Skip to main content


U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government
              Here’s how you know
        Here’s how you knowDot gov**Official websites use .gov**
                 A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
                  HTTPS**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                 A **lock** (A locked padlock) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 
  Menu Close
          Enter the terms you wish to search for.
    Search
        








  
  
    

  
      

                                      About HHS
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Programs & Services
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Grants & Contracts
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Laws & Regulations                  
Civil Rights
  Information for Individuals
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Filing a Complaint
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Information for Providers
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Newsroom

              

    



Breadcrumb
    HHS
                              Civil Rights Home
                              For Providers
                              Compliance Enforcement
                              Agreements
                              Shiawassee Bulletin


    

    

    Navigate to:
  Civil Rights for Providers of Health Care and Human Services
                                            
            
            Provider Obligations
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Civil Rights Clearance for Medicare Provider Applicants
    
                                                                
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Compliance & Enforcement
                          
            
            Resolution Agreements
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Enforcement Examples
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Training
    
                                                                
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Civil Rights Laws, Regulations & Guidance
                          
            
            Regulatory Initiatives
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Regulations Enforced by OCR
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Civil Rights and COVIDText resize icon

                    




Michigan Medical Care Facility Commits to Race Non-Discrimination in Staff Assignments








  
  
    

  
      



Immediate Release
Contact: HHS Office for Civil Rights
	1-800-368-1019
February 13, 2015
Michigan Medical Care Facility Commits to Race Non-Discrimination in Staff Assignments
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has entered into a Voluntary Resolution Agreement with Shiawassee County Medical Care Facility in Corunna, Michigan to resolve issues raised in OCR’s review of the Medical Care Facility’s compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  Title VI prohibits discrimination in the administration of any federally-funded program based on race, color, or national origin.
Shiawassee County Medical Care Facility is a 136-bed skilled nursing facility that is Medicare and Medicaid certified.  OCR initiated a review to determine Shiawassee’s compliance with Title VI in its assignment of hospital staff to care for patients.  OCR’s Title VI review was prompted by a nursing staff instruction to not assign African-American staff to a Caucasian Resident.
During the investigation, OCR found that changes were needed in Shiawassee’s policies and procedures to bring them into full compliance with Title VI.  Shiawassee cooperated throughout OCR’s review and made the necessary revisions in its policies and procedures.  To implement fully the prohibition against consideration of race in staff assignments, Shiawassee signed a Resolution Agreement with OCR which calls for the appointment of a Title VI Coordinator who will be charged with overseeing Shiawassee’s overall compliance with Title VI and will have special responsibilities for the investigation and adjudication of any Title VI complaints filed internally with Shiawassee.  In addition, Shiawassee will train its workforce on relevant aspects of Title VI.  The Agreement remains in effect for two years and requires Shiawassee to submit reports to OCR regarding compliance.
The OCR investigation and Resolution Agreement emphasize the need for health care providers of all types to ensure their compliance with Title VI and, in particular, to refrain from making any staff assignments based on racial considerations.  These obligations are consistent with OCR’s longstanding “Guidelines for Compliance of Hospitals with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,” which make clear that assignment of hospital staff based on the racial preference of the patient violates Title VI.   This Agreement follows a similar Agreement in August 2014 between OCR and Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Michigan to resolve an incident of staff assignment based on a patient’s racial preference.  Read the Hurley Agreement here.
Read the Shiawassee Resolution Agreement here.
To learn more about non-discrimination and health information privacy laws, your civil rights and privacy rights in health care and human service settings, and to find information on filing a complaint, visit us at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr.

                    
  


Content created by Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Content last reviewed August 4, 2017Back to top
    Contact HHS
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Careers
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      HHS FAQs
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Nondiscrimination NoticeHHS Archive
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Accessibility Statement
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Privacy Policy
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Viewers & PlayersBudget/Performance
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Inspector General
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Web Site Disclaimers
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      EEO/No Fear ActFOIA
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      The White House
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      USA.gov
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
        Sign Up for Email Updates

Receive the latest updates from the Secretary, Blogs, and News Releases.

Sign Up
  HHS Headquarters
          200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
                  Washington, D.C. 20201
                  Toll Free Call Center: 1-877-696-6775​