EMU Today

YPSILANTI – The Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents Friday (June 22) approved a revised, expanded plan for a new collaborative community health center, to be built on the northwest end of campus.

The center, a collaboration with Saint Joseph Mercy Health System (SJMHS) and IHA, will provide primary care and urgent care services to the University’s students, staff and the greater community.

The revised plan calls for the University to build the 28,500 square foot facility, at a total estimated cost of $14 million. The University will lease space to IHA/SJMHS and contract with IHA to operate the urgent care and clinical operations, which are expected to utilize 14,000 square feet, about half of the complex.

The initial plan, announced in February, detailed a 25,700 square foot facility with IHA occupying 11,200 sq. ft.

The health center will be built on open land off Huron River Drive and Oakwood Street, near the present headquarters of the EMU Department of Public Safety. The center will offer:

• Comprehensive primary care services
• 7-day-a-week urgent care services, including x-ray
• laboratory and pharmacy services

"We are excited for this new partnership with St. Joe’s and IHA," said Candice Crutcher, Eastern Michigan University's Student Body President. "The new health center will provide Eastern students with more options for quality health care, as well as offering Eastern health science students practical hands-on experience in the medical profession. The revisions to the project approved by the Regents will help turn these concepts into reality." 

The University will continue to provide counseling and psychological services (CAPS) now offered in Snow Health Center, as well as operate the Psychology Clinic (currently housed at 611 West Cross Street) in the new building.

The new facility reflects an expansion of the strong collaboration between SJMHS, IHA, and Eastern, which includes the Physician Assistant Program at Eastern, launched in spring 2014.

The collaboration also includes a simulation center and anatomy lab, residency training at the student health center, exercise science, inter-professional patient care and education, and large-scale emergency preparedness exercises.

The existing Snow Health Center area on Eastern’s campus will be evaluated for other potential uses.

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest university in Michigan. It currently serves 20,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology, and its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit www.emich.edu.