Description
Federally funded primary health center.

Years in Operation

OPHS opened its’ doors in December, 2002.

Organizational History

In the fall of 2001, the Michigan Primary Care Association approached the Pontiac Health Initiative (PHI), a collaboration between the City of Pontiac, North Oakland Medical Center, Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital and St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital – Oakland, to collaborate on ways to improve the health status of residents in the Greater Pontiac area. The two agencies worked together to gather data and health statistics to support a request of funding from the U.S. Government.

The PHI approached Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLHSA) to serve as the fiduciary for the newly incorporated Oakland Primary Health Services.

In September 2002, OPHS was officially awarded a section 330 grant from the Bureau of Primary Health Care to deliver primary health care services to the medically underserved in and around Pontiac, MI. OPHS was emancipated from its fiduciary in March 2003.

Vision

OPHS will substantially improve disparate health conditions (Infant mortality, teen pregnancy, asthma, diabetes, oral health, mental health, low birth weight and high cancer rates) for the targeted population by: Collaborating and partnering with our community members to provide our services, which are supported by the community and staffed by high quality professionals and operating in a cost-effective and financially responsible manner.

Services/Hours

Mondays & Thursdays: 8am - 6pm. Tuesday, Wednesdays, Fridays: 8am -5pm.

Our services include: prenatal care, pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric medicine, and infectious disease services. OPHS clinicians perform pre-employment, school and sport physicals, pregnancy testing and HIV/AIDS testing, counseling and management.

Eligibility/Fees

OPHS services are available to all Oakland County residents, regardless of their financial or insurance status. Uninsured patients may apply for OPHS’ Family Assistance Plan (FAP), which affords many patients a discount on their office visit. (Lab work and procedures are already discounted.) To apply for the FAP, patients need to present proof of their household income and number of household members. Discounts will be afforded based on patients’ level of poverty, which is determined by federal guidelines. Many insurance plans are accepted, including Medicaid, Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, The Wellness Plan and Great Lakes Health Plan.

Board of Directors

OPHS is governed by an 11-member board of directors, the majority of whom are consumers of the health care services offered at OPHS. Professional directors come from several disciplines, including municipal government, the faith community, housing, social services, and primary school and university administration.

Where is the Center located? OPHS is at 46 N. Saginaw in Pontiac, MI. The center is in a three-story POH medical office building, near the intersection of Huron and Saginaw Streets.

How much will my visit cost? The cost of a visit varies greatly from person to person and depends primarily on the household income and the size of the household. The minimum office visit starts at $15 and can go up to $155. Lab fee’s are separate for the office visit fee.

How long is the wait for an appointment? New patients coming in for a routine visit (physical, annual exams, etc.) can expect an appointment within one-two weeks.. Established patients can usually be seen within a week.. Urgent visits can usually be accommodated on the same day.

How are prescriptions, lab work, radiology and other specialty services handled? OPHS has very strong relationships with several pharmaceutical companies, who supply us with samples of many frequently prescribed medicines for use with our uninsured patients. OPHS will work with uninsured and insured patients and whatever pharmacy plans their insurance dictates.

 What should I bring with me to my appointment? Patients should always bring photo identification and their insurance card, if they are covered. Uninsured patients should bring proof of income (last two pay stubs or most recent W-2s) in place of an insurance card. First time patients of any insurance status should bring all medications they are currently taking, including prescriptions, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, herbals and vitamins.

Can I just walk in for an appointment? We would prefer that patients make an appointment to be seen by the clinicians. This allows the clinic process to flow most efficiently. Patients who walk in without an appointment should expect to wait until the appointed patients with appointments have been seen.

Hablas Español? Si, se hablar Español..

For More Information

Phone: 248-322-6747