Constance Brown Hearing Centers to Join Bronson Healthcare System
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Constance Brown Hearing Centers (CBHC) and Bronson Healthcare announce that their organizations are planning to come together to strengthen the delivery of audiology services in southwest Michigan. By the end of this year, CBHC will donate its assets to Bronson and operations and employment of staff will move forward under Bronson Medical Group stewardship. In addition, CBHC will make a sizeable donation to the Bronson Health Foundation in the form of a restricted endowment fund to assist individuals who are hearing impaired and need financial assistance.
CBHC is a nonprofit hearing healthcare provider that was established through an estate gift from Constance Brown, a prominent local resident who had experienced hearing loss. Under the auspices of the Kiwanis Club of Kalamazoo, the Constance Brown Hearing and Speech Center, now called Constance Brown Hearing Centers, was founded in 1942. Through grants and donations, a sliding fee scale is offered to patients who cannot afford the full cost of services.
Today, with locations in Kalamazoo and Portage, CBHC annually serves nearly 3,000 patients of all ages. Services provided by its team of licensed and certified audiologists include diagnostic hearing testing for newborns, children and adults, assistive devices, follow-up care, counseling and preventative programs.
“Our organization has evolved over the years and our staff has impacted many lives through the provision of high quality, comprehensive hearing care. However, as the healthcare and insurance industries become increasingly complex, it will be more difficult to operate independently. We know that Bronson shares our commitment to patients and the community and has the administrative resources to carry our legacy forward,” says Kim Kragt, audiologist and acting executive director, CBHC.
CBHC Board Chair Jaime Flees adds, “We are very appreciative of the support we have received from the Kiwanis Club of Kalamazoo and are delighted that Bronson Health Foundation will continue our philanthropic work through an endowment for hearing services. We expect a smooth transition and continued access to audiology services for all patients, regardless of ability to pay.”
Holly C. Adams, vice president, Bronson Healthcare, and chief operating officer, Bronson Medical Group, says, “We are truly honored to be chosen to carry on the mission of this well-established community partner. By integrating CBHC into the Bronson Healthcare system, referrals for hearing screenings and follow up care with Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists will be easier to schedule for those who need them. And, medical providers across the region will have a more complete view of each patient’s care as audiology services will get tracked alongside other healthcare visits in one electronic medical record.”
Constance Brown Hearing Centers and Bronson will continue to operate separately and independently until the transaction is finalized. In addition to CBHC’s established offices at 1634 Gull Road in Kalamazoo and 4855 West Centre Avenue in Portage, Bronson expects to add a third convenient location in the Medical Office Pavilion at Bronson Methodist Hospital in 2023.
