Deb VandenBroek with Packard Health

By providing primary care in the community and keeping patients out of the emergency room and hospital, we can provide better and less expensive care.

That message was shared by Deb VandenBroek, director of development and marketing with Packard Health, on our radio show this past weekend.

Packard Health is a family practice, serving anyone who needs a family health care provider, regardless of their ability to pay. Packard Health sees the full spectrum of the local population, including some of the neediest residents with complex medical conditions.

It is a growing practice, with this past month being its busiest ever. Packard Health's vision includes opening a clinic in Ypsilanti and doubling its size by 2013.

Packard Health has in-house patient advocates to help patients get the services they need, including non-medical assistance such as a food pantry. The organization's objective is to reach out with more direct advocacy in the local community.

Deb talked about the ‘Camden Health Initiative’ where that New Jersey city is working to stop the cycle of the neediest people going in and out of the hospital.

Packard Health is focused on that same objective, giving local residents continuing access to a primary care physician. This provides improved care, enhances patient quality of life and reduces overall health care cost, Deb said. To listen to the 12-minute discussion, click the audio link below:

If you would like to contact Deb VandenBroek or Packard Health, call 734-971-1073 or visit the website packardhealth.org.

Kim Campbell with the Chelsea Community Hospital

Photos by Sheila Doeden

Our next guest was Kim Campbell, the program coordinator for the Outpatient Diabetes Clinic at Chelsea Community Hospital. This hospital is now part of the St. Joseph Mercy Health System.

Kim, a certified diabetic educator, wants to keep people out of the hospital as much as possible. Diabetes is often a significant contributing factor to people being admitted.

When it comes to managing diabetes, Kim asks, “How can we begin to get people healthier starting today?”

It’s really about lifestyle changes. Work on one change at a time. And one important change is weight loss, she says. Losing a modest amount of weight makes a big difference — 10 to 15 pounds is all it takes for significant improvement.

Medicare provides a one-time benefit of 10 hours of diabetes education, and then two hours annually. Education is the power the patient has to make diabetes a controllable condition.

Kim has seen instances where lifestyle education benefits the patient’s whole family. Her patients set a good example for their families, and decreases the diabetes risk for the next generation.

To listen to the 12-minute talk, click the audio link below:

To get in touch with Kim Campbell or the Outpatient Diabetes Clinic, please call 734-475-4103 or go to the website cch.org.

Alan Caldwell and Sheila Doeden co-host Everything Elderly every Saturday morning at 8:30 on 1290 WLBY. In their day jobs, Alan and Sheila co-own and co-manage Senior Helpers, providing in-home care services, primarily to the elderly. Both can be contacted at homecareexcellence@seniorhelpers.com, or at 734-927-3111.