Rep. Kaptur Congratulates Firelands Medical Center for $1,536,012 HHS Award

Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) congratulated Firelands Regional Medical Center today after receiving news that its Counseling and Recovery Services department has been awarded $1,536,012 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The department provides primary care services to patients with severe and persistent mental illnesses.

"Firelands Regional Medical Center has a long history of providing state-of-the-art medical care to communities in Northern Ohio," said Rep. Kaptur. "This award builds on that tradition by expanding access to healthcare for those suffering from mental illness. This will have immeasurable benefits to many patients and the community at large. I congratulate the exceptional staff and leaders at Firelands for this well-deserved award and recognition from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services."

"By integrating mental health and primary medical care services in the same location, we can better meet the needs of our patients," explained Julie Herrig, LPCC director of the program. "It definitely improves the continuity of care."

Marsha Mruk, vice president of Firelands Counseling & Recovery Serviceswho is responsible for services in seven counties says "We are so grateful that our legislators and government fund care programs to provide integrated care to this population. This program gives these patients access to a primary care provider as part of a care team that addresses their primary care needs and closely coordinates services with their mental health practitioners. The program will address medical issues like high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes, conditions that often go untreated. Each patient has a team of healthcare professionals that provide support in a variety of ways, from management of routine tasks of daily living to making nutritious food choices, cooking, exercise and budgeting."

The Firelands Counseling and Recovery Plus program was integrated into three sites in Erie, Sandusky and Huron counties, and has been serving more than 700 patients. The new grant award was made following the three-year success of the initial Plus program and seeks to serve more than 1,500 individuals annually, representing more than 50 percent of severely mentally ill individuals in the Firelands system.

According to Firelands, the program's results to date include a variety of health improvements including lowered blood sugars, reduced cholesterol, weight loss, smoking cessation, and a more active, healthy lifestyle. They have also seen a 29 percent decrease in the use of emergency facilities during the first year.

In 2009, Firelands Regional Medical Center was listed as one of the 100 Best Places to Work in Healthcare. It has received numerous awards for the quality of its care in Northern Ohio.

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