Category: Hospitals Help

Michigan Hospitals Help Advance Care for Sickle Cell Patients

Member News, Hospitals Help

Michigan hospitals are committed to investing in efforts that advance the health of the patients and communities they serve every day.

With grant funding from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), the Bronson Health Foundation, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Henry Ford Health and University of Michigan are enhancing care for patients with sickle cell disease (SCD).

SCD is one of the most prevalent genetic disorders in Michigan. It continues to be a public health concern due to elevated rates of morbidity and mortality, disproportionately impacting African American populations. Those living with SCD often experience sudden attacks of severe pain, acute chest syndrome and various co-morbidities, including: pulmonary hypertension, stroke, gallbladder disease and organ damage.

With this in mind, the MDHHS grant program aims to help providers across the state expand access to quality, integrated care and disease-modifying therapies. It’s also designed to help improve acute care services delivered to patients living with SCD.

“The proposals selected demonstrate an understanding of the issues people living with sickle cell face in accessing the health care they need,” said MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel. “Each of the funded organizations are partnering with us to forward the goals of the department’s recently released SCD Strategic Plan as we work together to strengthen systems and elevate community voices.”

Michigan hospital projects are among those selected to receive approximately $80,000 to enhance or expand care for SCD. This includes:

  • Bronson Health Foundation will establish a multidisciplinary specialty clinic to improve access to quality health care and acute care services to patients living with SCD, with an emphasis on adult care.
  • Children’s Hospital of Michigan will establish a Sickle Cell Day Hospital to relocate pain management efforts from the emergency room to the SCD unit.
  • Henry Ford Health will continue to expand the transition of patients living with SCD from pediatric to adult care, as well as improve their access to other specialties and treatment management services.
  • University of Michigan (U-M) will prepare pediatric patients for transition to adult care through increasing self-management skills and knowledge of disease modifying therapies. Additionally, U-M will also work to assist in the development of a comprehensive adult sickle cell clinic to improve access to quality care and care coordination.

“This grant from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services helps Bronson continue strengthening sickle cell disease care across a patient’s lifespan by building closer coordination between our existing pediatric and adult care teams, improving continuity of care, and expanding access to specialized care in Southwest Michigan,” said Kirsten Bonifacio, PhD, lead pediatric psychologist at Bronson Children’s Hospital and principal investigator of the Sickle Cell Clinic Expansion and Enhancement Program.

Bonifacio continued, “Our goal is to deepen collaboration across our care team to deliver high-quality, multidisciplinary care close to home and improve outcomes for patients living with SCD.”

The grants are a key component of MDHHS’ commitment to improving care for Michigan residents living with SCD as outlined in the 2026-2030 SCD Public Health Strategic Plan. More information can be found on the MDHHS website.

Questions or content ideas for the Hospitals Help series may be directed to Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.

Hospitals Help: Schoolcraft Memorial Expands Access to Financial Assistance for Rural Residents

Hospitals Help, Member News

The teams at Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital (SMH) are working to expand access to financial assistance to ensure residents across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula don’t delay or forego essential care.

As rising healthcare costs continue to impact communities and hospitals across the state, SMH remains committed to caring for all patients regardless of their ability to pay. The hospital’s sliding fee scale program offers financial assistance to those who have limited or no means of covering medical costs.

In understanding the financial realities that many rural households currently face, SMH recently revised their program eligibility to take into account a broader range of essential living expenses.

Housing, utilities, food, medical debt and transportation costs are all factored in when determining a patient’s eligibility for assistance. Those who qualify are also given access to financial counseling and support from a patient financial services representative.

During a routine OB/GYN appointment, one provider caring for a patient named Kathy discovered a lump that required a mammogram and ultrasound for further investigation. Kathy chose to drive 90 minutes to seek follow-up care at Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital in Manistique, MI.

Rather than wait months for insurance-covered care or scrambling to pay out of pocket, Kathy turned to Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital’s financial services team and received assistance that made it possible for her to get the care she needed, when she needed it.

“Knowing I was going to get help with this, especially while waiting to find out if something could be seriously wrong, made all the difference,” she said.

