Spectrum Health Kelsey Hospital Announces Lakeview Youth Clinic

Beginning Thursday, November 3rd, area youth will have a new resource to receive primary medical care – the Lakeview Youth Clinic. The Lakeview Youth Clinic at Spectrum Health Kelsey Hospital is partnering with Lakeview Community Schools to address the medical, social-emotional, developmental needs of adolescents ages 10-21.

The Lakeview Youth Clinic is a school-linked adolescent health center. Housed in the Spectrum Health Kelsey Hospital Medical Specialty Center (420 South Lincoln Street ,Lakeview), the Clinic comes as a result of a recent grant obtained by Spectrum Health Kelsey Hospital from the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH).

The Clinic takes a team approach to care, allowing the adolescent, his or her parents and the healthcare provider to become partners in decision making. All employees of Lakeview Youth Clinic are highly involved in the surrounding communities and have access to resources such as social service agencies and human services organizations.

Unlike general health clinics, Lakeview Youth Clinic offers a comprehensive array of services designed to meet the needs of the youth population. Service and specialties include:

• Annual physicals
• Comprehensive routine health care
• Depression and anxiety
• Eating disorders and obesity
• Health education
• Illness and injury treatment
• Immunizations (including Gardasil, Tetanus, Meningococcal, HPV)
• Life skills and goal setting
• Patient advocacy with outside agencies
• Referrals to specialized physicians, mental health professionals and dentists
• Relationship, interpersonal, school and behavioral issues
• Preventative services
• Self injurious behaviors
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Substance abuse

Dr. Lory Read will serve as the Medical Director and provide physician oversight. Clinical services will be provided by a mid-level Practitioner, an RN liaison, and a medical social worker. The Lakeview Youth Clinic Director is Brian Brasser, Chief Operating Officer of Spectrum Health Kelsey Hospital and Program Coordinator is Jodi Aniszko.

While located in Lakeview, the Lakeview Youth Clinic is open to adolescents ages 10-21from all communities. Additionally, no adolescent will be turned away due to inability to pay.

“One of the main goals of the Lakeview Youth Clinic is to provide care to teens that are uninsured or underinsured,” said Jodi Aniszko, Program Coordinator. “While we will accept all insurances, we know that many local teens might not have access to coverage. Because of this, our team will work with patients to cover medical costs through a sliding fee scale as well as Medicaid assistance.”

In planning for the Lakeview Youth Clinic, a community advisory committee was established to develop goals and build support for the Clinic and its mission. This committee consists of parents, students, local businesses and service organizations. Members of the group are placed into sub-committees based on role, background and area of interest. Sub-committees provide guidance to Clinic leadership in areas such as financial, quality and marketing. Anyone interested in participating in the community advisory committee for the Lakeview Youth Clinic is encouraged to contact Jodi Aniszko at 989-352-1765.

In addition to the Clinic, the awarded grant allows for various intervention activities to occur within Lakeview Community Schools. These clinical interventions will be presented to students in the form of wellness programs. In 2012, the programs will focus on be mental health (including bullying and suicide prevention) and physical activity and nutrition. Staff will help students understand how preventative measures can help them avoid both short term and long term consequences of poor decisions.

“We are excited about the opportunity to reach out to students, both in the Clinic setting and school setting,” said Jodie Faber, Director of Spectrum Health United Lifestyles, the wellness and prevention program associated with Spectrum Health United and Kelsey hospitals. Faber is part of a large team of individuals who worked to plan for and launch the Clinic.

“Since 2008, our team has desired to find new ways to provide medical and preventative care to teens. The opening of the Lakeview Youth Clinic and the school-linked intervention programs is the result of this planning and hard work. We hope to help youth from all communities find people and services to meet their unique needs in a confidential setting,” said Faber.

Administration and staff at the Lakeview Area Schools are equally eager for the Clinic and programs to begin. “Our students will now have greater access to professionals and programs they can use to better their lives. We are thrilled to partner with Kelsey Hospital in giving our local youth the education and tools they need to make wise choices and instill lifelong wellness habits, “said Sara Shriver, Principal of Lakeview Elementary School.

The Lakeview Youth Clinic will be open for appointments on the following days and times:

Mondays: 10:00am – 6:00pm
Thursdays: 10:00am – 6:00pm
Fridays: 10:00am – 6:00pm

For additional information or to make an appointment, call 989.352.1800. A community open house is being planned and will be announced at a future time.

About Spectrum Health Kelsey Hospital
Spectrum Health Kelsey Hospital is a regional health center for primary and secondary care and a designated Critical Access Hospital (CAH), serving patients in northwest Montcalm County, southern Mecosta County and eastern Newaygo County. Kelsey Hospital takes an active role in promoting healthy lifestyles through a number of community outreach programs. Visit us on the web at www.spectrumhealth.org/kelsey.

About Spectrum Health
Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan offering a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, which is comprised of nine hospitals including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, a state of the art children’s hospital that opened in January 2011, and 190 service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group and West Michigan Heart, physician groups totaling more than 600 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with 625,000 members. Spectrum Health is West Michigan’s largest employer with more than 18,000 employees. The organization provided $176.5 million in community benefit during its 2011 fiscal year. In 2011 and 2010, Spectrum Health was named a Top 10 Health System by Thomson Reuters.