Our History

our first mobile health care unit  

Great Lakes Bay Health Centers (formerly Health Delivery, Inc.) began as a very small migrant health clinic in 1968, when the Saginaw County Health Department received a $75,000 grant to provide health care to farm workers. Today, Great Lakes Bay Health Centers is the largest of Michigan’s 42 Health Center organizations.

These Michigan Health Centers operate over 250 sites across the state and help more than 615,000 patients each year access quality, comprehensive, affordable health care, regardless of insurance status or income level.

Great Lakes Bay Health Centers timeline –

  • Administration – Great Lakes Bay Health Centers (formerly Health Delivery, Inc.) was incorporated as East Central Michigan Health Services in 1968, with various administrative office locations throughout the years. Current site established in 2006.
  • Bayside – Established in 1971 to serve the health needs of migrant farmworkers in Bay, Arenac, and Midland counties. Became full-time health center in 1984 to serve all community residents. Current site established in 1999.
  • Belding – Established in 1973 to serve the health needs of migrant farmworkers in Montcalm, Ionia, and Gratiot counties.
  • Imlay City – Established in 1978 to serve the health needs of migrant farmworkers in Lapeer, St. Clair, and Macomb counties. Became full-time health center in 2015 to serve all community residents. Expanded in 2016 to include dental services.
  • Janes St. – Established in 1984 to serve the health needs of residents in Saginaw; largest GLBHC site offering primary care, specialty, and ancillary services. Current site established 1994.
  • Mobile Medical Services – Mobile medical services were established in 1988 to serve the health needs of migrant farmworkers at various locations throughout the GLBHC service area. Mobile medical units were acquired in 1988, 1996, and 2019.
  • Mobile Dental Services – The “Smiles Are Everywhere” dental program was established in 1997 to serve the dental health needs of school age children; three mobile dental units acquired in 1997, 2003, and 2017.   Services are provided at various locations throughout the GLBHC service area.
  • Roosevelt S. Ruffin – Established in 1997 to serve the health needs of residents in Saginaw.
  • Wolverine – Outer Drive – Established in 2001 to serve the health needs of adolescent site residents.
  • Wolverine – Vassar – Established in 2001 to serve the health needs of adolescent site residents.
  • Bridgeport – Established in 2001 to serve the health needs of residents in Saginaw; expanded in 2011 to include dental services.
  • Hearth Home – Established in 2002 to provide HIV testing, education, and prevention activities in Saginaw and other nearby counties.
  • Women’s Care Bay City – Established as HDI OB/GYN and Midwifery Services in 2003 to serve the health needs of residents in Bay City.
  • David R. Gamez – Established in 2004 to serve the health needs of residents in Saginaw.
  • St. Vincent – Established in 2004 to serve the health needs of adolescent site residents.
  • Annex – Established in 2005 to support the purchasing, transportation, and maintenance departments. Former home of mobile dental units.
  • Saginaw High School – Established in 2006 to serve the health needs of adolescents and school-age children in Saginaw.
  • Shiawassee – Established in 2007 to serve the health needs of residents in Shiawassee County, with various locations throughout the years. Current site established and expanded to include dental services in 2015.
  • Arthur Hill High School – Established in 2009 to serve the health needs of adolescents and school-age children in Saginaw.
  • Integrated Care Saginaw – Established within Saginaw County Community Mental Health Authority in 2012 to provide integrated health services.
  • Integrated Care Shiawassee – Established within Shiawassee Health & Wellness in 2013 to provide integrated health services.
  • Thumb Area – Established in 2014 to serve the health needs of residents in Huron, Tuscola, and Sanilac counties. Current site established 2016.
  • Integrated Care Thumb Area – Established within Huron Behavioral Health in 2014 to provide integrated health services.
  • Old Town – Established in 2015 to serve the health needs of residents in Saginaw. Expanded in 2016 to include OB/GYN services.
  • Cumberland – Established in 2017 to house the mobile dental, maintenance, and centralized referral departments. Current home of mobile units.
  • Warren Avenue – Established in 2018 to serve the dental health needs of residents in Saginaw; replacing Wadsworth Dental Center (est. 1989).
  • Davenport – Established in 2018 to serve the integrated health care needs of residents in Saginaw.
  • Davenport/Billing – Established in 2018 to house the centralized billing and provider enrollment department.
  • Washington Elementary School – Established in 2019 to serve the behavioral health needs of Washington Elementary School students in Bay City.
  • Bay City SouthEstablished in 2019 to provide behavioral health counseling, medication management,  and substance use disorder treatment.

 

Patient-Centered Medical Homes

the history of our health centers

Several of GLBHC’s sites are designated as Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMH) through NCQA and BCBS of Michigan. This philosophy is transforming care through coordination and communication.

These medical homes lead to higher quality care and lower costs. We form partnerships between individual patients and their personal clinicians. Each patient is part of a provider-led team that coordinates treatments across the health care system. This PCMH model is just another way we are providing quality health care for everyone.

This website is for a Health Center Program grantee under 42. U.S.C. 254b, and a deemed Public Health Service employee under 42 U.S.C. 233 (g) – (n). This organization is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant #H80CS00689 titled Health Center Cluster for $7,161,610 with about 88% funded with nongovernmental sources. This information or content and conclusions are those of Great Lakes Bay Health Centers and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. We are an equal opportunity provider and employer. GLBHC participates in the Federal program 340B Drug Pricing Program. All GLBHC patients may exercise his or her freedom to choose a pharmacy provider.

Copyright 2023, Great Lakes Bay Health Centers