Federal initiatives like the 340B Drug Pricing Program also play a critical role in helping rural residents access lifesaving medications and essential services close to home, from preventive screenings to advanced treatments.

As an independent critical access hospital serving the central upper peninsula, SMH teams are focused on reducing barriers that prevent residents from getting the care they need. Under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(r), non-profit hospitals are required to have a written Financial Assistance Policy (FAP). Those who previously did not qualify for financial assistance are encouraged to reapply under the hospital’s updated guidelines.

Questions or content ideas for the Hospitals Help series may be directed to Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.

Hospitals Help: Pine Rest Launches First-of-its-Kind Pediatric Psychiatric Urgent Care

Hospitals Help, Member News
Pine Rest’s Pediatric Psychiatric Urgent Care is located in Grand Rapids, MI.

Hospitals are there in life’s most critical moments, supporting people at all walks of life and expanding access to care beyond the bedside. For children and families experiencing behavioral health crises, timely care can make a lifesaving difference.

To expand access to specialized mental health services for children and adolescents, the teams at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services recently opened a first-of-its-kind Pediatric Psychiatric Urgent Care Center.

The center, which is open Monday through Thursday from noon to 6 p.m., provides same-day assessments and short-term stabilization for children and teens ages 6-17 who are experiencing acute behavioral health crises. The Pine Rest team also connect families with the appropriate resources to avoid emergency room visits.

“Behavioral health challenges among children and teens have increased dramatically in recent years, and families across Michigan are struggling to find timely access to appropriate care,” said Mark Eastburg, PhD, president and CEO, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services. “The Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health represents a significant step forward in addressing that need. By bringing together inpatient care, urgent psychiatric services and specialized programming in one location, we are helping ensure that children and families can get the support they need when they need it most.”

Since opening in early 2026, the center has supported an average of 12 children and families each day, providing immediate access to care for those experiencing urgent behavioral health needs. It’s projected that approximately 5,000 kids will be treated per year.

The building was intentionally designed to meet the unique needs of children and adolescents, with specialized programming and spaces for young patients and their families. By bringing together urgent psychiatric services, inpatient care and outpatient support in one location, Pine Rest is helping families navigate behavioral health challenges with faster access to coordinated, age-appropriate care.

Pine Rest is also working to expand specialized care for children experiencing eating disorders, substance use disorder and neurodevelopmental conditions while enhancing access to telepsychiatry services for rural and underserved communities across Michigan.

Visit the Pine Rest website to learn more about how their teams are helping children and families across Michigan access timely, specialized behavioral healthcare services.

Those with questions or content ideas for the Hospitals Help series may contact Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.

Hospitals Help: Memorial Healthcare Prioritizes Infection Control for Long-Term Care Residents

Hospitals Help, Member News

Michigan hospitals have long prioritized infection control and prevention, investing in resources that strengthen safety and quality measures for their patients and staff. The MHA Keystone Center is committed to supporting these efforts.

Healthcare teams across the state continue to monitor for cases of Candida auris (C. auris), a highly transmittable fungus identified in 2021 that can lead to serious infections. Managing the risk is especially critical across long-term care (LTC) facilities.

With this in mind, the Keystone Center team enrolled 11 Michigan-based LTC facilities last year in a project aimed at enhancing infection prevention and equipping healthcare teams with the necessary tools to address the spread of C. auris and other emerging pathogens.

Memorial Healthcare, a hospital that offers both long-term care and assisted living, was one of those given the opportunity to participate.

“We’re doing a lot of things right, but appreciate new eyes coming in to assess and give our teams unbiased feedback,” said Taryn Gemalsky, MSN, BSN, RN, director of nursing for long-term care, Memorial Healthcare. “We always want to protect our elderly residents who are at highest risk of vulnerability.”

With support from the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services and IPCWell, the project involved onsite and remote technical assistance for LTC teams to assess and enhance their infection control practices. As a part of this, staff and facility leaders are led through modules within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Infection Control Assessment and Response (ICAR) tool.

