State of Health is a series about how Michigan communities are rising to address health challenges. Previous coverage examined health disparities and how they affect Michigan's children and seniors and integrated care and its potential to improve Michiganders' health. This series is made possible with funding from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund.
Integrated care involves not just physical co-location of services that are often isolated from one another, but also broader community-based solutions that promote good health.
The healthcare workforce doesn't represent the diversity of those it serves, and that results in poor health outcomes for patients of color. But several initiatives are working to develop more diverse health professionals.
The importance of a support network when caring for a loved one can't be understated. That's why a number of Michigan organizations are working to better understand what caregivers need and make it more accessible to them.
Substance abuse, lack of access to healthy food, and dwindling birthing hospitals and OB-GYNs all contribute to poor health outcomes for mothers and infants. These organizations and individuals are working to change that.
Statewide, black babies are three times more likely to die in their first year of life than white babies. But those statistics are even more alarming in many of Michigan's urban centers.
Although almost everyone has experienced not understanding their doctor, health literacy issues may be especially pronounced for refugees, youth, and disadvantaged communities.
Understanding the healthcare system can be difficult for many who grew up in the United States speaking English. But for immigrants, challenges to receiving and understanding good care are exponentially greater.
These initiatives forge private-public collaborations to create systemic improvements in health and wellness across multiple counties.
Social isolation and loneliness can have serious negative impacts on older adults' health, but efforts around the state are working to connect seniors to their communities and the resources available to them.
Lack of access to good transportation options continues to be a barrier to health equity for many Michigan residents. A patchwork of organizations around the state are working to resolve this challenging issue.
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