Michigan hospitals are finding innovative ways to improve patient outcomes and remove barriers to timely care. One example of this comes from McLaren Health Care and its McLaren Heart & Vascular Institute, who recently launched a first-of-its-kind cardiovascular screening program to help better detect patients’ risk for heart disease.
Launched in partnership with Bunkerhill Health and its AI-powered Carebricks platform, the tool’s FDA-cleared clinical algorithm detects indicators for coronary heart disease and aortic stenosis – two common forms of heart disease that worsen over time if left untreated.
“This is a very important way of finding the disease before it causes any problems for the patient long-term or short-term,” said Dr. Samar Kazziha, chief medical director, McLaren Heart & Vascular Institute, McLaren Health Care.
Heart disease remains a leading cause of death in Michigan and the U.S. In addition to heeding controllable risk factors, early intervention can significantly reduce the odds of a life-threatening cardiovascular event.
McLaren’s new technology has alleviated the need for time-consuming tests and imaging that traditionally have been performed to detect the presence and risk of heart disease. Now, clinicians can spot signals much sooner – even during routine testing for other, non-heart related conditions.
Launching a screening program of this size and scope would have normally placed added strain on clinical teams, including time spent reviewing charts, checking guidelines and coordinating follow-up care. Bunkerhill Health’s Carebricks makes the process easier by enabling AI-powered workflows that analyze patients’ records already on file, clinical guidelines and McLaren’s own care protocols. As a result, McLaren can expand access to early cardiovascular screening while minimizing added workload for clinicians.
“By using the clinical information already available to us, this program enables us to identify patients who may benefit from earlier follow-up, often before symptoms appear, and ensures they are connected to the right care at the right time — helping to close critical gaps in detection, improving those patients’ long-term outcomes and overall quality of life,” said Kazziha.
To learn more about cardiac care services, visit the McLaren Health Care website. Those with questions or content ideas for the Hospitals Help series may contact Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.
Healthcare remains the state’s largest employer of direct, private-sector jobs. With this in mind, hospitals are finding innovative ways to give Michigan students the opportunity to gain real-world exposure to clinical and non-clinical healthcare roles. Some examples of these efforts are outlined below.
McKenzie Health System Hosts Healthcare Career Exploration Tours for Local Students
McKenzie Health System hosts an immersive hospital tour for local ninth and tenth grade students.
The eight-week program provides hands-on exploration of health and human service careers across the Thumb region. During their visit to McKenzie, students gained a behind-the-scenes look at how a rural hospital operates and the many career paths available within healthcare.
The tour itself involved rotating through several departments – pharmacy, dietary, nursing, diagnostic imaging, and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation – and participating in interactive learning experiences designed to bring healthcare careers to life.
“These tours give students a meaningful look at the many career opportunities available in healthcare, right here in their own community,” said Nina Barnett, Public Relations. “We are proud to support the exploration of healthcare careers for local youth and to partner with the Thumb Community Health Partnership in building a strong future workforce.”
By partnering with the Thumb Community Health Partnership and local school districts, McKenzie continues to invest in programs that encourage students to explore rewarding careers in healthcare close to home.
Trinity Health Muskegon Hosts Schools for a “A Day in the Life of an Injured Student”
Educators and students from Muskegon High School and Spring Lake High School recently visited Trinity Health Muskegon to participate in an interactive activity titled, “A Day in the Life of an Injured Student,” where they followed the medical journey of a student athlete hurt during a football game.
From the initial scene with paramedics to the operating room alongside surgical technicians, students observed each step of care and were introduced to roughly 40 different medical and health-related professions along the way.
Trinity Health Muskegon colleagues shared more about their roles, required education, career pathways and practical advice. Representatives from healthcare colleges and Trinity Health Muskegon’s Talent Acquisition team were also present to serve as resources for the students.
“Many of these students have no idea how many career options exist within various healthcare settings,” said Jerry Evans, MD, emergency medicine provider, Lake Michigan Emergency Specialists and immediate past chief of staff, Trinity Health Muskegon. “Athletic trainers, paramedics, physicians, nurses, radiology and lab technicians, emergency department teams, operating room staff, computer support, dietary services, facilities personnel and so many others. Trinity Health Muskegon is devoted to strengthening our community and inspiring our youth to consider careers in healthcare.”
