Our Growth

Cherry Street Health Services has nearly tripled the number of people served in the last ten years. In 2006, Cherry Street Health Services provided medical services to more than 25,000 people and dental services to more than 20,000 people. Cherry Street Health Services is projecting that it can serve an additional 23,000 people in its medical program and nearly double the current number in its dental program by 2010. Given current growth levels, Cherry Street is preparing by securing funding through grants and expanding the breadth and depth of successful partnerships.

Our Plan for Expansion

To take responsibility for the health of our community, but especially those who are economically disadvantaged, is a challenging endeavor. Our surveys indicate that Cherry Street Health Services and others in the community who are willing to accommodate the needs of low income people, may currently be providing only about 46% of the primary medical care capacity needed to serve all the economically disadvantaged residents of Kent County and only about 35% of the dental capacity needed.

This provides a significant challenge in providing the medical and dental staffing to serve the remaining residents, but also challenges in providing space for these services to take place and resources to improve the quality of health care that is provided.

Beyond the current expansion of our West Side Health Center , at least an additional $6.6 million in capital projects are planned over the next four or five years. These initially include expansions within the central city of Grand Rapids that focus on the general community, pediatric and adolescent services. Later years may focus on additional facilities in poorer neighborhoods adjoining Grand Rapids and in rural areas in neighboring counties. The completion of this current strategic plan will require the addition of at least 190 medical, dental, counseling and other health care staff and annual operational increases of about $6 Million. When completed, this plan will result in an additional 23,000 persons able to access medical care and nearly as many additional patients able to access dental care, and the quality of all of our services will be significantly enhanced.

Other efforts that will lead to improved services include:

• The Joint Commission Accreditation for Health Care Organizations accreditation process, which results in recognition of a higher standard for providing quality care. We have received full accreditation in 2007.
• Quality initiatives with a focus on disparities in care for diabetes, asthma, depression and cardiovascular disease, and on improving dental services and integration of medical and mental health services.
• A close relationship with the Michigan Primary Care Association and the National Association of Community Health Centers has resulted in recognition  of CSHS as a model for dental, mental health and health professions education services.  These relationships and relationships with a variety of local health related organizations will be critical in the next five years in order to double the provision of services to the medically underserved and uninsured. Our focus and coordination will be improved through continuing our joint planning for increased access through our partnership with several Universities, the area Medical Society, the Osteopathic Association and the Dental Association, Project Access, Kent Health Plan and local hospitals.
• The implementation of an electronic medical/dental record over the next 12 months is being pursued in conjunction with other regional coordiation efforts.
• Development of training programs such as CSHS dental assisting training program and rotation of dentists and physicians will assist us in filling vacancies in jobs in which personnel shortages occur.
• Pharmacy services and issues related to medications will be addressed internally through the development of case management with local pharmacies and through a 340B discounted pharmaceutical program. We will also continue our efforts in working with Kent Health Plan in development of community-wide programs for free and discounted pharmaceuticals.