Western Upper Peninsula District Health Department
and Superior Home Health & Hospice
Agency Profile | Board of Health | Board Meetings

Agency Profile

   Western Upper Peninsula District Health Department (WUPDHD), the northernmost and westernmost public health department in Michigan, serves the 71,000 residents of Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties. WUPDHD is a multi-county special governmental unit as allowed under Section 2415 of the Public Health Code, Act No. 368, 1978.  The agency was founded in 1936, and has included the present five counties since 1963. The agency operates under the direction of a Board of Health, composed of 11 members drawn from the boards of commissioners of the five constituent counties.  Health Officer/Administrator Guy St.Germain MPA., the agency’s chief executive officer, is responsible for administration of the Public Health Code in the districts 5 counties, and for the organization & operation of the agency itself.  Dr. Terry Frankovich is the agency's Medical Director. She is responsible for the medical direction of public health, emergency preparedness and Homecare/Hospice programs. The agency's major divisions are Public Health & Education, Environmental Health, Administration, and Superior Home Health & Hospice.

   WUPDHD is headquartered in Hancock, with branch offices in L’Anse, Ontonagon and Bessemer.  The agency employs more than 120 people and has an annual budget of over $6.5 million.  Approximately 65 percent of its revenue comes from fees for service. Superior Home Health & Hopsice is the agency’s largest direct service program.  About 25 percent of agency revenues come through direct state funding for mandated and allowable health programs.  Four percent (4%)of revenue comes from federal, state and private grants that fund innovative or non-traditional public health functions.  The final 6% of funding comes from county governments, in proportion to their populations and state-equalized taxable property valuations.

  As the public health entity for the region, WUPDHD is responsible for community health assessment, policy development and public health assurance, and plays a leading role in collaborative service planning through the district’s two multi-purpose collaborative boards.  The agency provides a broad array of public health programs and services, including communicable disease surveillance and control, immunization, a variety of maternal and child health programs, adult and senior health services, substance abuse prevention and education programs, a full range of environmental health services, and home nursing, rehabilitaion and Hospice Services through its Superior Home Health & Hospice division.

   Major Environmental Health programs include food-service licensing and inspection, and the evaluation and plan review relating to permits for on-site water supply (well) and sewage disposal (septic) systems.  Other programs include radon awareness, public swimming pool monitoring, and campground inspections.

   Public Health and Education programs control and report communicable diseases; provide health care to vulnerable populations; and promote a healthier community.  Major programs include immunizations, family planning, maternal and infant support services, children’s special health services, breast and cervical cancer control, hearing and vision screening, children’s dental services, workplace wellness and cardiovascular disease prevention, the federal Women, Infants and Children program (WIC), and community and school-based substance abuse prevention and education programs.

   Superior Home Health & Hospice provides skilled nursing and aide services to clients in their homes. Services also include speech, physical and occupational therapy, social work and certified, licensed hospice programs.  Community outreach programs include blood pressure and foot care clinics. Care is available year-round, on a 24-hour basis, to all ages.  Superior Home Health & Hospice is Medicare & Medicaid certified and CHAP accredited.

   It is the mission of the Western Upper Peninsula District Health Department and Superior Home Health & Hospice to provide the highest quality care and services in response to the personal and public health needs of the community.  In order to fulfill this mission, the agency and its employees are committed to a vision of public service that emphasizes accountability, quality, efficiency, and responsible and effective stewardship of public resources. Western Upper Peninsula District Health Department is an Equal Opportunity Organization.  We will not discriminate against any person, in employment, service provision nor other matters, on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender or handicap.