Covenant HealthCare Invites Recent Grads to Explore Hospital Careers
Covenant HealthCare created “Discover Covenant” in 2024 to expand knowledge of hospital jobs, grow local talent and help future generations make informed career decisions.
The summer program is a paid opportunity designed for recent high school graduates interested in healthcare. It runs from early June to late August, giving participants the opportunity to explore areas of interest along with those they’re unfamiliar with. Exploration periods are done in three-week rotations from 8 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thursday.
“As I worked through Discover Covenant, my love of helping people and feeling a sense of accomplishment was ignited during the nursing rotation,” said one participant. “I have now willingly changed my college major to nursing, and I am grateful for the time and money saved due to my experience with Discover Covenant.”
Since 2024, hospital employees and volunteers have hosted approximately 30 students – a handful of which have since sought employment or additional learning at Covenant. Those interested in learning more are encouraged to contact the Covenant team.
“This program has given young adults from our community the opportunity to learn more about healthcare careers and engage with our organization,” said Jill Jarvis, BSN, RN, manager, clinical development & education, Covenant HealthCare. “It has been a win-win for both participants seeking knowledge and guidance about their futures and for our organization, which is working to build pipelines for future employees.”
Hillsdale Hospital Awards Up to $50,000 in Educational Support to High School Seniors Pursuing Nursing Careers
Hillsdale Hospital’sDoris Whorley Nursing Scholarship allows eligible high school seniors to apply for tuition assistance of up to $10,000 per year for up to five years for an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN).
“Our hospital depends on nurses across every point of care and our mission with this scholarship program is to support their education, on-the-job training and long-term career development,” said Randy Holland, chief nursing and infection control officer.
The scholarship was named after Doris Whorley, Hillsdale’s longest working nurse who has been in the profession for nearly 58 years.
“Doris Whorley has made such an incredible and enduring impact on our hospital’s staff and patients,” added Holland. “On behalf of Hillsdale Hospital’s nursing staff, we are honored to carry her legacy forward as we train and guide future nurses.”
Program application announcements can be found on Hillsdale Hospital’s website.
Eaton Rapids Medical Center Hosts Themed Hospital Tour
The team at Eaton Rapids Medical Center recently hosted a two-day hospital tour for local second graders. To keep things engaging, the event was pirate-themed and included exploring the “Emergency Deck,” emergency department, a visit to ”Clean Hands Island” to learn more about the importance of handwashing and a trip to “X-Ray Bay” to see the hospital’s radiology equipment.
The tours are designed not only to ease fears associated with medical care, but also educate students on healthy habits and see members of the hospital team in action.
“We are so grateful for the opportunity to partner with our local schools to bring this experience to our second graders every year,” said Eleni Danford, MSN, RN, clinical education, Eaton Rapids Medical Center. “By opening our doors and giving students the chance to explore our departments, meet our care team and have a genuinely fun and memorable experience, we hope to build a sense of familiarity and trust between our hospital and the community we serve.”
Pine Rest Charts Careers in Mental Health
Through personal narratives, reenactments and hands-on activities, more than 200 Kent County students explored career opportunities in the mental health field at an event recently hosted by Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services.
“Pine Rest Beyond the Books — The High School Edition,” was an immersive program designed to introduce teens to behavioral health careers. Students from Kent Career Tech Center and several local high schools, including Byron Center, Kenowa Hills, Kelloggsville, Kentwood, Lowell and Northview, attended the event.
Amy Pierce-Danders, Pine Rest workforce development manager, said many students entering the medical field focus on traditional roles, such as nurse or doctor, without realizing the breadth of opportunities available. Other behavioral health job options include counselor, social worker, psychiatric technician, behavioral analyst and recreational therapist, she said.
“The goal is to get the students on campus where they can learn about behavioral health issues and discover these healthcare pathways,” Pierce-Danders said.
MI Hospital Careers Campaign
As a complement to the local efforts of Michigan hospitals, the MHA’s MI Hospital Careers campaign launched in June 2023 to expand interest in Michigan health careers. The campaign targets high school and college students, as well as working professionals looking for a rewarding career. To learn more, contact Katelin Wiersma at the MHA.
Navigating healthcare billing and out-of-pocket costs can be overwhelming. In order to let patients focus on healing, many hospitals are expanding the role of financial counselors, social workers and patient navigators.
For example, financial counselors at Bronson Healthcare meet patients where they are. Financial counselors are available whether a person enters through the emergency room or comes in for scheduled surgery, providing price estimates, financial aid resources and insurance guidance for those who need it.
