SCHEDULE A COVID-19 VACCINE

COVID-19 Testing is No Longer Available
Packard Health’s drive-thru COVID-19 testing site is closed.

IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE COVID-19  |  TRANSPORTATION | ADDITIONAL VACCINE PROVIDERS | WHY THE VACCINE IS IMPORTANT | RESOURCES

IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE COVID-19

• Symptoms include: Fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and/or diarrhea
• Call the office: 734-971-1073
• Our staff will ask you questions and you will be given further instructions
• Remember, it might be a cold, flu or other disease

SCHEDULE A COVID-19 VACCINE

Please call (734) 971-1073 for vaccine availability and to schedule an appointment. Vaccine availability in the area can be found at vaccines.gov by searching by zip code.

ADDITIONAL VACCINE PROVIDERS

WHY THE VACCINE IS IMPORTANT

Packard Health is optimistic that the COVID-19 vaccine approvals represent the beginning of the end of the pandemic. Vaccines work with your immune system, preparing it to fight the virus if exposed. When considering the new vaccines, Packard Health providers were initially cautious. However, after a thorough review of the available data, Packard Health feels confident to recommend that our patients receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Below are some important points that we want to share with you about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Safety First

The approved Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines have been studied in the usual way in very large studies of over 30,000 people each. Although there are minor side effects, and, as with every medical agent, some patients are allergic, there have been no serious side effects found.

The vaccines have prevented over 90% of symptomatic infections in the studies. They are very effective and vaccination will help protect you and your loved ones from getting sick or hospitalized from COVID-19. Wearing masks and social distancing will continue to be required to help reduce spreading it to others that may have not been vaccinated. Ending the pandemic requires the use of all tools that we have available.

RESOURCES

• COVID-19 Essential Services in Washtenaw County – Childcare,  Evictions, Internet, Unemployment, Utilities, School Food, etc.
• COVID-19 Washtenaw County Resource Guide – Business Assistance, Childcare, Education, Employment/Unemployment, Food & Home Goods, Housing
• Michigan COVID-19 Resource Guide, University of Michigan – Unemployment & Worker Assistance, Food Assistance, Utilities & Housing, Childcare, much more. Spanish version
• COVID-19 Multi-Language Materials
• Washtenaw County Department of Health
• State of Michigan – COVID-19 Vaccine
• Michigan Department of Health & Human Services – COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ
• Centers for Disease Control & Prevention – COVID-19 

The post Schedule a COVID-19 Vaccine 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.

We invite you to take a look at our 2020 Annual Report. It is unique to the year and includes first-hand experiences and recollections as well as challenges Packard Health has and continues to overcome. Please enjoy and share.

To view fullscreen, click on the black button with the three dots. The “Fullscreen” option will be at the bottom of the icon list.

The post 2020 Annual Report appeared first on Packard Health.

PACKARD HEALTH PROVIDERS & STAFF

ANKOOR SONI, MD | ANA GARCIA-OSORIO | TRACEY WILLIAMS | HOLLY ROSS, MD
BRANDIE T. EKPIKEN, MHA | APRIL BIGELOW, PHD, ANP-BC, AGPCNP-BC
RAVI VADLAMUDI, MD, MPH | RON ROMERO, MD | RANA SMITH

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ANKOOR SONI, MD
PHYSICIAN, MEDICAL DIRECTOR

“I had significant hesitancy when news came out regarding the Covid vaccine. It is easy to say I was plagued with doubt: how did this get done so soon? What is an mRNA vaccine and how does it work? Are the drug companies just trying to make a profit and are politicians just trying to push this through?

Never before in my career have I faced a similar situation; uncertainty led to fear, and all of the information was being given by tweets and press releases.

But then the data came out, and then came the analysis and transparency. I realized that the two available vaccines were well studied and shown to be both safe and highly effective. I have witnessed the benefits of other vaccines, and how lack of access to them leads to devastating consequences around the world. And the data shows that these are some of the best vaccines ever created. We can’t wait for certainty when more people are dying per day than 9/11. We have to rely on the evidence, and the evidence brings me hope for the first time since the pandemic began.

