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Grace Health Student Health Centers Receive Grade of “A”

By Health Care News

 

Grace Health leadership and Board of Directors would like to congratulate our school-based team for stellar performance in a recent onsite review from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).  The team’s commitment to serving students and families is evidenced by the high scores earned.

MDHHS recently conducted a site review of Grace Health’s state-funded Child and Adolescent Health Center (CAHC) sites and Expanding, Enhancing Emotional Health (E3) program sites located within the schools. The purpose of the review is to assure that Grace Health is providing the required services according to MDHHS Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs), to ensure high-quality services are provided, and to assist in resolving any challenges staff are experiencing as they administer the program.  All Grace Health Student Health Centers, total of 7 sites, earned a grade of “A” with Full Accreditation Status from MDHHS.  This is the highest score a site can receive which means Grace Health is successfully operating the program and is exceeding program requirements.  Since Grace Health Student Health Centers received such high marks, the sites will be on a 5-year site review rotation.

Grace Health Student Health Center CAHC sites are located within Battle Creek Central High School, Lakeview High School, Springfield Middle School, and Northwestern Middle School and its E3 sites are located within Harper Creek High School, Verona Elementary, and W.K. Kellogg Preparatory High School.  The CAHC sites are staffed with a medical provider, behavioral health provider and support staff.  Services provided include well-child exams with immunizations, school and sports physicals, preventative care, urgent care, and behavioral / mental health services.  The E3 sites are staffed with a behavioral health provider.  Services at the E3 sites include assessment, guidance and treatment when someone is experiencing stress, and other problems affecting the quality of the individual’s emotional and mental health.

Grace Health began providing medical and behavioral health services within the schools in 2019 and has added additional sites since the start.  Approval was recently received from MDHHS for Grace Health to open a E3 site in Lakeview Middle School.  It is anticipated this site will be operational by fall 2024.

Grace Health would like to thank Battle Creek Public School District, Harper Creek School District, and Lakeview School District for their commitment, partnership and support of Grace Health and Grace Health Student Health Centers.  Together, we are making a difference for families in our local community.

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Grace Health’s February 2024 Communicate with H.E.A.R.T. Spotlight Recipient

By Health Care News

Congratulations Sarah Livingston for being nominated as Grace Health’s February Communicate with H.E.A.R.T. Spotlight Recipient!  Each month Grace Health selects a staff member, nominated by their co-workers, who exemplifies what it means to Communicate with H.E.A.R.T.

What does Communicate with H.E.A.R.T. mean to Sarah?  Speaking to every patient you pass and greeting them with a smile.  Listening with an open heart and having empathy.  Showing that I care about them and am glad they are here.

What does Sarah like about Grace Health?  Grace Health has been my most favorite job in my lifetime.  It has been such a rewarding job and makes my heart happy.  I feel very much appreciated and well taken care of.  My coworkers are some of the sweetest souls I have ever met.  I enjoy laughing with them and crying when we need to.  We’re a great support system for each other.

 

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Grace Health’s January 2024 Communicate with H.E.A.R.T. Spotlight Recipient

By Health Care News

Congratulations Cheryl Dykema for being nominated as Grace Health’s January Communicate with H.E.A.R.T. Spotlight Recipient!  Each month Grace Health selects a staff member, nominated by their co-workers, who exemplifies what it means to Communicate with H.E.A.R.T.

What does Communicate with H.E.A.R.T. mean to Cheryl?  To me, communicating with heart means doing my absolute best every day.  Although I do not work directly with patients, I know what I do ultimately trickles down and impacts them.  I am trying to grasp that excellence and perfectionism are different.

What does Cheryl like about Grace Health?  Grace Health is the best place I have every worked for many reasons.  I wish I had found Grace Health sooner in my career.  I work for and with an incredible, caring team and have found everyone else I have collaborated with to be extremely kind.  The Executive Team is very generous; they bless staff in many fun (and financial) ways.

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Grace Heath Receives Gift from Lions Club

By Health Care News

The Battle Creek Cereal City Lions Club presented Grace Health a $1,000 gift for Optometry/Vision Care to assist patients in need of eyeglasses. This gift was made possible by Linda Pell.  After purchasing a Lions of Michigan Foundation raffle ticket and winning the grand prize, Linda decided to share a portion of her winnings by asking the Cereal City Lions Club to select a recipient. Grace Health Optometry/Vision Care was chosen as the recipient of these funds to assist patients with eyeglasses.

Grace Health began providing vision/optometry services in March 2016 and added glasses on June 21, 2017.  Patients may get an eye exam and glasses all at Grace Health.  For those in need, the Cereal City Lions Club and Grace Health are partnering with the Cereal City Eyeglass Program to provide free glasses to qualifying individuals.

To learn more about Grace Health and services provided, visit the website at www.gracehealthmi.org.

Lions Clubs International has been championing the cause of the blind and visually impaired for over 100 years.   Locally, the Lions provide service for the visually impaired through KidSight testing, low vision support groups, and monetary support for glasses through Grace Health.   They also collect used glasses for foreign missions in collection boxes throughout Battle Creek.  To learn more about these services and other services,, or how you can serve, contact the Cereal City Lions at cerealcitylions@gmail.com, Facebook page @cerealcitylions, or website at www.e-Clubhouse.org/sites/battlecreekcc/

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Grace Health Receives RetinaVue from Molina Healthcare of Michigan

By Health Care News

 

Molina Healthcare of Michigan recently provided a RetinaVue 700 Imager to Grace Health which will be used for patients with diabetes.  The RetinaVue is a smart camera that is specifically designed to take high resolution images of the eye and retina.  Once the image is taken, it will be sent to a retinal specialist to determine if the patient has healthy vision or diabetic retinopathy.

