than 21,000 patients per year, the release said.
Through assessments, St. Mary Mercy Livonia, one of Saint Joseph Mercy’s five hospitals, identified Westland as an area that needs more access to care. In 2017, less than 6 percent of low-income residents of Westland were seen at a community health center, the release said.
The clinic uses sliding scale rates for those who qualify and offers primary care, behavioral health and social work services. The center estimates it will have more than 1,000 patients in its first year, the release said.
The clinic will house an obstetrics and gynecology office that will operate independently, which is part of St. Joe’s Medical Group’s Westside OB/GYN and urogynecology practice that has offices in Farmington
The obstetrics and gynecology office will be staffed by two physicians, three medical assistants and one front desk employee, Blodgett said in an email, and to start the Covenant portion of the clinic will have one physician and four staff members.
By 2021, Covenant will build up to two physicians, a nurse practitioner, social worker and 14 staff members to serve an estimated 4,000 patients a year, Blodgett said.
Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, owned by Livonia-based Trinity Health, has five hospitals, five outpatient health centers, six urgent care facilities and employs more than 16,200.
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