We love seeing our community out and active this summer — and we want to make sure you stay safe while doing it!

Lyme disease cases in Washtenaw County jumped 65% from 2024 to 2025 — that’s a significant increase, and it’s a good reminder for all of us to take a few extra precautions when we’re spending time outdoors. The good news? A little awareness goes a long way. Here are some simple steps to help protect you and your family:

• Dress for it. When you’re hiking, gardening, or just spending time in grassy or wooded areas, wear long sleeves and long pants. Tucking your pants into your socks isn’t the most fashionable look, but it works! 
  
• Use bug spray. Choose an EPA-registered repellent with DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 and apply it to exposed skin and clothing before heading out.
  
• Do a tick check. Make it a habit to check yourself, your kids, and even your pets after any time outside. Pay close attention to spots ticks love to hide — behind the knees, in the hair, under the arms, and around the waist.
  
• Remove ticks quickly. If you find one, don’t panic. Use fine-tipped tweezers to remove it as soon as possible. The quicker it comes off, the lower your risk.
  
• Hop in the shower. A shower within a couple of hours of coming inside can help rinse off any ticks that haven’t attached yet.
  
• Tidy up your yard. Keeping your grass mowed and clea

If you do get a tick bite, keep an eye out for a bull’s-eye rash, fever, fatigue, headache, or muscle aches in the days and weeks that follow. These are common early signs of Lyme disease, and they can show up anywhere from 3 to 30 days after a bite. The great news is that when it’s caught early, Lyme disease responds very well to treatment.

Learn more about tick prevention, Lyme disease symptoms, and treatment at the Washtenaw County Health Department.

If you’re concerned about a bite, schedule an appointment with your provider and get checked out!

The post Protect Yourself from Lyme Disease This Season appeared first on Packard Health.

Produce season has arrived, and Packard Health is expanding its food pantry services with the return of our Fresh-a-Sprout Market! Opening this Tuesday morning, June 2, at Packard Health West, the market offers free, fresh produce to anyone in the community.

The Fresh-a-Sprout Market is a seasonal supplement to Packard Health’s existing food pantry, providing an additional resource for fresh fruits and vegetables during the growing season. The market runs weekly on Tuesday mornings and alternates locations between Packard Health West and Packard Health Main, making it accessible to a wide range of community members.

Learn more and see the full schedule of dates and locations!

The post Free, fresh Produce Now Available Through Fresh-a-Sprout Market! appeared first on Packard Health.

We’re excited to share that packardhealth.org has a brand new look — and we think you’re going to love it.

Our redesigned website was built with you in mind. Whether you’re a longtime patient or visiting for the first time, you’ll find it easier than ever to get where you need to go. The site is better organized and more intuitive to navigate, so you can spend less time searching and more time getting the care and support you need.

We’re also proud to announce the site is now fully available in Spanish! Simply select your preferred language at the bottom of any page — español is just a click away.

Here’s some of what’s easier to find:

• MyChart Patient Portal — access your health records, message your care team, and manage appointments, linked at the top of every page
• Our Services — explore the full range of care we provide
• Telehealth — find telehealth options and your provider’s video waiting room from the homepage or Services menu
• Food Pantry — check for current hours, locations, and what to expect when you visit
• About Packard Health — learn who we are, discover our health initiatives, and see how we serve our community
• Ways to Give – explore the many ways you can support Packard Health
• News — stay up to date with the latest announcements and stories

…and more. Take a look around and let us know what you think!

The post A Fresh New Look for Packard Health appeared first on Packard Health.

We are deeply saddened by the loss of Dick Sarns, a dear friend and longtime supporter of Packard Health. Alongside his beloved wife Norma, Dick served as an Honorary Chair and key donor to our Campaign for Expansion, and their dedication to accessible, compassionate care has left a mark on this community that will endure for generations.

A visionary engineer and entrepreneur, Dick dedicated his life to making the world a healthier, better place — giving generously of his time, resources, and heart to the causes and community he loved.

As Dick liked to say: “To be continued.” His legacy at Packard Health will be. Our deepest condolences to Norma, their family, and all who loved him.

https://obits.mlive.com/…/name/richard-sarns-obituary…

The post Dick Sarns: Dear friend and longtime supporter of Packard Health appeared first on Packard Health.

As healthcare access in our community is changing rapidly, the need for what we do has never been greater. From launching the OPEN Warmline for same-day addiction treatment, to serving 5,000+ neighbors through our food pantries, to expanding mental health care for young Black men — Packard Health is meeting this moment head on.

The post The challenges are real, and so is our commitment. appeared first on Packard Health.

