Packard Health West Willow's Mission for Community-Focused Health Care
In an era where access to quality health care is not guaranteed for everyone, one clinic is making a difference by providing essential medical care to those who need it most. Nestled between I-94 and US-12, just east of the University of Michigan School of Nursing (UMSN), lies West Willow—a small community of over 3,000 people.
The Glaring Need for Accessible Health Care
The West Willow neighborhood faces a stark reality with an average life expectancy of just 73.8 years—seven years below Washtenaw County's average and three years less than the national average, as reported by the 2018 U.S. Census. UMSN's Patty Tillman-Meakins, Ph.D., ANP-BC, clinical assistant professor, is familiar with this challenge. "Growing up, I had friends and family who lived in West Willow. It was common knowledge to us, but not beyond the community," she shared.
Several factors contribute to this statistic, including a lack of essential resources like grocery stores, schools and gas stations. "Over time, West Willow became more and more isolated without any outside help," Dr. Tillman-Meakins explained.
"What the community does have is a strong sense of community—there's a lot of desire and passion to help one another."
Through years of close work with the community, Dr. Tillman-Meakins and local leaders aimed to find avenues for positive change.
The Birth of Packard Health West Willow
In 2023, these efforts led to the opening of Packard Health West Willow, an accessible health clinic created in partnership with Packard Health. Under the direction of Beth Ammerman, DNP, FNP-BC, CNP, a clinical assistant professor at UMSN, the clinic provides comprehensive care with Dr. Ammerman serving as the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) in the mornings and Alexandra Agapiou, FNP, clinical assistant professor at UMSN, taking over in the afternoons.
The clinic operates in person on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offers telehealth services for those unable to visit in person. Services are billed to insurance for those who have it, while a sliding scale fee system is in place for those without insurance or a means to pay, ensuring that no one is turned away. Since January 2023, the clinic has treated nearly 150 new patients, ranging in age from just nine days to 78 years.
Patients can access a wide range of services, including physical exams, well-baby and child visits, Pap smears, pelvic health and wellness visits, to name a few.
But something that the clinic prides itself on is its commitment to providing unbiased care to everyone. Recently, Dr. Ammerman treated a newborn whose mother spoke only French, and the clinic's in-house translation tools ensured effective communication despite the language barrier. This dedication to overcoming language challenges ensures that every patient receives the care they need.
More Than a Clinic
What truly sets West Willow apart is its commitment to holistic care and training future health care providers. Each semester, Dr. Ammerman is accompanied by UMSN nurse practitioner students who assist in patient examinations. "It’s a great learning experience for the students and an even better service for our patients who get another set of eyes and hands," Dr. Ammerman said.
Students engage in a variety of activities, including creating programs to improve physical, mental, and emotional health and providing resources like chair exercises and mindfulness training to help patients.
In the future, Dr. Ammerman plans to expand these services even more to bring in undergraduate nursing students from UMSN and to institute programs like home visits.
