News

Henry Ford Health System and Allegiance Health have completed regulatory approvals and finalized a definitive agreement that officially brings the Jackson-based health system into Henry Ford. The announcement was made April 5, 2016 when the two organizations introduced the 475-bed health system’s new name – Henry Ford Allegiance Health.  “We are so pleased to welcome Allegiance Health into the Henry Ford family,” said Nancy Schlichting, CEO of Henry Ford Health System. “Our health systems share the same values and commitment to the diverse communities we serve. We look forward to combining nearly 200 years of care and service to benefit the residents of Jackson and the surrounding communities.” Allegiance President Georgia Fojtasek said, “We are proud to be known by our new name – Henry Ford Allegiance Health – because it represents a bright future for our health system and our community. We are eager to work alongside our new partner to expand and enhance the health care services across our region, including offering new insurance products to the region through Henry Ford’s health insurance subsidiary Health Alliance Plan.” According to Bob Riney, Henry Ford Health System Chief Operating Officer, the partnership will invest $300 million in the Jackson community…

The City of Jackson Water Department will start the Spring Fire Hydrant Flushing Program on Monday, April 18th, 2016.  Flushing will start in the Southwest Section of the City and will finish in the Northeast Section approximately (3) weeks later. Flushing will take place from 7:30am to 3:00pm, Monday through Friday. This semi-annual flushing is necessary to wash iron and other sediment out of the water mains. This sediment does not affect water quality, but can cause water to become discolored. The water is safe to drink and discoloration often disappears within a short time. Motorists are urged to slow down where flushing is taking place and to exercise caution. Residents are also advised not to wash clothing while lines are being flushed in or around their neighborhoods. In addition, it is always advisable to check the color of the water before doing any laundry. To download the map, which indicates the areas and dates scheduled for flushing in your area, click here. If you would like further information, please call the Department of Public Works-Water at (517) 788-4170 or visit the city's website at www.CityofJackson.org

Allegiance Health and Henry Ford Health System have scheduled a joint press conference for Tuesday, April 5th on the campus of Allegiance Health.  Leaders and board members from both health systems will meet with the media in the Anderson Building auditorium, to be followed by an unveiling (presumably a new name and signage) in front of the main hospital building.  Allegiance joined the Henry Ford Health System on April 1, becoming the 6th hospital in what becomes a $5.2 billion (by revenue) health care system. Complete financial details of the merger have not been announced, but officials have confirmed no actual cash is being exchanged.   In various conversations with news media, officials have said Henry Ford will be making a significant investment into capital projects and clinical service improvements in the Jackson health system. Among the reasons cited for the merger, Henry Ford will be able to grow outside of Southeast Michigan and bring new health services to the Jackson community.  For Allegiance, by partnering with a larger health system, the investment in facilities, equipment and technology will provide growth opportunities. Henry Ford has its own insurance company, Health Alliance Plan (HAP).  Allegiance President and CEO Georgia Fojtasek told…

Announces New Focus on Financial Stability at Annual Meeting A deeper focus on issues surrounding poverty in Jackson County will lead to more households reaching financial stability. That was the message to more than 100 attendees at United Way of Jackson County’s annual meeting, held tonight at Ella Sharp Museum. “Eighteen percent of Jackson County residents live in poverty. Twenty-three percent more are barely able to stay out of poverty. That means nearly 25,000 households in our community are financially insecure,” said Ken Toll, president and CEO of United Way of Jackson County (UWJC). “Working together, we can create a community that offers every opportunity for every person to achieve financial stability,” Toll said. To that end, UWJC will look at its work and partnerships through the lens of financial stability, according to Toll. “We’ll ask ourselves, ‘Are the programs we’re supporting helping people become more financially stable? How do our partners measure that impact? How do we report our progress to the community?’” he explained. “Most of our work and partnerships already do this. We’re simply looking for ways we can go deeper with community partners to create greater, more sustainable outcomes.” The annual meeting included presentations from Cradle2Career,…

Emmons Service Inc., a local waste hauler serving Jackson County since 1918, has made a donation of $10,000 to the Cascades Renovation Project. These monies will go towards Phase II of the six phases of the project. Phase II will be the first stage of the renovation of the electrical, mechanical and plumbing components of the heart of The Cascades. This work will entail a new electrical and pumping building and new piping to fill and operate The Cascades. Included in this portion of the project will be the design and installation of two splash pads which will be located at the base of The Cascades for the public to enjoy. Jackson County Commission Chairman Steve Shotwell made the announcement on Thursday's Bart Hawley Show.  Several area firms have made major donations toward the project and Shotwell encouraged other companies to consider supporting the renovation. In a press release Friday, Jackson County Parks Director Jeff Hovarter thanked Emmons Service for their donation towards the renovation and continued preservation of The Cascades. The county has several major parks projects underway in addition to The Cascades restoration;  including Falling Waters Trail extensions to Sharp Park and Cascades Falls Park, upgrades at Swains Lake…