By having a RetinaVue, Grace Health will be able to provide care for patients with diabetes who are not up to date on their diabetic vision exam.  Although having a diabetic eye exam with an optometrist or an ophthalmologist is always the best option for a patient with diabetes, often there are barriers for patients which make it difficult for them to make it to these appointments.  With the RetinaVue, Grace Health staff can get imaging while the patient is in the office and know within 24 hours when patients have a serious vision issue and intervention from a specialist is needed.

Grace Health staff are currently being trained in the use of the RetinaVue and plan to start providing this service for patients with diabetes in January 2024.

Grace Health is a Federally Qualified Health Center and has been serving Calhoun County since 1986, providing care to 1 in 4 County residents.  In 2022, more than 96,500 visits were scheduled at Grace Health for just over 27,000 patients, averaging about 400 new patients each month.  As of 3rd quarter 2023, more than 81,200 visits have been scheduled for almost 25,000 patients.  Approximately 72% of patients seen at Grace Health either have Medicaid or are uninsured.  Grace Health employs almost 390 staff.  To learn more about Grace Health and services provided, visit the website at www.gracehealthmi.org.

Molina Healthcare of Michigan has been providing government-funded health care since 1997. The Company serves members through Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare-Medicaid (Duals), and Health Insurance Exchange programs throughout Michigan. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare, Inc., a FORTUNE 500 company, provides managed healthcare services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs and through the state insurance marketplaces. Molina Healthcare served approximately 5.2 million members as of September 30, 2023, located across 19 states. For more information about Molina Healthcare of Michigan, visit MolinaHealthCare.com.

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Grace Health’s December 2023 Communicate with H.E.A.R.T. Spotlight Recipient

By Health Care News

Congratulations Anna Wright for being nominated as Grace Health’s December Communicate with H.E.A.R.T. Spotlight Recipient!  Each month Grace Health selects a staff member, nominated by their co-workers, who exemplifies what it means to Communicate with H.E.A.R.T.

What does Communicate with H.E.A.R.T. mean to Anna?  For me, Communicate with H.E.A.R.T. means to always show kindness and compassion. It means treating everyone as if they’re a member of my family. It means listening to the patients, asking questions and advocating for them. One of my biggest missions daily as a dental assistant is to make sure my patients leave feeling better than they did coming in. Many people have dental anxiety or special needs making it very difficult for them to come see us. I always keep that in mind. Sometimes, they just don’t understand the process of what we are doing and simply explaining it step by step puts them at ease. I truly love helping people. For me, nothing beats public healthcare.

What does Anna like about Grace Health?  Working at Grace Health has truly been one of the best experiences.  I love my dental department.  We have all like family and have so much fun while we work.  It’s one of the most rewarding jobs I’ve ever had.

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Grace Health’s September 2023 Communicate with H.E.A.R.T. Spotlight Recipient

By Health Care News

Congratulations Emily Reidenbach for being nominated as Grace Health’s September Communicate with H.E.A.R.T. Spotlight Recipient!  Each month Grace Health selects a staff member, nominated by their co-workers, who exemplifies what it means to Communicate with H.E.A.R.T.

What does Communicate with H.E.A.R.T. mean to Emily?  Communicating with HEART to me means listening and putting patients at the center of their own care.

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Meridian Update

By Health Care News

Grace Health is aware of the recent news that local hospitals are terminating their contract with Meridian, a Medicaid Managed Care Insurance Plan as of 1/1/2024.   Grace Health Administration is working on behalf of our Meridian patients to problem-solve with both the State of Michigan and Meridian to lessen the impact to our patients.  Grace Health is committed to continue providing care for our Meridian patients during this transition.  We will keep you informed as new developments occur.

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Grace Health’s August 2023 Communicate with H.E.A.R.T. Spotlight Recipient

By Health Care News

Congratulations Taylor Warsop for being nominated as Grace Health’s August Communicate with H.E.A.R.T. Spotlight Recipient!  Each month Grace Health selects a staff member, nominated by their co-workers, who exemplifies what it means to Communicate with H.E.A.R.T.

What does Communicate with H.E.A.R.T. mean to Taylor?  To communicate with heart to me means to be true to who I am with open ears, an open heart and an open mind.  I love the diversity of personalities, attitudes, and backgrounds I encounter every day.  I feel like I am capable of interacting with many different people and in many different ways.

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Grace Health’s June 2023 Communicate with H.E.A.R.T. Spotlight Recipient

By Health Care News

Congratulations Megan VanSickle for being nominated as Grace Health’s June Communicate with H.E.A.R.T. Spotlight Recipient! Each month Grace Health selects a staff member, nominated by their co-workers, who exemplifies what is means to Communicate with H.E.A.R.T.

What does Communicate with H.E.A.R.T. mean to Megan?
Communicate with H.E.A.R.T is to show kindness to others. Sometimes patients can have anxiety, especially about dental related issues. I try to use empathy and to explain everything to patients so that they are informed. Sometimes the unknown is the biggest thing causing their anxiety. So, if I can do anything to help make their appointment enjoyable, that is my goal.

What does Megan like about Grace Health?
I previously worked as a phlebotomist and was assigned to work at the Family Health Center (Grace Health) blood draw site back in 2011. During that time, I witnessed what a fun atmosphere it was here. Even though we were not employed by Grace Health, we were invited to attend the monthly All-Staff meetings which were always in person before COVID. The meetings were something to look forward to – full of information, but also full of humor (Fish! Philosophy). Grace Health was the only place I applied to and the only place I had interest in applying to after dental hygiene school. After 9.5 years, there have been many changes and I still enjoy it here.

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