Announcements
MA ANNOUNCEMENT – SERVICES COORDINATOR OPENING
It is with great pleasure and pride that the BIRHC announces the appointment of our Services Coordinator, Nicole Shepardson to the role of Medical Assistant/Administrative Assistant. In Nicole’s short time at the BIRHC she has gone above and beyond to not only learn but improve the Health Center processes, and ultimately our patient experience.
A native of Detroit who migrated to Grand Rapids, Nicole was formerly with University of Michigan Health – West in Grandville for three years before moving to Beaver Island. Nicole also worked with Hope Network Neuro Rehabilitation Services for 14 years, with experience in patient-care planning and maintenance. Her administrative, interpersonal and organizational skills are exemplary, and we look forward to her elevating BIRHC efficiency and patient satisfaction even further in her new position.
Alas, now BIRHC must find a new Services Coordinator! If you or someone you know are interested in being part of a dedicated team committed to serving our community in a caring and vital way, send a letter of interest and a current resume, including three professional references, to:
Ann Partridge, Managing Director
Beaver Island Rural Health Center
PO Box 146
Beaver Island, MI 49782
Or via email to ann@biruralhealth.org
This full-time position with benefits on beautiful Beaver Island offers the right candidate an opportunity to enrich an essential service in our unique community. For the full position description and additional details, click on this link: Job Description & Details
The Beaver Island Rural Health Center will be accepting applications for the Services Coordinator position until 5:00pm Friday, May 12, 2023.
Board Of Directors Vacancy Announcement
The Beaver Island Rural Health Center invites applications and nominations to serve on its Board of Directors.
The nine-member board seeks to fill one at-large position. Board terms are three years and directors are not compensated. The BIRHC meets every third month. Directors are expected to attend most of the meetings in person.
The candidate should be a collaborator who will champion the cause of the Health Center and be willing to contribute their time and talents to Board activities, including fundraising. Year-round and seasonal residents are encouraged to apply.
Board members are not required to have a medical background but preferably can contribute expertise, guidance, and dedication in areas that strengthen the Health Center’s ability and capacity to pursue its mission.
An Illuminating Idea
On March 28th the Charlevoix County Community Foundation announced the Health Center was awarded a 3cf Environmental Grant for $8000. The funds are to be used to help defray the costs of converting all HC lighting from incandescent bulbs to LED (light emitting diode) bulbs.
LED bulbs have lots of advantages over incandescent bulbs and even the older energy efficient CFL (compact fluorescent lamp) bulbs. Considering lighting tends to account for 10-20% of a typical energy bill, the switch offers the center significant economies. First, LED bulbs use less energy, lowering the center’s carbon footprint. Second, LED bulbs last much longer. Third, LED lighting helps the environment because LED bulbs can be recycled. CFL bulbs, for example, contain mercury. This means that they need to be disposed of in a safer manner to ensure the waste site is not contaminated.
Ann Partridge, the Health Center’s Managing Director said, “The center’s board did the math and found switching from incandescent to LED light bulbs has multiple benefits, chief among which is lowering the center’s utility costs. The LED conversion is expected to shave $3000 off the center’s annual electric bill. Additionally Great Lakes Energy, which provides power to Beaver Island, is offering commercial organizations, such as the center, a rebate for undertaking the conversion.
The retrofit project is expected to take 3 to 4 weeks to complete. All interior and exterior lighting is to be changed over to LED lighting. Daylight sensing sensors that assess the level of ambient lighting in a room and automatically turn the lights on or off, are being installed in several interior spaces. The cost of the LED conversion project is $22,000.
Frank D’Andraia, President of the Board, indicated all nine directors saw the light early on and were fully behind a cost saving project that will benefit the environment as well as the bottom line..” To date several other island organizations have undertaken LED conversion, including the Beaver Island Community School and Holy Cross Catholic Church, to name two.
The Beaver Island Rural Health Center’s mission is to provide high-quality, cost-effective patient treatment and wellness services (medical and dental) and to serve as a primary care facility to the Beaver Island community.