I vaccinated because I am immunosuppressed and have significant health issues that put me at risk of severe disease from Covid. But I also vaccinated for my parents.  I vaccinated for my patients. I vaccinated for my coworkers. I vaccinated so my children can one day return to school safely. I vaccinated to get back to normal. I vaccinated for hope.”

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ANA GARCIA-OSORIO
CALL CENTER STAFF

“When I found out about the COVID-19 vaccine being available for us, I immediately knew I would take it. The pandemic has truly impacted many families, including my own. The vaccine is our only hope to help beat COVID-19. Unfortunately, in November my family and I became infected with COVID-19; I can truly say it was one of the scariest moments due to having health complications. When I announced to my family that I would be getting the vaccine, they were scared and not very supportive. There was very little information on the vaccine and inaccurate information in the media that was not so helpful. I have a big family that includes my son, 3, and my grandmother, 82, who are very high risk. They were my biggest concern and the reason why I got vaccinated. It is very important to get vaccinated to help our body’s immune system prepare for viruses like COVID-19.”

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TRACEY WILLIAMS
PRACTICE DIRECTOR, PACKARD WEST & YPSILANTI

“I chose to get vaccinated because of the herculean effect that COVID-19 has had on the African American community and the devastation that has impacted all of us. We are dying at a disproportionately higher rate and at even more of a lightning speed than any other race in the nation. As an African-American female, I all too well understand the adversities that the minority community has faced. Unfortunately, I also have pre-existing health conditions that put me in the percentage of a negative outcome – if I wasn’t vaccinated. But we as Americans, including all communities of color, need to separate science from society’s construct of race and lack of knowledge. Let us think of inclusiveness, the human race as a whole.   

It only takes 1 person to make a change, I want to be that person, I want to be a part of the change, for all Americans — Let’s stop the spread and get vaccinated against COVID.”

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HOLLY ROSS, MD
PHYSICIAN, CORPORATE COMPLIANCE OFFICER

“I did have a little hesitancy when we first learned that the vaccine was getting emergency use authorization.  My thought was that if it is getting fast-tracked, then what steps are they skipping?

I soon learned that the parts of the study which are usually completed before a vaccine is released, and are yet to be completed for the COVID vaccine at the time I write this, are the parts that prove whether the vaccine prevents asymptomatic transmission of the virus after getting it, not whether you can get sick yourself.  Also, while they did not skimp on establishing efficacy and safety for the general population, the studies on special populations such as pregnant or immunocompromised individuals, are not completed yet.  The information shared has been clear, that we still do not know about pregnancy, immunocompromised people, and asymptomatic transmission, so there are no recommendations yet for those.  For everyone who gets the vaccine, we are still advised to assume it is transmissible until further data comes in (so continue the masking and distancing).  

What is clear, though, is that there is approximately 95% efficacy to prevent infection (which is amazing for a vaccine – the flu shot only has about 40% many years), and even better for preventing severe or life-threatening disease.  Adverse reactions are ones I can live with, temporary discomfort in exchange for not dying and leaving my kids without a mom? Yes, please.  The only serious reaction, which is possible for other vaccines too, is anaphylaxis or severe allergy, and for that we have very effective treatments.  No vaccines in the past have ever shown new side effects to be discovered this long after the trials start.  We do not have any reliable treatment for those who get really sick from COVID.  I don’t mind still masking until we know if I can transmit it still, the peace of mind is priceless.  And now that thousands of healthcare providers have gotten the vaccine, the general population has that many more people to see and observe if it was safe, which I believe it is.

My experience with the second shot was similar to many people – it activated my immune system into having a great practice run (or immune system workout, as I think of it).  I was exhausted and achy for one day.  The next day I had a brief stomach ache that went away if I rested.  I told my friends I was never so happy to feel sick as snot.  It meant the vaccine was working!   I now live with one less fear for my family, and I face possible exposures during daily patient care without fear.  That allows me to focus on the patient and their needs without distraction.  So the benefits don’t just stop with me, and for that I am grateful.”

