U-M Health System to move some services off main campus due to space constraints

A cluster of services housed at the University of Michigan Health System’s main medical campus in Ann Arbor will be moved to an off-site clinic location to alleviate space constraints after a $3.6 million renovation, officials recently announced.

Additionally, UMHS will be investing $2.34 million to create a new wound care clinic at its leased Domino’s Farms Office Park space on Frank Lloyd Wright Drive in Ann Arbor Township.

UMHS is preparing to relocate its Pediatric Speech Language Pathology, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy services from the second level of a unit in the former C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital to an office at 2205 Commonwealth Blvd., in Ann Arbor.

The 17,413-square-foot space will be leased by UMHS in a 10-year agreement beginning Aug. 1. University of Michigan’s Board of Regents approved $3.6 million for improvements to the space, moveable equipment and furniture for the office.

The construction will create six on-site jobs, according to UMHS. Work is scheduled to be completed in the winter of 2014.

In addition to the new clinic on Commonwealth Boulevard, UMHS will be investing $2.34 million to establish the new wound care clinic at Domino's Farms.

The clinic will help patients with wounds from trauma, arterial diseases, pressure ulcers and venous insufficiency, and is expected to open in the summer of 2014.

The money will be used to renovate 9,325 square feet at Domino’s Farms to create the new clinic. UMHS leases nearly 25 percent of the facility, and has agreements in place for 240,920 square feet of the office park.

The $2.34 million also includes the purchase of a hyperbaric chamber that provides intense oxygen therapy to treat damaged tissues and wounds that are difficult to heal, including ulcers that many diabetic patients get.

UMHS moved its diabetes care and adult endocrinology programs to Domino’s Farms in 2009 to serve a rapidly growing population of type 2 diabetes patients.

The Board of Regents approved both projects at its March 21 meeting.

Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.