The September 2019 WHI stakeholders meeting focused on Michigan health policy and the united community health needs assessment and implementation plan conducted by the county’s three non-profit hospitals.
Liz Conlin, senior vice president of re:group, inc. and chair of the WHI Communications Committee, updated stakeholders on recent improvements to the WHI website and e-newsletter. She encouraged community members to send health news and announcements to whi-communications@umich.edu so they can be shared through the WHI’s social media accounts and e-newsletter.
Marianne Udow-Phillips, founding executive director of the Center for Health and Research Transformation (CHRT) that serves as backbone organization to the WHI, shared news about Michigan policy reforms that will impact pending work requirements and Healthy Michigan Plan co-pays. She also spoke about state funding for the WHI’s social and medical care coordination program for frequent ED utilizers (aka the SIM).
Nicole Adelman, clinical and SUD services director at the Community Mental Health Partnership of Southeast Michigan, shared early wins from the WHI’s Substance Use Disorder System Transformation initiative, which is a community-wide effort to reduce stigma around substance use, streamline intake procedures, and improve care for people in recovery.
And the UNITE Group, including representatives from Michigan Medicine, St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor, St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea, and the University of Michigan School of Public Health, shared findings from the group’s recently completed joint community health needs assessment and how those will inform local hospital community health investments in the coming years.
The next stakeholders meeting will take place on November 14, from 3-5 pm, at Washtenaw Community College. At that meeting, WHI leaders will share outcomes from its year-long strategic planning process including key strategic priorities and focus areas that are expected to guide the WHI’s operations in the years ahead. WHI leaders will seek feedback from members about the WHI’s 2020-2022 plan and next steps.