Or, if you are into numbers, this really spoke to me:

My colleague who is in her 30s and healthy wrote this:

“Based on my age and overall health, there is a 0.05% (1 in 2000) chance that I will die if I get COVID.  Die.  Dead.  Gone.  There’s probably a 10-20% chance I will get it in spite of my best efforts not to.  That means there is a 1 in 10,000 chance right now that I will die of COVID.  (Go here to calculate your personal risk: https://www.covid19survivalcalculator.com/)”

At the time she wrote it, “nearly 100,000 people have gotten the mRNA vaccines to prevent COVID.  None of them have died of the vaccine or of COVID.  A few have had a serious reaction.  In general, the risk of a serious reaction (including, but not limited to, death) is 1 in 1,000,000 from vaccines.  It will likely be the same for the COVID vaccines.  Even if it’s 1,000 times less safe, the vaccine is STILL safer than COVID for me.

So, to summarize:

My personal risk of DYING from COVID: 1 in 10,000

My predicted risk of a serious adverse event from COVID (stroke, lung disease, heart attack, prolonged life-altering fatigue): About 5 in 100 

My predicted risk of a serious adverse event from the COVID vaccine (anaphylaxis, Guillain-Barre syndrome) based on years of vaccine science: 1 in 1,000,000

Hell yeah, I’m taking the vaccine as soon as I can.  This isn’t even starting to look at how it can help my patients and people I love, who are much more likely to die from COVID.  This is purely selfish wanting to stay alive.”

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BRANDIE T. EKPIKEN, MHA
BOARD MEMBER

“Originally, I was 100% opposed to getting the vaccine. My mother told me that she had enrolled in the vaccine trial. When she told me, I was shocked! She even told me that my dad was so angry with her that he didn’t speak with her for 2 days. I respect my mother and she’s my role model. Once I knew she trusted the process, when I received the invite to get the vaccine I went ahead and signed up. I got my second dose last Thursday and experienced virtually no side effects. Best decision I ever made!”

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APRIL BIGELOW, PHD, ANP-BC, AGPCNP-BC
NURSE PRACTITIONER

“I got the COVID vaccine at my first available opportunity.  As a scientist, health care provider, and mother I was excited to take the step to protect my patients, my family, and my community. Getting the vaccine gave me the opportunity to be an example for my family, patients, and students, while providing a platform to talk about how vaccines work and what we can do to be safe and protect our community.  Although being in the midst of a pandemic can seem overwhelming and scary, the opportunity to be part of history and part of the solution is exciting.”

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RAVI VADLAMUDI, MD, MPH
PHYSICIAN, MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR THE RECUPERATIVE CARE PROGRAM AT THE DELONIS SHELTER

“For me, I just want to see the end of this pandemic. I think we’ve all had way too much of it and I don’t really see any other way out of this other than mass vaccination. I would like to see everybody get the vaccine as soon as they possibly can.”

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RON ROMERO, MD
PHYSICIAN

“When I first heard about the COVID-19 vaccines, I was concerned that it was happening so fast and that usual steps would be skipped in making it safe and effective. Since then I’ve had the opportunity to learn that what usually delays vaccines is not the safety testing but the funding. It usually takes several years for vaccine research to get the funding to run all of the various stages of testing. What made the COVID-19 vaccines possible so quickly is that due to the importance of developing these vaccines, the funding was available from the beginning. The result is that we could go straight to the safety and effectiveness testing rather than wait years for the monetary support. Sometimes it can be hard to feel like you are among the first to get something – like you are a guinea pig. However, that is not the case here. The many stages of testing, hundreds of thousands of people who volunteered for vaccine trials, and now millions of first responders, essential workers, and elderly individuals in the US alone who have had the vaccine, showed me that these vaccines are not only extraordinarily effective (among the most effective for any vaccine) but also extraordinarily safe. Furthermore, getting the vaccine will help me not only protect myself, but the effect is even far more grand–it will also help me protect my family, my patients, my co-workers, my neighbors, and my daughter’s teachers and classmates.