UPDATED 4/21/23: Make sure that you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines! Here are the latest guidelines from the CDC:

• Adults and children are 6 years and older are up to date with COVID-19 vaccines if they got a bivalent (updated) COVID-19 vaccine.
• Children 6 months through 5 years of age who received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are up to date if:
  • They are 6 months to 4 years of age and got at least 3 COVID-19 vaccine doses, including at least one bivalent (updated) COVID-19 vaccine dose.
  • They are 5 years of age and got at least 1 bivalent (updated) COVID-19 vaccine dose.
• Children 6 months through 5 years of age who got the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are up to date if they got at least two Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses, including at least one bivalent (updated) COVID-19 vaccine dose.
• You may be eligible for additional COVID-19 vaccine doses if:
  • You are 65 years of age and older and got your first bivalent (updated) COVID-19 vaccine booster 4 or more months ago.
  • You are moderately or severely immunocompromised and received a bivalent (updated) COVID-19 booster 2 or more months ago.
• If you are unable or choose not to get a recommended bivalent mRNA vaccine, you will be up to date if you got the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine doses approved for your age group.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your provider.

10/21/22: The bivalent COVID-19 booster for ages 5-11 is now available at Packard! We are happy to announce that we are able to administer this new booster starting Monday, 10/24. Schedule your child’s appointment now!

10/13/22: We are excited to share that the FDA and CDC recently authorized the bivalent COVID-19 booster for ages 5-11! The Moderna bivalent is for 6 years and older, and the Pfizer bivalent is for 5 years and older.

This is the same bivalent booster that was already approved for ages 12 and up and targets both delta and omicron variants. This updated vaccine will be an important tool for our kids and our entire community to stay healthy through the fall and winter!

As soon as we receive shipment of the vaccines and final guidance for administration we will begin offering bivalent COVID-19 boosters to patients ages 5-11! Check this page for updates and instructions to schedule your child’s booster.

9/20/22: We now have both the Moderna and Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 boosters available! The Pfizer bivalent booster is approved for 12+, and Moderna for 18+. Not sure if you need a booster? Check out the recommendation from the CDC or speak with your provider. Vaccine appointments are available at our Main clinic location on Carpenter Rd. on Tuesdays, and at our West clinic location on Pauline Blvd. on Fridays. Schedule your appointment now!

9/2/22: The FDA recently authorized a new bivalent COVID-19 booster including combined (delta/omicron–bivalent) Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. This is great news and will be an important tool for our community to stay healthy this coming fall and winter.

At this time however, the individual Moderna and Pfizer vaccines we had are no longer authorized as boosters. Therefore, until we receive the new vaccine, we won’t be allowing patients to self-schedule.  In addition, if you had a scheduled COVID-19 vaccination time, we will be calling to cancel and reschedule you.  We are sorry for this inconvenience. You may call to schedule your primary series and/or vaccinations for children under 12 years of age. Call (734) 971-1073.

6/27/22: COVID-19 vaccines for ages 6 months – 4 years are now available! At this time we are happy to offer the Pfizer vaccine to this age group. You can schedule a vaccine through our online portal, or you can call our call center at (734) 971-1073 to make an appointment. We will be scheduling clinics for this age group in the future – check our website and social media for those dates! If you are interested in the Moderna vaccine instead, please contact the Washtenaw County Health Department.

5/20/22: Boosters for ages 5-11 available soon! We are happy to hear that the ACIP and CDC have now approved Pfizer boosters for 5–11-year-olds. We are awaiting final guidance from the MDHHS and expect to be able to provide them starting sometime next week. Please check this page for updates!

3/2/22: All of our locations have openings to receive 1st, 2nd, 3rd or booster vaccines. Click the text above and select the location you wish to visit. The GREEN DOTS on the calendar represent OPEN APPOINTMENTS.

1/19/22: COVID-19 Testing is no longer available at Packard Health. See COVID-19 updates

1/19/22: COVID-19 Free Home Tests are now available. Please use this link and order yours today: https://special.usps.com/testkits

1/6/22: To schedule a COVID-19 Vaccine See COVID-19 updates

Please note the following changes to recommendations and approval for COVID-19 vaccine boosters. 

• Pfizer boosters for ages 12-17 have now been approved for use 5 months after the primary series. J&J vaccine (2 months) and the Moderna vaccine (6 months), has not changed.
  
• Second dose for immunocompromised kids – moderately or severely immunocompromised 5–11-year-olds receive an additional primary dose of vaccine 28 days after their second shot. At this time, only the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is authorized and recommended for children aged 5-11.
  
• Criteria for immunocompromised (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/immuno.html)

12/10/21: The Pfizer COVID-19 booster has been approved for 16 and 17 yr olds who have at least 6 months since the second shot of Pfizer. Moderna and J&J are still approved for over 18 only, so Pfizer booster only for 16 & 17 year olds. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1208-16-17-booster.html

11/11/21: Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for children ages 5 to 11. Packard has limited appointment availability for vaccines and are focusing on vaccinating our Packard patients at this time. There are many options in the community for 5-11 year olds to get vaccinated that can be found here (https://www.vaccines.gov/) or here (https://www.washtenaw.org/3269/COVID-19-Vaccination).

The post Updates on COVID-19 Vaccines appeared first on Packard Health.

Packard Health has been a touchstone in Washtenaw County since 1973, offering health care services on a sliding scale to anyone who needs them. But the organization had long outgrown its original space at 3174 Packard Rd. in Ann Arbor.

