Institute for Population Health Returns Public Health Services to Detroit Dept. of Health and Wellness Promotion
DETROIT, Mich. (PRWEB) August 06, 2015 -- The Institute for Population Health (IPH) has officially fulfilled its agreement to provide public health services on behalf of the City of Detroit through July 31, 2015. Those services, including Women, Infants and Children, better known as WIC; Children’s Special Health Care Service; Immunization; Vision and Hearing; Environmental Health and others will again be provided through the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion.
In 2012, with the support of then-Mayor Dave Bing and Governor Rick Snyder, Loretta V. Davis, a seasoned public health executive, and the leadership team at IPH assumed the responsibility for mandated and non-mandated public health services for Detroit residents. It was determined that allowing IPH to provide health services was an innovative alternative to closing the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion as bankruptcy loomed over the city.
“Even though IPH was created with a goal to improve regional health, the institute assisted the City to protect the public’s health and to provide wellness services for its residents with an efficient, sustainable and high-quality model,” said Davis. “Our success model demonstrated documented improvements in the delivery of health services to the community, including serving up to 103 percent more residents in eight of 17 areas of service, with one-tenth of the annual allocated budget previously provided by the City.”
As of July 31, IPH has transitioned these services back to the City and is moving forward to focus on its broader mission of improving population health throughout the region. To that end, IPH will continue to provide services for the Maternal Infant Health and the Healthy Start Programs, primary care and family medicine, family dentistry and behavioral health from its Northwest Detroit and Midtown locations.
The future for IPH includes providing integrated care with full-service physical, dental and behavioral health services; positioning the institute as a leader in advancing policies that promote health equity and developing strategic partnerships to expand its services throughout Michigan and the Midwest.
Davis explained, “Our goal is to effect positive change by promoting both preventative strategies and positive health-seeking behavior in order to reduce health issues for residents in the communities we serve. IPH will also address the environment and social determinants, two critical issues that either support or hinder wellness behavior.”
For information about the Institute for Population Health, visit http://www.ipophealth.org.
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For more information on IPH contact Delora Hall Tyler, APR at 248-354-8705 or 248-755-6512.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Loretta V. Davis is an expert in public health with 30 years' experience. She formerly led Wayne County’s Department of Public Health and served as director of the Division of Health, Wellness and Disease Control for Michigan Department of Community Health. Davis is available for interviews and appearances about IPH and other topics on population health.
Delora Hall Tyler, APR, First Media Group, +1 (248) 755-6512, [email protected]
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