At the forefront of the cooperative effort in our health care community is Lakeland Regional Health System. Created in 1992 to respond to rising health care costs and enhance patient accessibility, Lakeland is made up of three acute-care hospitals in Berrien Springs, Niles, and St. Joseph. The system has 500 acute-care and 300 long-term care beds. In addition to the services offered at its primary facilities, Lakeland also offers a variety of outpatient services at satellite locations throughout our community.

Outpatient Services. Sports medicine and physical, occupational, and speech therapy are available, as well as women's services, substance abuse treatment, outpatient dialysis, homecare and home infusion services, pharmacy, X-ray/diagnostics and laboratory services, and primary and specialty care at four walk-in clinics.

Employer Services. Lakeland Regional Health System Employer Services division acts as a liaison with business and industry. Whatever a business needs in terms of health care information, service, or support, Employer Services is available to work with the business to meet those needs.

Investments in the Future. Lakeland Regional Health System recently completed the addition of a 12,700-square foot Heart Center and Cancer Care Center. This construction, a $5 million project, provides our region with the latest radiation therapy for cancer, and improved facilities for the treatment and diagnosis of heart disease.

Lakeland's health care neighbor is Community Hospital in Watervliet, MI. The hospital provides a 24-hour, physician-staffed emergency department and walk-in clinic. Inpatient and outpatient services include laboratory, radiology, respiratory therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, social services, and one-day surgery.

Supporting the care and services of the area's hospitals are many private-practice health care professionals and clinics, offering a wide range of specialties. In addition, an extensive network of counseling and mental health professionals, as well as associations and agencies, target specific health care populations.

There are 20 optical outlets in the Benton Harbor/St. Joseph community.