Henry Ford Health has inaugurated the first trauma recovery centre (TRC) in Michigan, US, offering comprehensive support services free of charge.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony of the facility was attended by Henry Ford team members, trauma survivors, community partners, and elected officials.
The TRC, positioned as a one-stop shop, connects survivors with a range of services, including mental health care, legal assistance, and educational resources at no cost post-hospitalisation.
This initiative is particularly pertinent for the Detroit area, where the need for enhanced support for trauma survivors has been pressing, the health system noted.
The groundwork for the TRC was laid by a dedicated team at Henry Ford Health in 2021.
Following the passage of House Bill 4437 last year, which allocated $4m in federal funds, Michigan has seen the establishment of two TRC programmes.
This financial boost has enabled Henry Ford to employ a multidisciplinary team comprising psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers to staff the TRC, extending their services to survivors throughout Michigan.
The TRC is also engaging with trauma survivors to become peer mentors, further enriching the support network.
The health system added that the TRC model is cost-effective and reduces expenses by 34% compared with traditional fee-for-service models.
Crime victims are said to have reported a significant reduction of over 40% in PTSD and depression symptoms after receiving TRC services.
Henry Ford Hospital and the Henry Ford Medical Group CEO and Henry Ford Health executive vice-president said: “In order to achieve health equity, in order to lift up all those we serve, we have to have the ability to take care of the entire person.
“We can heal someone physiologically and physically, but for them to be completely healed and be productive members of our community we need to help heal their psychological injuries. They need resources, and I’m exceptionally proud of the team that is making those resources available at Henry Ford Health’s Trauma Recovery Center.”
In May last year, Henry Ford Health unveiled the new $265m Janet & Jim Riehl North Tower at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital in Michigan.
