Community Impact Stories

The launch of Henry Ford Health’s Virtual ICU (vICU) program is a prime example of how the system is exploring ways to better support team members while improving patient outcomes. First starting at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital, then Macomb, West Bloomfield and soon-to-be Jackson, the vICU telemedicine program is the first of its kind in the entire state. While nurses tend at the bedside to ICU patients at these locations, an additional team of critical care nurses monitors those patients 24-7 from a centralized hub. Using specialized tools and analytics, the vICU clinicians provide real-time insight into the ICU patients’ conditions, which supports bedside nurses tremendously and the virtual clinicians can also round and provide other support to ICU staff around the clock. Additionally, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. each day, board-certified intensivists monitor patients virtually and provide collaborative care alongside the team at the bedside. Through providing this round-the-clock resource to our ICU clinicians, the Henry Ford Health team has seen increased engagement and improved retention of its ICU nurses.

As demand for skilled professionals in the clinical laboratory sciences continues to increase in rural healthcare settings, Helen Newberry Joy Hospital (HNJH) and Northern Michigan University’s (NMU) School of Clinical Sciences developed a collaborative scholarship to provide students with hands-on experience and financial support. Through the program, students completing their 15-week internship (Practicum) at HNJH are provided financial assistance to help defer tuition costs and provide an invaluable hands-on experience in a real-world clinical setting. This mutually beneficial partnership not only enriches the educational experience of Northern Michigan University students, but also supports Helen Newberry Joy Hospital’s mission to provide quality healthcare to the local community.

“In today’s ever-changing healthcare environment, it is important to recognize the value of rural healthcare and how it impacts the small communities of the Upper Peninsula.” – Mitch Grigg, Vice president, Ancillary Services, Helen Newberry Joy Hospital

“This win-win scenario benefits the students, the hospital, and ultimately, the local community,” – Martin Renaldi, Assistant Professor, School of Clinical Sciences, Northern Michigan University

In the summer of 2024, Covenant HealthCare offered a unique opportunity to 15 local high school graduates through a new career exploration program called Discover Covenant. This immersive program is tailored to recent high school grads with a curiosity about medical careers and a desire to stay in the Saginaw area. The program offers students a glimpse into the medical field before beginning their college or workforce journeys. Over the course of three months, participants rotated through different specialties, shadowing professionals at Covenant ranging from nurses and respiratory therapists to biomedical specialists and imaging and diagnostic technologists. These individuals served as mentors, sharing insights about educational requirements, work-life balance and the evolving healthcare landscape. The program went beyond mere observation, allowing students to witness daily challenges and rewards of a healthcare career firsthand.

“Seeing the teamwork between different departments opened my eyes,” shared one student. “I never thought I wanted to be a nurse, but after shadowing one, I discovered my passion.”

At the end of the program, several participants confirmed their career choices, while others discovered unexpected interests in alternative medical fields they hadn’t previously considered. Covenant teams look forward to expanding the program in the years to come.

MyMichigan Health is helping address healthcare staffing shortages through an innovative initiative called Grow Our Own, which provides financial assistance in the form of scholarships and tuition reimbursement to individuals who want to further their education for a career in healthcare. A few of these unique opportunities include the Dr. David Rayfield Endowed Scholarship, offered to eligible nursing students in Michigan who are seeking to become a bachelors-prepared registered nurse; The Dr. Peter Aliferis Memorial Scholarship, offered to eligible residents pursuing a career in the clinical laboratory science field or medical school; The Bailey Scholarship, which is designed to help mid-Michigan area individuals who are accepted into accredited health career programs and are interested in pursuing undergraduate, graduate or professional schooling. These, along with many other opportunities, help build a more robust workforce and assist those who are in, or entering, the healthcare field.

Bronson Healthcare is helping grow Michigan’s healthcare talent pipeline through a variety of nursing scholarship programs that provide a select group of registered nurses (RNs) funding to assist in pursuing advanced nursing degrees. The scholarships, funded by the Bronson Health Foundation Margaret H. Varney Scholarship Endowment, empower and enable Michigan nurses to reach new milestones in their career. In 2024, there were six Bachelor of Science in Nursing Award Recipients and one Master of Science in Nursing Award Recipient.

“At Bronson, everything we do is focused on advancing the health of our communities,” said Marla Atkinson, Vice President of Patient Care Services & Chief Nursing Officer, Bronson Methodist Hospital. “With the rapidly changing healthcare landscape, supporting our nurses in obtaining advanced degrees not only enhances their professional growth but also enhances the quality of patient care. It makes me proud to see our dedicated nurses commit to continuing their education to better serve their patients and contribute to the advancement of the nursing profession as a whole.”

Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, in collaboration with the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, established a collaborative community outreach program called Street Medicine Oakland that provides free medical care to patients experiencing homelessness in Oakland County. The program is comprised of a team of volunteer medical students, resident physicians and emergency medicine attending physicians who go outside the traditional walls of a hospital weekly to meet patients where they are, whether it’s on the street or in a shelter. Corewell Health clinicians focus on building trust with these vulnerable populations to provide essential care for acute and chronic conditions that may have otherwise gone untreated, intervening before a patient requires a costly emergency department or hospital visit. The team also partners with other community organizations and resources to address social determinants of health so patients continue to have access to medical care, health insurance, housing, food and transportation.

