The Duneland Family
YMCA has entered into a new partnership with Franciscan Health Michigan City
to provide more comprehensive services to the community, the two
organizations announced at a press conference on Wednesday at the Y.
As part of the
partnership, hospital staff members will offer a variety of services at the
Y, among them flu vaccinations, injury and prevention screenings, nutrition
counseling, smoking cessation, diabetes programs, health fairs, educational
presentations on a variety of topics, including health screenings for bone
density, blood pressure, blood glucose, body fat and more.
“If you want to be
the best you have to partner with the best,” said Duneland YMCA CEO David
Kasarda.
Dean Mazzoni,
Franciscan Health Michigan City CEO, echoed that sentiment, saying that both
organizations have longstanding histories of serving their communities with
a value and mission-based approach. Kasarda and Mazzoni agreed that the
partnership is built on common values of serving everyone without regard for
ability to pay and pride in the Christian heritage of both entities.
The Duneland YMCA
currently serves more than 10,000. The partnership with Franciscan, Kasarda
said, is a strategic alliance that will allow the Duneland community access
to more and better healthcare resources. Kasarda said that YMCA health
resources will improve with regards to the treatment of chronic diseases and
illness prevention. Programs will also be tailored for residents of Duneland
to help them live healthier lifestyles through preventative measures.
Mazzoni and Kasarda
were receptive to questions from the community. Chesterton resident Arlene
Burnett specifically raised concerns about transportation between facilities
and the potential for a new and improved cancer treatment center in Duneland.
“People are going to Chicago for treatment,” she said. Mazzoni said in
response that he wants to examine barriers to service that the community
experiences, and those barriers will be addressed.
Both leaders
emphasized the value the partnership will bring to the community. “We now
will be able to do things for the Duneland community that we haven’t been
able to do before,” Kasarda said.
Mazzoni for his
part referenced Franciscan’s slogan: “With this partnership, we will be
there for you, inspiring health together.”