David Cavataio, director of patient accounting, Bronson Healthcare, oversees a team of 15 financial counselors strategically placed across four locations. Their mission is simple but powerful: catch patients before they fall into financial crisis.
“We’ve tried to build it where no matter where you go, we get you to the right people to help you,” said Cavataio.
The Bronson team doesn’t wait for patients to ask for help. Instead, they use admissions data to anticipate and identify who may qualify for financial assistance or Medicaid coverage. From there, a dedicated team handles upfront estimates and trained call center staff connect patients to resources and support to navigate the billing process.
Patients who receive timely guidance tend to follow treatment plans and maintain long-term relationships with their providers. The challenge? Trust. Many patients are skeptical when counselors first approach them.
“A lot of patients, when they first see our counselors, don’t trust them,” said Cavataio. “But if they see how hard our team works to help them and how we’ll drop everything to get the information they need, help them fill out forms, I think they see that we’re a partner.”
This is also a strategic choice for hospitals. When patients enroll in financial-aid programs, the amount of unpaid medical debt decreases, fewer accounts are sent to collections and administrative costs decline. In 2023 alone, Michigan hospitals paid more than $3.5 billion in uncompensated care.
Efforts to build trust at Bronson are paying off. According to the team, Medicaid applications have jumped 25% this year. Financial assistance applications are up 40%. These statistics represent thousands of Michigan families who can now afford the care they need.
“The call from your financial team was like a beacon in a storm,” said one patient. “I was about to quit my job so I could qualify for state assistance. I was near rock bottom. That changed after five minutes with the team.”
State policymakers are also moving to strengthen these efforts. Initiatives such as the 2024 medical debt-relief program have helped thousands of Michiganders reduce or eliminate existing debt.
“We’re there to help,” said Cavataio. “At Bronson Healthcare, those aren’t empty words; they’re a daily practice that’s keeping Michigan families out of medical debt and healthy, one patient at a time.”
To learn more about Medical Financial Assistance at Bronson Healthcare, visit their website. Members with questions or content ideas for the Hospitals Help series may contact Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.
Previously, the community lacked access to pharmacy services on weekends and holidays. This created additional barriers to care, requiring patients to travel in excess of 60 to 100 miles round trip to the next closest pharmacy.
Now, the retail pharmacy continues to prosper and provides a lifeline for rural communities in the Straits area, filling over 56,000 prescriptions annually.
The 340B program has allowed the health system to promote discounted medications, enhanced vaccination offerings and specialty care services. Created by Congress more than 30 years ago, the 340B program helps hospitals and community health centers stretch their limited resources further without using any state taxpayer dollars.
“The 340B program directly benefits patients by allowing us to stretch scarce federal resources to offer critical services including additional pharmacy access and personalized prescription delivery to those who have limited means of transportation on Mackinac Island and beyond,” said Karen Cheeseman, president and chief executive officer, Mackinac Straits Health System.
Simulation training helps care teams prepare for rare, high-risk events by allowing them to practice clinical decision-making and collaboration in a safe environment. Through an equipment grant distributed by the MHA Keystone Center with funding support from UnitedHealthcare, MyMichigan Health is strengthening hands-on learning to improve readiness for rare but life-threatening maternal emergencies.
Using MamaBirthie simulators provided through the grant, MyMichigan Health recently partnered with Maternal 911 to host a training focused on responding to Amniotic Fluid Embolism (AFE). The session brought together nurses, midwives and physicians from its Midland and Alma birthing units to practice rapid, coordinated response strategies, including an OB zone approach that clarifies team roles to ensure critical steps are not missed during high-risk events.
“These simulations give us the chance to practice responding to uncommon complications we hope never happen, but need to be prepared for,” said Tonia Vanwieren B.S.N., R.N., system nursing director of maternal child and women’s health, MyMichigan Health. “Having the equipment and time to train together builds confidence and helps us respond quicker when every second matters when an emergency arises.”
The MHA Keystone Center works alongside the Michigan Alliance for Innovation (MI AIM) on Maternal Health to equip Michigan birthing hospitals with practical tools that strengthen clinical readiness, build confident care teams and improve outcomes for mothers and babies across Michigan.
Members with questions about MI AIM or other maternal health quality improvement offerings should reach out to Naomi Rosner at the MHA Keystone Center. For more information and hospital stories, check out the 2025 Community Impact Report. Members with questions may contact Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.