Trinity Health Grand Rapids, in coordination with many other community organizations, support the Complex Needs Transitional Supportive Housing program led by Dégagé Ministries, which assists women who experience chronic homelessness compounded with complex physical and mental health needs. About 5% of those who experience homelessness have highly complex needs, including physical health, behavioral health and social needs. In many cases, being unsheltered or residing in emergency shelters results in exacerbation of mental and physical illness and results in frequent use of emergency rooms, emergency medical services, psychiatric hospitalization and law enforcement involvement. In an effort to support those under such circumstances, Dégagé Ministries collaborates with Trinity Health Grand Rapids and other community partners to provide private or semi-private rooms for clients to live independently while they connect to resources supporting their physical and mental health needs.

The Ask-A-Nurse program at Munson Healthcare is a free 24/7, year-round phone line staffed by registered nurses who offer free and easy access to health-related information and triage services. Since its inception, the call center has handled more than 178,000 calls and successfully connects community members with the appropriate care. In many cases, this prevents callers from making unnecessary and costly emergency department visits. In addition to helping patients, it offers a unique, remote job opportunity in nursing.

“Access to healthcare continues to rise to the top of our community needs assessment year after year,” said Bonnie Kruszka, DNP, FNP-C, ENP-BC, RN, Chief Operating Officer, Munson Physician Network, Chief Advanced Practice Provider, Munson Healthcare. “Sometimes that means physical access, but it can also relate to travel times, limited transportation or not having internet service.”

Since 2018, leaders at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services and Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital have been working together to identify gaps in mental healthcare to better coordinate their continuum of services to kids in the community. To meet a critical need and increase access for children and adolescents struggling with behavioral health issues, their teams have broken ground on a new Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health in southeast Grand Rapids. The center, scheduled to open in early 2026, will dramatically expand access to essential, top-quality inpatient and partial hospitalization, outpatient care and behavioral health testing services for children and teens throughout the state.

The teams at University of Michigan Health (U-M Health) take a multi-pronged approach to reverse the impacts of social determinants of health (SDOH) and address health equity challenges within the communities they serve. One of their successful efforts is the U-M Health Community Health Service Grant Program, which allocates funds to address community health needs, including mental health and substance use disorders, obesity, and pre-conceptual and perinatal health, among other needs. The grant program has allowed U-M Health to foster new community partnerships and increase focus on preventive and public health efforts. Over the last six years, the health system has allocated more than $16 million to address community health needs. These investments have led to more than 9,300 mental health and substance abuse appointments; more than 90 medical students and residents trained on the impact of nutritious food on hunger and health; and 175 individuals receiving resilience and positive parenting skills. As an anchor institution, U-M Health aims to reduce socioeconomic barriers to health and community wealth through investments in infrastructure, local hiring and suppliers.

Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital is building out a new behavioral health program called Community Connect to reduce health disparities related to mental health, substance abuse and adverse childhood events by increasing access to services and treatment options. The hospital is partnering with community agencies to connect vital resources to residents and surrounding counties. The program utilizes an integrated team approach that includes a patient navigator, medical providers, therapists, nurses, community agencies, law enforcement and our school systems. Additionally, it seeks to coordinate care between patients and community resources and provide ongoing education about mental health, substance abuse and adverse childhood events. The overall goal is to improve health outcomes by increasing access to high-quality, person-centered care.

Scheurer Health in Pigeon, Michigan is reaching local communities and improving the well-being of residents through a school wellness clinic inside Bad Axe Public Schools. The initiative, which has expanded its services following a grant from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), serves as a medical resource for children with any physical health concerns. This includes offering point-of-care testing for flu, strep and COVID-19, as well as having a licensed social worker onsite to help students bolster their mental health.

The Cancer Caregiver Community Program at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, part of McLaren Health Care, began in 2017 thanks to funds given by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Fund for Caregivers at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. This gift allows Karmanos to provide engaging programming to cancer caregivers in Metro Detroit. To reduce stress and provide an outlet for expression, current activities and services offered to caregivers range from art therapy to support groups geared toward enhancing caregiver experiences. Additional activities include jewelry-making sessions, massage therapy, yoga, Reiki, tai chi, and more. Karmanos continues to work on growing the program to include opportunities for caregivers to manage new relationships with other caregivers going through the same journey while developing healthy habits for managing their own emotions. Workshops for caregivers are available in person at Karmanos’ Detroit and Farmington Hills campuses.

ProMedica and Hillsdale Hospital formed a collaboration to bring oncology services to the greater Hillsdale community. Through the ProMedica Cancer Institute office, located at Three Meadows Medical Building, patients have access to telehealth visits with ProMedica Physician Group medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and genetic counselors. Onsite nurse navigators then guide patients through their cancer care journey by facilitating appointments; working with the care team to provide compassionate, supportive and individualized care; scheduling appointments for chemotherapy, radiation and subsequent testing; and providing education and support to patients and their families. Patients have the option to utilize lab, radiology tests and blood transfusion and supportive infusion services at Hillsdale Hospital, and oncology treatment services, such as chemotherapy and radiation at ProMedica Hickman Cancer Center in Adrian. This multidisciplinary approach connects patients to a vast network of oncology experts, treatments and support services closer to home.