And by protecting them, I am also likely protecting the people they interact with. With a virus that goes from household to household the way COVID-19 does, even one more person getting vaccinated can make a huge difference. As I reviewed all of these factors and the incredible impact that getting vaccinated could have, I felt like it was my duty to my community, my country, and my fellow human beings to get vaccinated and help keep everyone safe. Having now received both doses of the vaccine, I feel relieved and excited to have this protection, to contribute to the safety of our community, and to help ensure an eventual return to normalcy for our community and society.”

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RANA SMITH
BOARD MEMBER

“I did have hesitancy – from family and friends talking about what has happened in the past and trusting the medical system.  There’s something going on in the world.  Who do you trust?  I thought long and hard; I did research.  My daughter works at the Washtenaw County Health Department and she had good information.  If I need to be a model, I will be a model for them.  I’m not being a martyr – people who look like you might trust what you’re saying.

After I got the first shop, people asked me about it.  I told them I had a splitting headache and my arm was sore.  So after I got my first shot, my daughter got hers.  We compared symptoms. My concern after getting it was that I’m telling people to get the shot, but in a lot of communities, it’s not yet accessible because of a lack of the vaccine, of transportation. 

I started sending out information from the Health Department about the vaccine and where people could go to get it.  We have testing sites all over, now we need the vaccines there – especially if it’s in your community. 

After my first shot, I started educating people.  I started with families – tons of questions.  When I got the second shot, that was rougher.  I had the headache and chills.  I was dizzy.  My body felt like a Mack truck hit me.  My daughter got her second shot and my mother got the shot.  That’s what people want to know.  Everyone has their own symptoms; some people feel nothing. 

My advice is that people speak to someone they trust who has gotten the vaccine.  It doesn’t prevent you from getting COVID-19.  It prevents you from getting sick from it.  I’m pushing people to go now.  It doesn’t matter if you’re Black, white, Latinx.  Everyone is concerned.”

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The post Spotlight: Packard Providers, Staff, and Leadership Share their Decision to get Vaccinated appeared first on Packard Health.

Packard Health, like the rest of the world, has been learning how to best operate during a global pandemic. There have been many curves to navigate and flatten and, contrary to the year itself, clarity hasn’t always been 20/20. But, if nothing else, Packard Health has built a strong team and is overcoming challenges daily.

As the only Federally Qualified Health Center in Washtenaw County, we care for some of the most vulnerable people in the area. Our service area covers two of the hardest hit COVID-19 zip codes in the County, 48197 and 48198. Our central location and loss of a beloved staff member to COVID-19 compelled us to work even harder in response to COVID-19.

At the end of March, Packard Health began offering its 12,000 patients the opportunity to schedule telehealth appointments to avoid unnecessary in-office contact. Since then, Packard Health providers have conducted almost 14,000 telehealth appointments.

Packard Health’s greatest response endeavor began in May with the opening of its COVID-19 testing site at Perry Early Learning Center in Ypsilanti in collaboration with Washtenaw County Department of Public Health and Ypsilanti Community Schools. Since the opening, there has been an ebb and flow of activity, numerous weather concerns for our staff, and two relocations. The first site change was to Second Baptist Church in Ypsilanti, thanks to the generosity of Reverend George W. Waddles, Jr. and his parish.

On November 9, Packard Health moved its COVID-19 testing site to its new drive-thru CarePort at 2650 Carpenter Road, Ann Arbor. The repurposed garage is open to patients and the public for COVID-19 testing as well as for flu vaccinations. Shortly following the move, the pandemic took another concerning turn, making our work and response even more critical.

In an effort to better share the realities of our frontline testing site, we kindly asked a member of our COVID-19 testing team, Emily Chapin, to share her experience:

Thank you to our many partners and community as we continue to combat COVID-19 locally. As we continue to increase our understanding of the virus and hone our response to its effects, our top priority will always be to keep our patients and team safe. Our staff appreciates the outpouring of support and understanding as we all navigate this together.

