Our Future
Niles Community Health Center, located at 1951 Oak Street, opened in November 2019 just before the Coronavirus Pandemic of 2019 changed the world. We built this 30,000-square-foot medical building in anticipation of the thousands of people in the greater Niles community who did not have a medical home. As the number of people, we take care of continues to increase we are running out of room, and are adding a 6300 square foot addition to primary care. This new wing on the east side of the building will allow us to move our Substance Use Treatment program from the behavioral health department into primary care. Substance Use Disorder is now considered a chronic disease and is treated by primary care providers. The Niles expansion project will begin in July 2022, cost nearly $3M, and is funded in part by a $649,000 HRSA grant. The expected completion date is March 2023.
In Cassopolis, we’re working on the renovation of the Cassopolis Family Clinic Annex, located at 201 M62, adjacent to the health center. The Annex was recently purchased from the County and will undergo extensive internal renovation and considerable landscaping improvements. The total project is expected to cost $1M and is funded in part by a $490,000 HRSA grant. The renovation will start late summer of 2022. The expected completion date is 3/31/2023. A Care Management program will operate from this site.
Our pharmacies in Cass and Niles are busier than ever, and now offer Medication Therapy Management (MTM) services to assist patients with their medication needs. Our goal is to work collaboratively with our patients and providers to enhance our patient’s quality of care. During an MTM appointment, our pharmacist will go over the medicines you are currently taking, and make sure your medicines are safe for you. They will answer any questions or concerns you may have about your medicines and discuss possible lower-cost alternatives. They can work with you on ways to keep track of your medicines. At the end of a visit, they will provide a summary of your consultation that includes the Personal Medication List, which is a list of all of the medications you’re taking, and a To-Do list, which includes things that you talked about with our pharmacist. We are happy to provide any additional information that you would like regarding MTM services. For more information contact Kevin Klipowicz, Pharmacy Director, at 269.665.8900
Training future dentists. In September 2022 our dental program will begin an exciting new chapter, collaborating with the University of Michigan School of Dentistry to train 4th-year dental interns. Under the supervision of Dr. Madison Mick, CFCN Dental Director, dental students from U of M will be caring for patients at Niles Community Health Center Dental, 122 Grant Street, alongside our dental support staff. After a year of community dentistry experience, these students will graduate and begin their dental careers. We are really excited to be part of their training and hope some of them wish to continue their professional careers at our health center.
CFCN plays an important role in Cass and southeast Berrien counties by providing easy access to high-quality, affordable healthcare. CFCN currently employs 130 people and provides care for nearly 14,000 people. While the health center provides care for everyone who walks through its doors, the Federally Qualified Health Center is a safety net provider–caring for the area’s most vulnerable population.
Please take a minute to read how Niles Community Center Dental is now a teaching site for the University of Michigan’s Dental School.
For more information regarding these projects, please contact Leslie Baker, Director of Human Resources/Marketing at (260) 262.4749.