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Contact: Velma Hendershott
President & CEO
InterCare Community Health Network
50 Industrial Park Drive
Bangor, MI 49013
269.427.7937

High School Clinic Reopened by InterCare

On March 2nd, 2009 the Benton Harbor High School Health Center at 870 Colfax Avenue will once again be open for business. The Student Health Center had previously been operated by the Berrien County Health Department in partnership with the Benton Harbor Area School District, but has been out of service for about a year. State funds which supported the school health center have been transferred to InterCare, and InterCare will be ready to start delivering services to the area’s youth in about a week.

InterCare, which already provides a full range of medical and dental services in the Mercy Building on Agard and Weld Streets, will operate the school-based health center through an interagency agreement with the Benton Harbor Area School District. Services will be provided to students from age 10-21 and will include physicals, immunizations, care for acute and chronic illness, referrals, and health education. Under current state guidelines, family planning services may not be provided at the school clinic. InterCare will also make available each year two additional support services such as drug and alcohol awareness, smoking cessation, or nutrition counseling.

InterCare’s student health center will be open from 8 to 4 each day all year-round. InterCare has already met with the parent-based Community Advisory Committee that advises on the provision of health services at the school. Specific policies approved by the advisory committee are InterCare’s parental consent, confidentiality, release of information and child abuse and neglect policies. A Youth Advisory Committee will also be re-formed shortly after services resume. Operations of the school-based health center will be managed by InterCare’s, Sally Smith, RN; and health services will be provided by Charlene Baumgartner, Physician Assistant working under the supervision of Dr. Lisa Fink, InterCare’s medical director.

The same fee schedule used at InterCare’s other health centers will apply to the school-based services. InterCare will bill a student’s insurance or Medicaid plan and also offers a discount for services based on ability to pay. No child will be denied service for financial reasons.

InterCare Community Health Network is a non-profit system of medical and dental practices that was founded in 1972 to provide primary care to underserved residents and migrant farmworkers. InterCare is federally designated as a community and migrant health center, and offers a sliding fee program to income eligible families and individuals. The organization operates facilities at five other locations in west and southwest Michigan, serving over 40,000 patients each year. InterCare’s hallmark throughout its thirty-five year history has been its commitment to the uninsured and underserved and its focus on serving families with Medicaid. InterCare’s array of services includes pediatrics and adult medicine, OB, WIC, dental services, and maternal and infant support services. InterCare’s physicians, dentists, and other providers maintain a strong focus on health and wellness and diagnosing and treating illnesses before they become life-threatening.

In announcing the start-up of the student health center, Velma Hendershott, InterCare’s CEO stated, "For thirty-five years, InterCare has continuously looked for ways to expand our mission in southwest Michigan through the provision of comprehensive, high quality health services to populations in need. We feel the addition of the school-based health center in Benton Harbor builds on this long tradition and will provide a familiar health care home to the community’s young people." Ms. Hendershott also pointed out that, "Reopening the student health center will increase access to care for students since parents will not necessarily have to take off work if their child needs to see a health provider, so long as a signed parental consent is on file. This convenience factor, in turn, helps reduce the amount of school time lost by students in allowing for early attention to health problems."

For more information about the new student health center, contact Velma Hendershott, CEO of InterCare at 269/427-7937. Individuals interested in serving on the Community Advisory Committee should contact Sally Smith at 269/605-1277. One-third of the members of the Committee must be parents of school-aged children in the school district.