The Charlevoix County Community Foundation is a charitable organization that’s dedicated to improving, enriching, and enhancing the quality of life for all citizens of Charlevoix County, now and for generations to come.
Health Center Gets New Wheels
The Charlevoix County Community Foundation has awarded the Beaver Island Rural Health Center a 2022 Geographic Enrichment Grant for $11,236. The Center was one of 4 island organizations to receive a 3cf Geographic Enrichment award in 2022. The announcements were made in December.
The 3cf grant, when combined with donor funds, enables the Center to secure a safe and reliable vehicle for use by HC personnel in the performance of their daily work routines. These work related activities include enabling medical personnel to make house calls when needed; to allow support staff to pick up or deliver health care professionals arriving or departing the Island by ferry or plane; to provide newly hired personnel a way commute to and from their temporary residence to work; and to allow staff to collect medication, supplies, mail, and to undertake other work-related activities that require transport.
The new vehicle replaces a 17 year old used island car that had ended its useful life span and was costly to maintain. Further, the new vehicle will have four wheel drive, reduced fuel consumption, increased reliability and state of the art safety features.
Center Managing Director Ann Partridge indicated the goal is to buy the vehicle locally and as soon as possible,
The Beaver Island Rural Health Center’s mission is to provide high-quality, cost-effective patient treatment and wellness services (medical and dental) and to serve as a primary care facility to the Beaver Island community.
The Charlevoix County Community Foundation is a charitable organization that’s dedicated to improving, enriching, and enhancing the quality of life for all citizens of Charlevoix County, now and for generations to come.
“Yes, Virginia, there are Tooth Fairies Too”
Like Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy is a cherished symbol of childhood. Although the loss of baby teeth has historically been a universally celebrated event for children; the precise origin of receiving money for lost teeth is hard to pinpoint, but not here on Beaver island. In 2022 the island’s new Elks Club and the Johnson Family of Beaver Island and Ann Arbor collaborated with the Rural Health Center to offer free dental care to island children enrolled in the community school. In 2023 island parents can again get excited about getting their kids to the dentist for both the Elks and the Johnson Family will again work with the Health Center to offer free dental care to island children enrolled in the community school.
Patients trying to get appointments for cleanings, x-rays, and exams should be 18 and under and accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Parents may begin calling the Dental North Office in January to schedule an appointment(s): (877) 321-7070.
Beaver Island’s Elks Lodge #2886 made the award to the Health Center in mid December. Shortly after the Elks announcement the Health Center reported a donor had again stepped forward to match the Elks grant. The combined awards totals $8000 or $2000 more than was received in 2022. “We are absolutely delighted and grateful,” said Ann Partridge, Managing Director of the Health Center when asked about the awards. Our dental project underscores how the Center strives to provide convenient and quality healthcare options for islanders of all ages.”
The Health Center’s Good Samaritan Fund will oversee the opportunity for all enrolled Community School students to have a free dental exam, x-ray and cleaning.
The Johnson Family has a tradition of involvement in the Center’s Good Samaritan Fund. Upon learning of the Elks award a member of the Johnson Family said, “Ensuring island youth have access to proper dental care can be truly life-changing. Good dental care and habits can improve the overall health and self-esteem of an individual. The Johnson Family believes this to be a meaningful project. The Family is happy for the Center and island youth and are pleased to support such a worthwhile project for another year.”
Lori Taylor-Blitz, Vice President of the Health Center Board of Directors and Esteemed Lecturing Knight and Community Impact Project Coordinator for Elks Lodge #2886 noted the Elks mission is to invest in their communities through programs that help children grow up healthy and drug-free, meet the needs of today’s veterans, and improve the quality of life. The Elks are always looking for appropriate ways to give back to the community. I know our membership is delighted to demonstrate our value to the community by partnering with the Health Center to offer a 2nd cycle of funding for a very valuable and consequential project.”
The free dental exam, x-rays and cleaning will be done on the island by the Dental Clinics North clinicians. DCN operates a clinic within the Island’s Rural Health Center complex. Ann Partridge indicated the project is expected to commence in February of 2023.
