Kate Guzman, RN, MS, is the Associate Director of the Corner Health Center in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Originally a small clinic in the corner of a local high school, the Corner is now a freestanding school-linked health center, serving adolescents ages 12-25 and offers a full range of primary health care, mental health and supportive services. The Corner’s mission is to help young people make healthy choices now and in the future by providing high-quality primary health care, education and support for adolescents and their children without regard to income level.
The Corner is staffed by a dynamic multi-disciplinary team including physicians, nurses, social workers, nutritionists, health-educators, patient navigators and administrative staff. …show more content…
In 2014 the health center treated roughly 1,400 patients, providing a total of almost 17,000 services. Of the 17,000 services administered, reproductive health services, including birth control, HIV and STI, testing, and prenatal care, were the most provided. Mental health services were the third most popular services provided. Guzman notes that the provision of reproductive health services and mental health services is controversial in adolescent health. According to Guzman, minors are more likely to seek reproductive and mental health services when they know that the provision of services will be kept confidential from their parents. There are many people that believe youth should not be engaging in sexual activity and, therefore, that they should not be prescribed birth control nor should they be treated for sexually transmitted infections without consent from parents. Guzman explains that confidentiality and consent laws in the state of Michigan, allow for minors to receive reproductive care services and outpatient mental health sessions, without consent of the parents. Guzman and other Corner staff consistently encourage patients to openly discuss health concerns with their parents, even if those fully protected by …show more content…
Guzman asserts the importance of educating adolescents on the consequences of risky health behaviors as pertinent to their short-term and long-term health. However, no matter how well informed a community is, medical services are needed to treat both preventable and unpreventable illness and injury. The integrated and collaborative model this health center employs is advantageous as it removes barriers to care by providing comprehensive care in one venue. This eliminates the need for patients to find transportation for multiple visits to different locations to satisfy their health needs. The clinic model addresses a few social determinants of health by providing a food pantry with healthy foods, and providing patients with transportation assistance. Guzman mentioned that the Corner does serve youth whom are “couch-surfers” or stay with friends and relatives in an unstable living condition. To address the need some patients have for stable housing, which is also a social determinant of health, it would be wise that the Corner either hire a social worker that can assist with housing needs, or to partner with an organization that specializes in
The Corner is staffed by a dynamic multi-disciplinary team including physicians, nurses, social workers, nutritionists, health-educators, patient navigators and administrative staff. …show more content…
In 2014 the health center treated roughly 1,400 patients, providing a total of almost 17,000 services. Of the 17,000 services administered, reproductive health services, including birth control, HIV and STI, testing, and prenatal care, were the most provided. Mental health services were the third most popular services provided. Guzman notes that the provision of reproductive health services and mental health services is controversial in adolescent health. According to Guzman, minors are more likely to seek reproductive and mental health services when they know that the provision of services will be kept confidential from their parents. There are many people that believe youth should not be engaging in sexual activity and, therefore, that they should not be prescribed birth control nor should they be treated for sexually transmitted infections without consent from parents. Guzman explains that confidentiality and consent laws in the state of Michigan, allow for minors to receive reproductive care services and outpatient mental health sessions, without consent of the parents. Guzman and other Corner staff consistently encourage patients to openly discuss health concerns with their parents, even if those fully protected by …show more content…
Guzman asserts the importance of educating adolescents on the consequences of risky health behaviors as pertinent to their short-term and long-term health. However, no matter how well informed a community is, medical services are needed to treat both preventable and unpreventable illness and injury. The integrated and collaborative model this health center employs is advantageous as it removes barriers to care by providing comprehensive care in one venue. This eliminates the need for patients to find transportation for multiple visits to different locations to satisfy their health needs. The clinic model addresses a few social determinants of health by providing a food pantry with healthy foods, and providing patients with transportation assistance. Guzman mentioned that the Corner does serve youth whom are “couch-surfers” or stay with friends and relatives in an unstable living condition. To address the need some patients have for stable housing, which is also a social determinant of health, it would be wise that the Corner either hire a social worker that can assist with housing needs, or to partner with an organization that specializes in