The post Working Toward 20/20 During a Global Pandemic appeared first on Packard Health.

Packard Health’s Director of Behavioral Health Corey Telin, LMSW, MHSA, shares his responses to questions about the current state of behavioral health during a global pandemic, specific advice for patients, and what he looks forward to in his new role.

Q. Can you explain how behavioral health is different from mental health?  

A. While mental health is a term that deals with primarily the psychological wellbeing of an individual, behavioral health is a much broader term. Behavioral health can include the daily habits that influence our overall wellbeing. Behavioral health also includes substance use disorders and other behaviors that affect us.

Q. How has behavioral health changed this year?

A. The pandemic has definitely impacted behavioral health for everyone this year. The stress of having to socially distance, being apart from family/friends that are often main sources of support can increase feelings of loneliness, as well as symptoms of depression and anxiety. We have also seen an increase in substance use during the pandemic. One thing that has changed dramatically in the delivery of care has been the quick shift to telehealth. Telehealth has been key in making sure that therapy and psychiatric services are available to everyone who needs it. 

Q. Can you identify and explain any new concerns that are present in behavioral health patients as COVID-19 lingers?

A. We have seen data that shows an increase in opioid overdoses which is very concerning. We were already in the middle of an opioid epidemic when COVID-19 hit, and the pandemic has only complicated the process for individuals seeking treatment, receiving treatment quickly, and getting into recovery. I also feel that overall the lingering itself is having an effect on people everywhere. People are getting worn down and as we gear up for winter, when there is already a tendency to isolate more, it may seem like it is never going to end.

Q. Do individuals delay seeking behavioral health services? If so, why?

A. Unfortunately, there is still a stigma attached to seeking behavioral health services. One thing we try to do is normalize thoughts and feelings around seeking care in the same way we normalize seeking care for other chronic conditions such as hypertension, asthma and diabetes. Patients shouldn’t feel ashamed or feel they need to lift themselves up by their bootstraps. Everyone needs help at some point in their lives and stigma should not be a barrier. Normalizing mental health and behavioral health in the healthcare field at large should be a long term goal of all providers.

Q. When should someone seek behavioral health services?

A. This can depend on the person, but traditionally if you are having symptoms that are interfering with your daily life. For example if you are having symptoms of depression that are not allowing you to enjoy things you normally do or are having poor sleep, poor energy, are having a hard time being motivated, it may mean it’s time to talk to you provider about what your options are.

Q. If someone is experiencing a behavioral health emergency and cannot see or speak with a provider promptly, what are they advised to do?

If it’s an emergency, please go to the emergency room or call 911. We have great resources in our area at both Michigan Medicine and St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor where they have clinical social work staff in both ER’s ready to assist in a mental health emergency. Washtenaw County also has phone crisis services available 24/7 at 734-544-3050. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

Q. What is the most frequently offered advice that you and the Packard Health Behavioral Health Team are sharing with patients right now?

A. Self-care. Do things that are enjoyable and make you happy. This can seem like a no brainer but it can be difficult to remember to do. If you can’t visit friends and family, set up a video call. Take time for yourself. Try new coping strategies such as mindfulness and try healthy activities such as walking or yoga. I think the last piece of advice is that no one has ever been through this before. It’s okay to be anxious or depressed. It’s also okay if you are not! Be easy on yourself, and reach out for help if needed. We are all in this together.

Q. Being very new to Packard Health, what do you hope to bring to patients and staff in your new role?

A. I’m very excited to be part of Packard Health. It’s great to be part of an organization that is so dedicated to their patients and see the link between physical and mental well-being. My hopes are to expand our behavioral health and substance use services and further integrate both into our patient’s primary care.

The post Q&A with Behavioral Health Director Corey Telin appeared first on Packard Health.

