Northern Michigan Health Consortium

TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF COMMUNITIES IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN AND NEIGHBORING REGIONS.

THE NORTHERN MICHIGAN HEALTH CONSORTIUM (NMHC) PROVIDES ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE NORTHERN MICHIGAN COMMUNITY HEALTH INNOVATION REGION (CHIR). THIS IS DONE THROUGH COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, A CLINICAL COMMUNITY LINKAGES NETWORK AND MITHRIVE COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT INITIATIVE. THE CHIR FOCUSES ON REMOVING BARRIERS TO SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH LIKE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HEALTHY FOOD, AND TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS. THE CHIR WORKS AT THE INDIVIDUAL, SECTOR, AND SYSTEM LEVEL IN PURSUIT OF ITS MISSION TO IMPROVE POPULATION HEALTH, INCREASE HEALTH EQUITY, AND REDUCE UNNECESSARY MEDICAL COSTS. THE CHIR'S CERTIFIED CLINICAL COMMUNITY LINKAGES (CCL) NETWORK PROVIDES ONE-ON-ONE NAVIGATION ASSISTANCE IN 23 COUNTIES THROUGH FOUR HUBS, EACH OPERATED BY A DIFFERENT LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT THROUGH A CONTRACT WITH NMHC. IN FY21, THE CHIR RECEIVED 2,344 REFERRALS. THE TOP FIVE REASONS FOR REFERRAL TO NAVIGATION SERVICCES WERE MEDICAL CARE COST/HEALTH INSURANCE, EMPLOYMENT/INCOME, HOUSING/SHELTER, FOOD SECURITY, AND UTILITIES. THE CHIR LEADS COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT (CHNA) EVERY THREE YEARS IN A 31-COUNTY REGION TO QUANTIFY ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY BY COLLECTING PRIMARY AND SECONDARY DATA, INCLUDING CCL CLIENT DATA, ON BEHALF OF LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, HOSPITALS AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS. USING THE BEST PRACTICE CHNA FRAMEWORK, A DIVERSE MITHRIVE DESIGN TEAM CREATED AND IMPLEMENTED PLANS FOR COMPILING 100 SECONDARY INDICATORS BY COUNTY AND COLLECTING PRIMARY DATA THROUGH SURVEYS AND COMMUNITY WIDE MEETINGS. ALTOGHTER, OVER 5,000 RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS PARTICIPATED IN ONE OR MORE CHNA ACTIVITIES.