Wayne State University Physician Group Rebrands as Wayne Health; Prepares New Detroit Location

The Wayne State University Physician Group, a 300-physician, multispecialty group practice affiliated with Wayne State University School of Medicine, has a new name: Wayne Health.

Serving the Detroit community since 2000, first as Academic Health Center Services then as WSUPG, the new name, and a new logo featuring the WSU warrior shield, highlights the group’s academic connection with WSU School of Medicine – one of the nation’s top medical schools, renowned for clinical excellence, medical education, research and service to Detroit’s urban community.

“Our new name and logo signal a bold, new vision focused on providing integrated, whole-person care that will be realized with the opening of a new multidisciplinary health center in Midtown Detroit later this month,” said Charles J. Shanley, M.D., Wayne Health president and chief executive officer.

The new 400 Mack Detroit Health Center will offer a full range of integrated primary and preventive health services, including specialists in internal medicine, family medicine, obstetrics/gynecology and behavioral health.  Another Wayne State University partner organization, Wayne Pediatrics, is co-locating clinical services for children at the location, completing a continuum of care across the lifecycle at the new 50,000 square-foot facility.

“Wayne Health specialists and advanced practice providers care for patients with the most complex medical conditions, especially those from at-risk and vulnerable populations,” explained Dr. Shanley. “As WSUSOM faculty members, our physicians have a mission-based commitment to train the next generation of physicians and conduct leading edge research. This gives our patients access to the latest, most advanced medical treatments.”

The word “Health” in the new name signifies Wayne Health’s vision to provide integrated, “whole person” physical, behavioral and preventive health services, including innovative partnerships and programs to address social determinants of health. The ultimate goal is to improve the health of the metro Detroit community, especially its most vulnerable residents. This commitment was demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic through a partnership with WSU Health Sciences, ACCESS and Ford Motor Co. to deploy teams across the region to perform mobile COVID-19 testing, while also screening for psychosocial and other health care needs. To date, about 15,000 individuals have been tested at 114 community locations.

Wayne Health’s population health vision will be further realized through a new Center for Population Health Accountability, serving as an umbrella for integrated, “whole-person” care at the new 400 Mack Detroit Health Center.

To learn more about Wayne Health and its services, visit Wayne Health’s new web site at www.WayneHealthCares.org, or call 877 WAYNE-HC (877-929-6342) to be connected with a Wayne Health provider. Patient appointments at the new 400 Mack Health Center are available for scheduling now.

“This is a new chapter in the evolution of UPG, demonstrating our commitment and efforts to move on from past challenges and focus on a brighter future,” said Dr. Shanley.

In Nov. 2018, WSUPG filed for Chapter 11 protection and began a reorganization process to address years of financial and operational challenges, completing its bankruptcy emergence in less than a year. The organization turned its finances around by shrinking its footprint, investing in new information technology systems, improving business processes and stabilizing its provider base.  As a result, Wayne Health pivoted from a pre-bankruptcy $4.1 million loss in fiscal year 2018 to a $5.27 million unaudited surplus as of the third quarter of fiscal year 2020 (June 30).