ANN ARBOR, Mich. — December 10, 2025 — The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan (NKFM) has been awarded a $50,000 grant to enhance early detection and management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) among older adults in Baraga County. The 12-month initiative, Enhancing Early Detection of Chronic Kidney Disease in Baraga County, will begin in January 2026.
Funding for this project is provided by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation, the Superior Health Foundation, and the Michigan Health Endowment Fund as part of the Investing in the Health of the Upper Peninsula grant program.
In partnership with the Michigan Center for Rural Health (MCRH) and the Baraga County Memorial Hospital (BCMH) Physician Group, the NKFM will lead a quality improvement project aimed at increasing CKD screening among adults aged 60 and older with diabetes or high blood pressure, the two leading causes of kidney failure. Increasing screenings leads to early diagnosis and treatment of CKD and ultimately improves quality of life.
“Many people living with early-stage kidney disease don’t know they have it until it’s too late,” said Mary Wozniak, Program Manager of Health Systems Interventions at the NKFM. “By improving screening practices and connecting patients to self-management resources, we can delay disease progression and
improve quality of life for residents in Baraga County.”
The project will also work within primary care settings to establish referral mechanisms to self-management programs. Lessons learned from the project will be shared with other Upper Peninsula health systems to support broader improvements in rural kidney care.