“Having an actionable plan with tangible tasks to hone in on is great,” said Bradley Moore, RN, manager of behavioral health and long-term care, Memorial Healthcare. “A lot of the staff have been a part of this work and it’s great to have their input on care improvements.”

Memorial Healthcare teams successfully closed every gap identified through the assessments.

“This effort has demonstrated how dedicated our members are to going above and beyond for their patients and communities,” said Joshua Suire, MHA, BSN, RN, director, safety and quality, MHA Keystone Center. “It’s been such a pleasure and inspiration to work with the teams at Memorial Healthcare who are clearly committed to excellence in the safety and quality space.”

Memorial Healthcare team members pictured with their honorary plaque of completion from the MHA Keystone Center.

The MHA Keystone Center paid a visit to Memorial, awarding their team with infection glow kits, enhanced barrier precaution signage, education materials and an honorary plaque of completion to celebrate their participation in the project.

“The collaboration and support from the MHA truly makes a difference,” said Gemalsky. “Programs like this are only possible through strong partnerships and we are incredibly thankful for their continued support.”

Those with questions or content ideas for the Hospitals Help series may contact Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.

Hospitals Help Us. Here’s How We Can Help Them.

Hospitals Help, Member News

Hospitals show up for Michigan communities around the clock to provide care, support families and strengthen the places we call home. In honor of National Hospital Week, MHA teams asked members across the state to reflect on how others — whether it be policy leaders or the general public — can show up for them. Here’s what they said:

“National Hospital Week is a reminder that hospitals in communities across Michigan are here 24/7 for every neighbor — and we can keep that promise when healthcare affordability initiatives strengthen care, not weaken it. Communities and policymakers can make a real difference by stabilizing essential services, reducing administrative burdens like prior authorization, and helping to invest in the healthcare workforce. Affordability won’t come from weakening the healthcare delivery system — it will come from collaborating across sectors to strengthen it.” — Bill Manns, CEO, Bronson Healthcare

“The Save America’s Rural Hospitals Act is essential to protecting access to care for communities served by hospitals like Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital. By strengthening Medicare reimbursement, eliminating harmful sequestration cuts, and supporting rural EMS and telehealth, the bill directly addresses the financial pressures that threaten rural providers. These provisions help ensure patients can receive timely, high-quality care close to home without the burden of traveling long distances. Supporting this legislation is critical to preserving rural healthcare access, sustaining local economies and maintaining the health of our communities.” — Robert Mach, CEO, Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital

“McLaren Health Care and our subsidiary hospitals have been the grateful recipients of support from many different sources, ever appreciative for all of it. This includes lawmakers supporting a hospital’s ability to expand its care and provide for its patients by allocating funds to assist in expanding care facilities and services. Local businesses have offered incredible support during fundraising and sponsorship opportunities to help the hospital further root itself in the community, specifically their support for mobile outreach clinics. And it has been the community members themselves who generously sharing their time, if by volunteering at the hospital or bringing in trained and certified therapy dogs for the benefit of patients and staff.” — McLaren Health Care

“Throughout healthcare week, we are reminded that the strength of the hospital is directly tied to the support of the communities we serve. Our hospital is more than a place for care, it is a lifeline. Community support, whether through advocacy, volunteering or simply choosing local care, helps ensure that high quality services remain close to home. When we invest in our hospital, we invest in the health, stability and future of our community” — Karen Cheeseman, CEO, Mackinac Straits Health System

“On behalf of rural hospitals, Hillsdale Hospital would ask our policymakers to listen to their local healthcare organizations and providers about what resources and funding are most needed for hospitals across Michigan to remain open. We would ask for open dialogue between healthcare leaders, legislators and the general public so that everyone gets a seat at the table. Most importantly, we would ask that our patients have a voice when decisions are being made that have significant downstream effects on those our hospitals serve every single day.” — Jeremiah J. Hodshire, President & Chief Executive Officer, Hillsdale Hospital

“As the only Level II Trauma Center and Level III NICU serving the Upper Peninsula, access, workforce and sustainable funding are critical to our ability to care for a highly complex and geographically dispersed population. Continued support through stable reimbursement, investment in rural workforce development, and policies that improve care coordination and reduce administrative burden would have the greatest impact. Strengthening partnerships across communities and expanding access to services closer to home will help ensure patients receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place.” — Tonya Darner, Market CEO, UP Health System Marquette & Bell

“Our nurses, physicians and all our team members show up for our patients in their most vulnerable moments, offering not just care, but comfort, dignity and hope. Support for Corewell Health comes from recognizing our work as profoundly human, cherishing the lives and stories behind every patient.” — Corewell Health

Those with questions or content ideas for the Hospitals Help series may contact Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.

