PONTIAC — In just 14 months, the Oakland Integrated Healthcare Network has opened five centers for integrated primary, mental and dental health, and has received federally-qualified health center look-alike approval, creating greater access to care for all, regardless of ability to pay.
Spearheaded by the Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority and the Oakland County Department of Health and Human Services, the effort is a collaboration among nine community and health care service providers, using doctors and other care providers who coordinate patients’ total health needs.
“By co-locating mental, primary and dental health, it’s easier for people to get needed care, and helps to close the gaps that occur when they have to go to multiple sites and different providers,” says Bob Kamphuis, CEO. “With our integrated approach, we can help our patients get all the care they need, help them stay healthy and minimize emergency room visits, and help manage their cost of care.”
In Oakland County, there is a growing need for high quality, affordable health care services for the underserved, uninsured and those with mental illness and developmental disabilities. Studies show that these populations traditionally have less access to care and consequently lower overall health status.
“Oakland Integrated Healthcare Network gives these patients access to a team of professionals who are focused on managing their care over the long term. Until now, that has been very difficult to accomplish with the underserved population,” says Kamphuis.
Currently, five sites are offered for care, with a goal of having eight to ten more sites in the next few years. The network is a federally qualified health center look-alike, which means it has met specific quality and service requirements to receive additional government funding and resources. This allows Oakland Integrated Healthcare Network to serve more Medicaid and uninsured patients in Oakland County.
Oakland Integrated Healthcare Network currently has five sites for care:
- Family Medicine Center, 461 W. Huron, Suite 107, Pontiac
- Joslyn Smile Center, 816 Joslyn Ave., Pontiac
- Orchard Lake Center, 114 Orchard Lake Road, Pontiac
- Plum Hollow Center, 22200 West Nine Mile Rd., Southfield
- Summit Center, 279 Summit Dr., Waterford
Oakland Integrated Healthcare Network is an example of community collaboration and dedication among human service agencies to meet the needs of the people they serve. Those agencies in collaboration are the Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority, Oakland County Health Division, and the following healthcare service providers:
- Doctors’ Hospital of Michigan
- Common Ground
- Community Housing Network
- Community Living Services – Oakland
- Community Network Services
- Easter Seals of Michigan
- Macomb Oakland Regional Center
- Oakland Family Services
- Treatment and Training Innovations
For more information, go to oihn.org.
