Mshkiki Community Clinic

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, it laid bare the health disparities with the Native American population and other minority groups compared to the general population. Pokagon Health Services (PHS) strives to address healthcare disparities in Native and other communities. In keeping with their mission, PHS felt that their local community should have access to the best and most effective healthcare services, located conveniently in shopping center nearby the homes of many Pokagon families.

Seven Generations Architecture + Engineering (7GAE) designed the Mshkiki Community Clinic, a 4,900-square-foot medical and dental clinic with six exam rooms, a nurse’s station, three open dental operatory rooms, three private dental operatory rooms, sterilization, lab, and staff offices. The clinic was designed to incorporate architecture, materials, and colors that reflect the tribe’s culture.

The Potawatomi word for medicine is Mshkiki. Primary medical care services offered at the Mshkiki Community Clinic include acute care, chronic disease management, immunizations, minor procedures, routine exams, and well-child visits. The clinic’s services include respiratory care for COVID-19 or other respiratory infections, as well as COVID-19 testing and vaccinations. Dental care services include cleanings, routine exams, filings, extractions, root canals, x-rays, bridges, crowns, dentures and partials.

The tribe opened the clinic to serve the primary medical and dental care needs of Medicaid-eligible and low-income residents living in Benton Harbor and Benton Township.

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In addition to architecture and interior design services from 7GAE, complete mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design was provided by Steelhead Engineering, including clinical systems necessary to provide high-quality medical and dental services.

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