Hospitals Help: Mary Free Bed Partnership Addresses Nursing Shortage, Offers Tuition Assistance

Hospitals Help, Member News
A new partnership will combine hands-on clinical training with financial support for GVSU nursing students.

Every hour of every day, nurses provide care Michiganders can count on. As staffing shortages continue to impact various sectors of healthcare, Michigan hospitals are focused on creative solutions to strengthen and support this dedicated workforce.

One of the ways this is being done is by opening doors — and removing barriers — for those interested in the field. A strong example of this is a new partnership between Grand Valley State University (GVSU) and Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital that creates a new pathway for GVSU nursing students to go from classroom to bedside.

The partnership, announced in March, expands access to clinical experience at Mary Free Bed and combines hands-on training with financial support.

“This is an innovative program that places GVSU students at its heart,” said Linda Lewandowski, dean, GVSU Kirkhof College of Nursing. “Mary Free Bed is a recognized leader in rehabilitative care and will offer our students a clinical experience in which they can continue engaging in interdisciplinary care.”

Through this partnership, eligible students in the GVSU Kirkhof College of Nursing can receive up to $5,000 per semester for four semesters, helping make their education more affordable. In return, participants commit to working at Mary Free Bed for at least two years after graduating and passing their licensure exam.

Students will also gain exposure to the full scope of rehabilitation care through more than 120 medical and sports programs available at Mary Free Bed, working alongside therapists and rehabilitation physicians in a collaborative care environment.

Partnerships like this help ensure more patients will benefit from the compassionate care nurses offer during life’s most pivotal moments. This National Nurses Week and beyond, the MHA thanks Michigan nurses — past, present and future — who continue to show up around the clock, in every region of the state.

Those with questions or content ideas for the Hospitals Help series may contact Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.

Hospitals Help Prioritize Patient and Family-Centered Care

Member News, MiCare Champion Cast, Hospitals Help

Hospitals are improving the health and well-being of communities through a care model that fosters collaboration between clinicians, patients and their support systems.

Person- and Family-Centered Care (PFCC) — often referred to as Patient and Family Engagement (PFE) — is an approach to care delivery that has been shown to improve health outcomes, lower costs, enhance patient experience and boost overall staff satisfaction.

In a new episode of the MiCare Champion Cast, two members of the MHA Person & Family Engagement Advisory Council from MyMichigan Health and Michigan Medicine provide first-hand insight on the powerful impact of PFE.

“Relationships are at the heart of everything,” said Michelle Brady, MSHAL, BSN, RN, CPXP, director, patient experience and relations, MyMichigan Health. “While we have the beautiful benefits of technology, we cannot lose sight of the human connection. These [PFE] councils are a lifeline to continue humanizing care across the continuum. We have to keep the patient — and the family — at the table.”

Brady has been a registered nurse for 36 years and a leader for the last 15. In her current role, she supports the success of MyMichigan’s PFAC to ensure patients and families are at the center of goal setting and system decision-making. 

Alongside Brady was Michele Mitchell, BS, MS, PMP, a nationally recognized patient advocate and breast cancer survivor. Following years of working in healthcare, being on the other side further ignited Mitchell’s passion for amplifying the patient voice in care delivery, education and research.

“Patients who participate in their care stay healthier longer,” said Mitchell, who previously co-chaired Michigan Medicine’s Department of Pathology PFAC. “This is not just the right thing to do — it’s the smart thing to do. The best care happens when providers see the whole person, not just the diagnosis. When patients are genuine partners in their care, everyone wins.”

