Detroit, USA
Chapter: University of Michigan- Ann Arbor
Partner: Joy Southfield Health and Education Center
Working together since 2006.
At a glance: GlobeMed at the University of Michigan hosts monthly health education sessions at the Joy Southfield Health and Education Center about prevalent diseases in Detroit. GlobeMed members also volunteer at the Center, doing administrative work and advertising for the education sessions.
Key fact: Metro Detroit’s four federally qualified free health centers have the capacity to serve about 50,000 people, while there are more than 180,000 Detroit residents living without health coverage.
GlobeMed’s impact: Currently, the Joy Southfield Health and Education Center is booked to capacity because the demand for free healthcare is high in the surrounding area. GlobeMed’s aim is to alleviate this problem through prevention. Chapter members organize and advertise for monthly health education sessions. These sessions- which address issues such as nutrition, diabetes, asthma, hypertension, and obesity- teach Detroit residents how to prevent the illnesses which usually require primary care. GlobeMed will also be assisting the clinic during the second half of 2008 to conduct a study of healthcare needs and disparities in Detroit. GlobeMed members will assist with interviewing and data collection. This study will help to better inform the clinic of patients’ needs and hopefully bring attention to the dire healthcare crisis in Detroit.
Partner: The Joy Southfield Community Development Corporation is a nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing the Joy Southfield community. In 2001, the Corporation initially operated a free “mini-clinic” for uninsured residents in the basement of Second Grace United Methodist Church. To meet an increasing need for primary and preventive healthcare programs, the Joy-Southfield Health and Education Center was built in 2005. The Center, which officially opened in May 2006, works to eliminate the costly cycle of hospital emergency department visits and preventable hospitalizations. To meet this ultimate goal, in addition to primary care, it provides free screening, prevention, education, and health management programs.
