Everyone deserves equal access to quality care

Equitable access to quality, affordable healthcare services and education are critical for all of us. This includes issues such as lack of transportation or health insurance, availability of doctors and proximity to them, and strengthening the relationship between patients and their healthcare providers.

Initiatives we’re supporting

Patient Harm Reduction

Healthcare organizations in the Great Lakes Bay Area joined forces in 2019 to create the Patient Safety Task Force. They made a pledge to improve reporting of medical harm and to decrease cases of harm or death due to medical error.

The Patient Safety Task Force has identified four signature initiatives:

Decrease the distance between community members and their health care providers through the use of secure patient portals.
Invest in emotional intelligence training for all health system leaders, providers and nurses to ensure excellent experiences for individuals and families.
Create a network of learning between local hospitals and top-performing systems across the country so advanced innovations and best health care practices can be adopted here. This will be accomplished in partnership with The Leapfrog Group, one of the premier organizations that grades the safety of U.S. hospital systems.
Redesign primary care to deliver comprehensive, multidisciplinary care that meets the physical, emotional, social and economic needs of our citizens.

Project Partners:

Ascension St. Mary’s
Covenant HealthCare
Great Lakes Bay Health Centers
MyMichigan Health
Sterling Area Health Centers
HealthSource Saginaw

Medication Safety

Older adults are most likely to suffer adverse consequences due to the use of multiple medications, changes in body physiology and long-term use. With better prescribing and monitoring practices, the potential exists to protect thousands of older people in our region.

Through the Verify5 Campaign, the Michigan Health Improvement Alliance and its partners are educating adults age 65+ and caregivers in our region about the dangers of the simultaneous use of multiple drugs and the importance of discussing their medications with health care providers and pharmacists.