The episode, released during Patient Experience Week, offers actionable ways for healthcare teams to implement PFE and uplift its value to hospital leadership.

The MHA Person & Family Engagement Advisory Council provides guidance and support to Michigan hospitals to extend and enhance PFCC across the state. The council is made up of MHA staff, stakeholders and advisors who work to ensure the voice of patients and families are incorporated into hospital initiatives and efforts. It also provides a great opportunity for networking, collaboration and sharing of best practices for PFCC.

The episode is available to stream on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud and YouTube. Questions or content submissions for future MiCare Champion Cast episodes and Hospitals Help articles can be directed to Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA. Those interested in learning more or getting involved in the MHA Person & Family Engagement Advisory Council may contact Erin Steward at the MHA.

In the episode, there is reference to a 2023 Cochrane Library study and research from the National Library of Medicine.

Hospitals Help: Bronson Drives Change in Maternal and Infant Health

Hospitals Help, Member News

From prenatal care and labor and delivery to neonatal intensive care and postpartum follow-up, Bronson Healthcare plays a critical role in influencing health outcomes for mothers and babies across Southwest Michigan.

In celebrating a historic reduction in Black infant mortality across Kalamazoo County, Bronson acknowledged that creating change requires shared ownership across clinical, community and public health settings.

“This work does not belong to any single organization,” said Bill Manns, president and CEO, Bronson Healthcare. “It belongs to all of us who care for families before, during and after birth — and to the communities who trust us with their babies’ lives.”

In addition to local partnerships, Bronson teams are engaged with the MHA Council on Health Access and Community Impact and MHA Community Benefit Collaboratives to help advance statewide improvements in maternal health.

Below are a few of the initiatives underway at Bronson to advance maternal and infant health.

Bronson CenteringPregnancy® Program

Bronson’s CenteringPregnancy® program combines expert clinical care with peer support and education for moms-to-be. The program, covered like traditional prenatal visits by Medicaid and most insurers, has led to lower rates of preterm birth, reduced risk of low birth weight and higher breastfeeding success rates.

Participants meet regularly in groups of 8-12 based on due date. Each session includes a private check-up with a certified nurse midwife as well as a group discussion covering topics like nutrition, labor choices, breastfeeding and newborn care.

Breastfeeding Resources, Support

In addition to lactation services and milk banking, Bronson offers Baby Cafés in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek for walk-in breastfeeding support in a welcoming, coffee shop-style environment.

The goal is to help infants build better immune and brain health, improve digestion, while also reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes and certain childhood cancers. For mothers, this work supports postpartum recovery while helping lower the risk of breast and ovarian cancers.

A System-Wide Approach

Improving infant and maternal health requires care coordination. Alongside midwives who are expertly trained to provide gynecological care and pre- and postnatal obstetric care, Bronson community health workers help pregnant and postpartum patients address non-medical factors that can affect birthing outcomes. This support can look like:

  • Providing referrals at the first prenatal intake call, with additional referrals coming from obstetric and maternal fetal medicine providers.
  • Connecting families with a variety of resources, ranging from transportation, housing support and food access to breastfeeding resources and parenting programs.
  • Helping families feel more comfortable participating in services like Healthy Babies Healthy Start home visiting programs.

By addressing social drivers of health and building trust early in pregnancy, these team members help reduce gaps in prenatal care – a key factor in preventing preterm birth and other complications associated with infant mortality.

Other efforts by Bronson include their childcare collaborative and Battle Creek childcare center, family-centered educational classes, Cribs for Kids® national safe sleep hospital certification program and Bump2Baby360 patient app.

Those interested in learning more are encouraged to visit the Bronson website. Questions or content ideas for the Hospitals Help series can be directed to Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.

Hospitals Help: Hillsdale Works to Improve Access for Rural Residents

Hospitals Help, Rural Health Updates, Member News

Rural hospitals are the heart of their communities, providing care close to home in addition to jobs, stability and reassurance that help is nearby in life’s most pivotal moments. Despite their essential role, rural providers across the state and country are challenged by limited resources, workforce shortages and constrained infrastructure.