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks has made more than 12 Billion in donations since they first started 154 years ago. The Elks annually donate millions in cash, gifts, and time to make communities better places to live.
“Yes, Virginia, there are Tooth Fairies Too”
A Sign of the Times
On December 19th workers will begin installing a new electronic message center sign located to the left of the Beaver Island Rural Health Center’s Kings Highway entrance driveway. The new electronic or e-sign replaces an older sign with limited functionality. The project will be completed by Universal Signs of Grand Rapids, a company that has done several sign installations on the island.
The new electronic message center provides road users with up to date information in real time about visiting physicians, special medical and dental services, special events, such as blood drives and COVID and flu shot clinics, as well as, emergency information, such as food safety recalls, and more. Unlike the Center’s dated 20th Century signage, the new 21st Century e-sign will dispense information with messages that are easily changed in real time and without the need for staff to exit the building inorder to add, update, or delete a message. Messages may be timed to appear and disappear. In addition, the e-sign may be programmed to be turned on and off.
Ann Partridge, the Center’s Managing Director said the new electronic sign is being installed as part of the ongoing effort to improve and update the 22 year old Health Center complex. Other signs of changing times, the HC Board of Directors approved the repair, cleaning and restaining of the exterior building shingles, window replacements, and the retrofitting of existing interior and exterior lighting to be LED compatible. Under consideration are further modernizations, such as installation of geothermal heating. A recent up-grade that was just completed was the conversion of all public entrance doors to open and close automatically, meeting ADA standards. These changes are expected to produce efficiencies that, in some cases, should lower operating costs and the changes represent the latest advances in the use of technology to improve and enhance functional equipment.
Work to install the sign is being carried out in three stages. The first stage included securing the necessary authorization permits, which was done last March/April. The second phase included clearing brush, excavating and installing electrical lines, which was begun in June and completed in August. The third and final stage was expected to commence on December 19, when the electronic message center arrives by ferry. The sign arrived by ferry on schedule but inclement weather followed by the holidays has pushed back the installation until mid-January.
The sign is being paid for from special project funds and special donations, chief among which was a gift made by Ray and Anne Stanhope of Beaver Island, Michigan and Amelia Island, Florida.
Health Center Elects New Board Member
The Beaver Island Rural Health Center, the island’s primary medical facility, today announced that Bradford K. Grassmick, MD has been elected to a three year term on the nine member Board of Directors effective January 1, 2023. Dr. Grassmick is a retired physician residing full time on Beaver Island.
Brad Grassmick brings a wealth of relevant experience to his role as a BIRHC director with well over 40 years of medical expertise and not for profit board experience, including a substantial history of volunteer work in the island’s health care sector.
“We’re excited to be appointing Dr. Grassmick as a member of our leadership team,” said Lori Taylor Blitz, chair of the search committee that recommended Dr. Grassmick for election. She added “He has significant and meaningful experience in rural health care. Another plus is his background in healthcare growth organizations, both as a provider and volunteer. He is a good fit for what we are working to accomplish in this rapidly evolving world of value-based healthcare.”
“I’m excited for the opportunity to re-join the board at a time when emphasis has been placed on improving the center’s involvement in senior care and in the application of technology to improve services to rural and remote locations like Beaver Island,” said Grassmick. “I look forward to deploying my experience to help expand Center services for seniors, while improving the lives of patients in all our island communities.”
Grassmick has worked at a number of Michigan medical facilities, including Ascension Providence Hospital-Southfield in Southfield, MI, Midmichigan Medical Center in Alpena, MI and UP’s Marquette General Hospital.
Dr. Grassmick is the author of a number of professional papers. Recently he was honored for his work at the UP Health System – Marquette (Michigan), where in 2020 he was the recipient of the Patient Safety Excellence Award in recognition of providing excellence in patient safety by preventing infections, medical errors, and other preventable complications.
Brad Grassmick earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) from the University of Michigan, a Master of Science (MS) from Michigan State University and a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from the Wayne State University School of Medicine. His medical specialties are internal medicine and critical care.