For your safety, please follow these steps when making a visit to a Packard Health office:

• Please contact the office if you or anyone in your household has had a fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, or diarrhea.
• We are limiting visits to the patient only. One guardian or caregiver is acceptable, if required. Other visitors are asked to wait in their car.
• Anyone who enters the office must cover their mouth and nose with a mask throughout their entire visit. Children under four do not need a mask.
• When you arrive, we will screen you for possible symptoms and take your temperature. Patients must answer these questions themselves. When language translation is needed, we will provide translation services.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping everyone as healthy as possible!

The post Office Visit Guidelines During the Pandemic appeared first on Packard Health.

PACKARD HEALTH PATIENTS

There are two options for patients.

1. In-Office Appointment – While we are focusing on using telehealth when appropriate to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, if you do have an in-office appointment, we can bundle your flu shot with this visit.  With the onset of cold and flu season (and the lingering global pandemic), ensuring your health is in tip-top shape is ideal and our priority. Patients under the age of 18 can get a flu shot in-office, too!
   
   Request an appointment via phone, patient portal, or online submission form here.
   
   
2. Drive-Thru Appointment – Packard Health’s COVID-19 testing site is offering flu shots for adults 18+. If you want to minimize your contact with others, this might be a good option for you. It is located at: 2650 Carpenter Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48108
   
   Register to schedule your drive-thru appointment: English here; Spanish here.

GENERAL PUBLIC

Drive-Thru Appointment
Non-Packard Health patients (for adults 18+) are welcome to a flu shot at Packard Health’s COVID-19 drive-thru testing site. It is located at: 2650 Carpenter Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48108

Register to schedule your drive-thru appointment: English here; Spanish here.

The post Flu Shots Available appeared first on Packard Health.

Packard Health’s COVID-19 testing site is on the move!

The newly created Packard Health CarePort is opening on Monday, November 9, 2020 at 2650 Carpenter Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48108. Hours will be Monday, 1:30pm – 6:30pm; Tuesday – Friday, 8am – 2pm (or until tests run out). To save time and to minimize lines, please register for testing using the linked buttons at the bottom of this post.

The creation of this new drive-thru option is to not only keep our staff safe and warm but to also minimize contact and provide added convenience to our patients.

An existing garage owned by Packard Health is being converted into a one-stop-shop for select drive-thru services. Like the current testing site, COVID-19 tests and flu vaccinations (for adults 18+) will be administered by appointment. As we get deeper into the cold and flu season, more services will become available.

Packard Health is grateful to Reverend George Waddles, Jr. and the Second Baptist Church for their hospitality and allowing us to share their space while we create a more permanent home for our offerings.

The post COVID-19 Testing Site is Moving to a Permanent Home appeared first on Packard Health.

Sending the biggest thank you to Ypsilanti Community Schools! Their generosity and flexibility for the past five months has allowed Packard Health to quickly respond to the need for COVID-19 testing locations, particularly in Washtenaw County. Our testing site staff has expressed over and over how accommodating the leadership of Ypsilanti Community Schools has been and how wonderful the partnership and experience was. With the school year quickly approaching, it’s come time to relocate.

While we are sad to go, Packard Health is very excited to be moving its COVID-19 testing site to Second Baptist Church! Our current location at the Perry Early Learning Center will be closed on Monday, August 24 for moving. We look forward to working with Reverend George Waddles, Jr. when our testing location reopens on Tuesday, August 25 at 301 S. Hamilton Street, Ypsilanti, MI 48197.

Appointments Will Now Be Required

Packard Health COVID-19 testing will require an appointment, beginning August 31st. This will help to reduce long lines and waiting time.

Scheduled testing will begin Tuesday, August 25 and will be required the following week on Monday, August 31. Registration to schedule an appointment is available online. Those who arrive to the COVID-19 testing site without an appointment will be referred to the new online registration form where an appointment will be scheduled. We also ask that individuals who walk, bike, or arrive by public transportation schedule an appointment if at all possible.

More about Packard Health and COVID-19 testing: 
https://packardhealth.org/covid-19-updates/

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