Metro Detroit to get 3 new Medicare clinics this spring

Detroit Free Press (MI)

Feb. 13--Access to Medicare clinics in metro Detroit is planned to expand this spring.

Oak Street Health, a network of value-based healthcare clinics for patients on Medicare, will add three new locations to its preexisting seven in Michigan: Pontiac, Roseville and Highland Park.

The value-based healthcare model puts the patient at the focus of the healthcare experience, emphasizes preventative care and payment is based on overall quality and patient health improvement, according to United Healthcare.

The first Oak Street Health clinic in Michigan opened in November 2016 in Southgate.

Its goal is to provide more care and access to primary care centers for adults on Medicare. Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people 65 and older as well as some people with specific health care needs or disabilities.

The clinics not only provide primary care options for patients but can include behavioral health care as well as physical and social activities, said Tamara Jurgenson, Oak Street Health's chief growth officer.

Oak Street Health aims to provide care and help people on Medicare by helping them navigate the benefits of Medicare as well as additional services including:

-- Personalized treatment plans and added time with a provider

-- Same-day and next-day appointments

-- A 24/7 patient support line

-- Transportation to and from the clinics

-- Community service and community events in clinic, such as bringing in speakers and Medicare education classes

There are more than 50 centers across the East Coast and Midwest.

Detroit is in the top three largest markets for the clinic, behind Illinois, where they are based, and Pennsylvania.

"We really understand the specific needs of the community we are serving and part of our model's approach is to ensure that center is equipped to adequately care for the specific needs of that population," Jurgenson said.

Jurgenson said the clinic's expansion included the three new locations in and around Detroit due to the need for more access to care and the size of the population on Medicare.

The clinics offer full primary-care service along with other services the clinics deem necessary based on the community they serve. Each clinic is around 10,000 square feet and employs between 35-50 people, Jurgenson said. The facilities also have community rooms that offer events for both patients and community members alike.

Each facility is equipped with five care teams on average, which are made up of five to seven people and include: a physician, medical assistant, nurse, medical scribe, behavioral health specialists and medical social workers.

Jurgenson said the clinics look to strengthen and build the community they are based in, often employing people that live within a 15-mile radius and serving patients within the same distance.

The current Oak Street Health locations include:

-- 3525 Saginaw Road in Burton

-- 27155 Cherry Hill Road in Dearborn Heights

-- 1142 E 9 Mile Road in Hazel Park

-- 11260 E Jefferson Avenue in Detroit

-- 102 W. Pierson Road in Flint

-- 18610 Fenkell Avenue in Detroit

-- 13667 Eureka Road in Southgate

"When we set out to rebuild healthcare as it should be in 2012, we wanted to create a unique model that put the patient first," said Mike Pykosz, CEO of Oak Street Health, in a news release. "We're proud of what our teams have already accomplished to improve healthcare quality and experience for our patients and communities. Our innovative approach works, and we're delighted to continue expanding to bring the Oak Street Health care model to more people across the country."

Meredith Spelbring is a news intern with the Detroit Free Press. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @mere0415.

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