“The space crunch became really acute in the two years before COVID hit,” says Dr. Ray Rion, Packard Health’s executive director. “We had people literally working in closets. The conference room became the workspace for five or six staff. The building was constructed in the ’70s. Things have changed a lot since then.”

Now, thanks to an $8 million capital campaign launched in 2018, the health center has moved its main office to 2650 Carpenter Rd. in Pittsfield Township. Formerly the site of a AAA branch, Packard Health purchased the building in 2019, just before the pandemic hit. Construction to transform the space from an open layout into one that includes exam rooms and private offices began in early 2021, and the new location opened its doors to patients in August….

Read entire Concentrate story here.

The post Packard Health to Expand Services in Long-Needed New Location appeared first on Packard Health.

If you have questions, call us at 734-971-1073.

We look forward to seeing patients at this newly renovated location!

The post Packard Main has moved to 2650 Carpenter Road appeared first on Packard Health.

The post New Office Progress appeared first on Packard Health.

Packard Health Expands to Promote Health Care Access

$8M Capital Campaign Nearing Completion; Linh and Dug Song Issue $250K Challenge Match

Ann Arbor, MI – For almost 50 years, Packard Health has provided services to the underserved and underinsured in Washtenaw County, where approximately 52,000 people live below the poverty line and many are still without health insurance. Between 2015 and 2019, Packard’s patient volume doubled. In response, the organization began planning a major expansion to significantly increase health care access in the County.

Packard’s expansion plan calls for the relocation of its original health care facility at 3174 Packard Road to 2650 Carpenter Road, one mile away, this summer. The new location is modern and light-filled, and with more than twicethe square footage as the original, it will allow for state-of-the-art care. The plan also includes adding a fourth health care facility at 5200 Venture Drive, off South State Street. The building and ten acres of surrounding property were donated to Packard Health in late 2019 by Dick and Norma Sarns, NuStep founders.

“There really isn’t anything more important than our health,” said Dick Sarns. He and his wife Norma have been supporters of Packard Health for more than a quarter of a century. Health, wellness, and caring for vulnerable individuals have been central to their life work. “We have invested in Packard Health because we believe in its mission. We support its vision. Norma added, “At Packard Health, all patients are treated with dignity and respect.”

Packard Health views health care as a human right. Its team of primary care, behavioral health, addiction treatment, and supportive services professionals is committed to providing high-quality care. Each year, Packard serves over 12,000 patients through an integrated care model at each of its three neighborhood-based locations and at satellite locations throughout Washtenaw County.

To fund its expansion, Packard Health launched the quiet phase of an $8,000,000 fundraising campaign, the Campaign for Expansion, in early 2020. Despite the pandemic, Packard has raised all but $1,000,000 of its goal, thanks to the generosity of private individuals, corporations, and foundations. The support of an anonymous challenge match donor, offered in early 2020, gave a significant $3,000,000 boost toward the overall campaign goal. 

When Linh and Dug Song, local philanthropists, heard about Packard’s plans, they made a $250,000 Challenge Match to help complete the campaign. “We deeply appreciate Packard’s longstanding commitment to making quality, affordable health care accessible to all people in our community. The global pandemic has exposed systemic injustices and magnified inequities experienced by so many. Good health is a critical building block for improving quality of life and addressing social injustice. We are pleased to be able to help Packard Health overcome disparities in health care today, while building a more equitable future for people in our community,” said the Songs.

All gifts and pledges made to the campaign starting May 15, 2021 are being matched dollar-for-dollar, up to a total of $250,000, through the Song Family Fund held at the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation. 

Packard Health was founded in 1973 by Jerry Walden, MD, with the goal of making quality health care accessible for everyone. Today, Packard’s work extends beyond its three current health locations, two in Ann Arbor and one in Ypsilanti. To ensure patients receive the best continued care regardless of socioeconomic status, Packard works in partnership with the Delonis Center (Shelter Association of Washtenaw County), Avalon Housing at Miller Manor, Dawn Farm, Home of New Vision, Food Gatherers, Corner Health Center, Washtenaw County Community Mental Health, St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor Hospital, Michigan Medicine, and many others. “If we look at providing more services to the community, I really think that these partnerships are how you weave a stronger safety net,” said Raymond Rion, MD, Executive Director of Packard Health since 2008.

Sharon Moore, longtime Packard patient and member of the Board of Directors, says, “Packard has always sought to show patients how valuable they are and that their care is important.”

# # #

For more information about Packard’s expansion plan and campaign to fund it:
Media Toolkit
Campaign for Expansion Webpage

Packard Health is a Federally Qualified Health Center, promoting access to health and wellness for individuals and families in Washtenaw County. We provide high-quality, affordable primary care and behavioral health care, complemented by a broad range of fully integrated supportive services. We care for patients at every stage of life and believe that everyone deserves access to health care. Packard Health has been serving the medical needs of our community’s residents for 48 years. To learn more, visit packardhealth.org.

The post Press Release appeared first on Packard Health.