Charlevoix County Community Foundation Awards Beaver Island Rural Health Center a 2022 Geographic Enrichment Grant
The Charlevoix County Community Foundation has awarded the Beaver Island Rural Health Center a 2022 Geographic Enrichment Grant for $11,236. The Center was one of 4 island organizations to receive a c3f Geographic Enrichment award in 2022.
The c3f grant, when combined with donor funds, enables the Center to secure a safe and reliable vehicle for use by HC personnel in the performance of their daily work routines. These work related activities include enabling medical personnel to make house calls when needed; to allow support staff to pick up or deliver health care professionals arriving or departing the Island by ferry or plane; to provide newly hired personnel a way commute to and from their temporary residence to work; and to allow staff to collect medication, supplies, mail, and to undertake other work-related activities that require transport.
The new vehicle replaces a 17 year old used island car that had ended its useful life span and was costly to maintain. Further, the new vehicle will have four wheel drive, reduced fuel consumption, increased reliability and state of the art safety features.
Center Managing Director Ann Partridge indicated the goal is to buy the vehicle locally and as soon as possible,
The Beaver Island Rural Health Center’s mission is to provide high-quality, cost-effective patient treatment and wellness services (medical and dental) and to serve as a primary care facility to the Beaver Island community.
The Charlevoix County Community Foundation is a charitable organization that’s dedicated to improving, enriching, and enhancing the quality of life for all citizens of Charlevoix County, now and for generations to come.
Health Center Welcomes New Physician Assistant
The Beaver Island Rural Health Center is pleased to announce that Kimberly Elizabeth Wysocki, M.S., PA-C has joined the Center’s medical team as a Physician Assistant. Her appointment was effective Friday, December 2, 2022.
“We are excited that Kim is on board,” said Health Center Managing Director Ann Partridge. Ann added, “Kim’s background and education are a perfect fit for our practice and our community.” Kim is a Board Certified Physician Assistant with eleven years of practice serving patients in a variety of urban and rural areas across Michigan. Her experience is broad as well as deep, having worked in emergency departments, in surgical orthopedics and sports medicine offices, as well as working for medical groups that emphasized urgent care.
Kimberly Wysocki is now accepting new patients who need family practice care including adults, teenagers and children.
Kim is a graduate of Wayne State University (Michigan) with a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies and a graduate of Oakland University (Michigan), where she earned a Bachelor of General Studies (Magna Cum Laude).
Ms. Wysocki is a native Michigander and has lived and worked in both the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan, including a medical practice that, like the BIRHC, focuses on rural and remote medical care. During the past two years Kim has provided services through the Mackinac Straits Health System in St. Ignace, Michigan, and has traveled throughout Michigan’s upper peninsula performing various in-home services on behalf of Quest Health Connect and their client Blue Cross of Michigan.
Céad Míle Fáilte
The Health Center’s is delighted to announce that Joan Matejovsky, FNP-C, a seasoned Nurse Practitioner who knows the island’s culture and Center’s service model has accepted an offer to rejoin the Health Center Medical Team as a Nurse Practitioner. Ms Matejovsky begins work in August, 2022.
Joan Matejovsky earned a Bachelors of Science Degree in Nursing from the University of Phoenix (AZ) and a Masters in Science in Nursing from Spring Arbor University (MI). She has been an RN since 1988 and became a Nurse Practitioner in 2018. Joan has worked in orthopedics and neurology and has 15 years of experience in emergency rooms and urgent care. She is certified in Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACL), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Basic Life Support.(BLS). Her NP degree certification is from the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). Ms Matejovsky has extensive work history in a variety of medical facilities, including the Coldwater (MI) Community Hospital and Cameron (IN) Memorial Hospital and was previously employed by the Health Center in 2019/20.
Joan Matejovsky will be working with Scott Spencer, the Center’s other full time Nurse Practitioner.
Please join the Health Center’s search committee in expressing “one hundred thousand welcomes” to Joan Matejovsky.