This is the last of six columns about services that the Ingham County Health
Department provides to citizens of Ingham County. Topics covered in this column are Prenatal Enrollment & Coordination, Primary Care Services in Women’s Health, and the Maternal-Infant Outreach Program.

Prenatal Enrollment & Coordination

Since 1989, with Michigan’s expanded Medicaid eligibility for pregnant wome, the Women’s Health Center has provided the service of screening and referring pregnant, low income women for care. Women come to the Health Department to enroll in the Medicaid program to receive coverage for their pregnancy related expenses, regardless of where they would receive prenatal care.

Primary Care Services in Women’s Health

In 1994, Women’s Health began offering limited enrollment for primary care to women in Medicaid Managed Care Programs. With the creation of the Ingham Health Plan, Women’s Health has been able to respond to the increased need for primary care among uninsured women. Primary care services are currently provided to women with Medicaid, Medical Access Program, and the Ingham Health Plan.

Maternal – Infant Outreach Program

The Maternal Infant Outreach Program began in 1989 to promote acess to prenatal care and prevent infant mortality with high risk pregnant mothers. The Ingham County Health Department has had four outreach workers since the program began. The program is supervised by a social worker and falls within the Division of Public Health Nursing. The team promotes and facilitates acess to prenatal care to support healthy pregnancies and prevent infant mortality among high-risk mothers. Support and education is offered to mothers in their home and through transportation to medical appointments. The outreach workers link families with many area services and supports. In 2004 the program served 262 mothers. The four advocates did 1,872 home visits and provided mothers with transportation 324 times.

The Ingham County Health Department offers a wide array of services. They are efficient, caring and expeditious in tending to the need of its clientele. The director, Mr. Bruce Bragg was recently recognized for his efforts in promoting health consciousness and services in the community.

All are urged to take advantages of the many services that the Health Department offers.

Source: 2004 Annual Report – Ingham County Health Department.

George T. Rowan, Ph.D. is a professor in the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources at Michigan State University and chairperson of the Ingham County Board of Health.