Knowing this reality first-hand, the teams at Hillsdale Hospital are focused on advocating for rural communities and ensuring patients don’t lose access to routine or specialty care.

Personalized Primary Care

To address the unique needs of local residents, Hillsdale starts by listening. The hospital’s primary care team – spread across five local clinics – does this by focusing on understanding each patient’s needs to develop individualized health plans.

“Hillsdale Hospital’s core values include local access to care for our patients,” said Jeremiah J. Hodshire, president and chief executive officer, Hillsdale Hospital. “Everyone deserves access to healthcare, when and where they need it. That’s why expanding our primary care options is so important to us.”

In understanding that it can be difficult and time-consuming for patients to get to the hospital for lab draws, Hillsdale also decided to install outpatient laboratories inside their clinics. The decision has been well-received by community members and streamlines testing protocol for providers.

Hillsdale Spine Center was announced in January 2026 to provide a full continuum of neurosurgical spine care.

Addressing Specialty Needs

Knowing there was a local need for advanced neurosurgical care, Hillsdale responded by onboarding a neurosurgeon and opening their Hillsdale Spine Center. Residents can now receive a full spectrum of care, including minimally invasive spine surgery, spine fusion, spine fracture treatments and treatment for herniated discs. The team also recently completed their first lumbar total disc replacement, an innovative treatment that isn’t widely available.

“I couldn’t imagine where I’d be at if I didn’t get the surgery,” said the patient, who previously struggled with severe back pain for more than 15 years. “[The procedure] was the best thing I’ve ever done.”

Uplifting Rural Voices

Hillsdale teams are also finding meaningful ways to speak up for rural patients and providers. In a new podcast series titled, “Rural Health Fractured,” conversations center around sustainable solutions to today’s pressing rural healthcare issues.

Additionally, Hodshire will serve as board chair of the MHA Center of Rural Excellence, a 501(c)(6) organization created to formalize and strengthen the collective voice of rural hospitals through targeted advocacy and support tailored to the unique challenges Michigan’s rural providers face.

Those with questions or content ideas for the Hospitals Help series may contact Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.

Hospitals Help: Kalkaska Memorial Walks Beside Patients at Discharge

Member News, Hospitals Help
Members of the Kalkaska Memorial Health Center team

Patients often feel most vulnerable during the transition from hospital to home – especially if questions linger, follow-up care is extensive or there’s any risk of complications. Knowing this, hospitals are finding ways to ensure patients don’t have to navigate discharge and recovery alone.

The Community Paramedic program at Kalkaska Memorial Health Center is a great example of this work. Based in the health center’s emergency department, the program supports patients during and after discharge in an effort to address concerns and prevent avoidable emergency department visits.

“At Kalkaska Memorial Health Center, our mission is to improve the health and quality of life for those that we serve,” said Jeremy Cannon, VP, chief nursing officer, Kalkasa Memorial Health Center. “To truly make an impact, we look beyond the four walls of our hospital and focus on understanding patient needs in their own environment.”

According to the National Library of Medicine, readmission within 30 days of hospital discharge has been linked to both short and long-term mortality. Proper care coordination before, during and after a hospital stay is critical for improving patient outcomes.

The program at Kalkaska engages providers across acute care, long-term care and primary care to identify patient’s risk for hospital re-admission. Team members often address discharge questions, concerns or confusion – whether it be difficulties managing acute or chronic conditions, missing resources at home, medication adjustments or new care needs.

Paramedics are available seven days a week to meet patients before discharge or contact them to schedule home visits within 24 hours. In the home, they identify barriers that may not have been apparent during the hospital stay and coordinate with primary providers, social work, pharmacy and the electronic medical record team to support comprehensive care.

“We are fortunate to have a hospital-owned emergency medical services agency operating through Kalkaska Memorial Health Center, allowing us to invest directly in the individuals who respond to our community members during their most vulnerable moments,” said Cannon.

Patients enrolled in the program have demonstrated significantly lower emergency department readmission rates. The work allows the teams at Kalkaska to better support patients and keep them where they want to be: home.

Those with questions or content ideas for the Hospitals Help series may contact Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.