The clinic has volunteers that donate their time, including registered nurses, medical students, mobile clinic volunteers, physicians and six paid staff members.
After seeing an increase in patients in the emergency department with no primary care due to having no health insurance, physicians identified the need to have a free clinic to help these individuals. Located within St. Clair County Community Mental Health, the clinic is open five days a week and accepts patients who are 18 years or older who are without insurance or receive Medicaid. The clinic provides routine health screenings, women’s health, non-emergency maintenance care of chronic illness, wellness checkups, specialist referrals, lab and radiology testing, diabetes education, benefits counseling and more. In 2024 alone, the clinic had a total of 1,239 patient visits and nearly 400 volunteer hours – 170 of those hours donated by local physicians.
In early 2025, the People’s Clinic expanded their scope by creating a mobile clinic program, which partners with local health and human service agencies to bring a clinic on the road for people in need of primary care. The clinic has many volunteers that donate their time, including registered nurses, medical students, mobile clinic volunteers, physicians and six paid staff members.
“Every person deserves access to quality, compassionate care, regardless of their income or insurance status,” said Justin Hooks, FNP-BC, AAHIVS. “At the People’s Clinic, we meet patients where they are and walk beside them toward better health outcomes and dignity in care.”
The teams at Trinity Health Michigan lead training sessions for staff and residents to increase awareness, reduce stigma and build confidence in overdose response.
In response to the opioid epidemic, four Trinity Health hospitals — Livonia, Oakland, Livingston and Ann Arbor — launched a regional initiative to expand access to Narcan (naloxone), a lifesaving medication that reverses opioid overdoses. Through the installation of free Narcan vending machines, these hospitals are providing 24/7 access to a critical resource that can restore breathing and prevent fatal outcomes during overdose emergencies.
At Trinity Health Oakland, community health workers play a pivotal role in the success of this initiative. Their deep connections within the community enabled strategic placement of the vending machine in a high-need area and guidance on outreach and education efforts. They also lead training sessions for staff and residents to increase awareness, reduce stigma and build confidence in overdose response.
Since its installation in March 2025, the unit has played a critical role in potentially saving 76 lives — a powerful testament to the importance of accessible intervention tools and community engagement. At the other Trinity Health Southeast Michigan hospitals — Livonia, Livingston and Ann Arbor — the Narcan vending machines were deployed through the efforts of community health and well-being directors, who identified key locations and coordinated implementation to ensure broad access across the region. By removing barriers to access and empowering individuals with the tools and knowledge to respond to opioid overdoses, the program is saving lives and improving well-being across Southeast Michigan.
“This work is deeply personal,” said Chiquita Berg, MD, MBA, FACOG, vice president of community, health and well-being, Trinity Health Michigan. “I’ve seen the heartbreak that substance use disorder brings and I’ve also seen the strength it takes to recover. At Trinity Health Michigan, we’re committed to meeting people with compassion, not judgment. Through bold leadership and trusted partnerships, we’re creating pathways to healing and sending a clear message: every life is worth saving, and every person deserves a future filled with hope.”
Camp 911 is a hands-on, youth-focused safety event supported by Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson hospital that is designed to teach school-aged children essential emergency response skills.
Students participating in Camp 911, a program supported by Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson hospital.
The camp brings together professionals from various fields to demonstrate practical safety techniques and procedures that can be used in everyday situations. Participants learn how to perform CPR, respond to and extinguish stove-top fires and practice safe habits when operating or riding all-terrain vehicles. The camp also covers swimming and watercraft safety, introduces children to the roles and tools of emergency responders and shares other vital safety tips.
Local law enforcement, medical staff, nurses and emergency personnel generously volunteer their time and resources to make Camp 911 a success. Their commitment reflects the community’s shared belief in the importance of preparing children to respond confidently and appropriately in emergency situations.
“Camp 911 is a wonderful resource for our local children, giving them practical experience dealing with emergency situations,” said Mandy Shelast, president, Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson. “Renee Stanchina, our nursing education coordinator at Marshfield-Dickinson, has embraced and supported the event and continues to be the driving force behind Camp 911’s success. Thank you, Renee!”
Marina, a Healthy Futures participant, with her family and newborn son.
Healthy Futures is a free family support program that helps answer questions and assists families in finding services and resources in the community. The program, which has no eligibility requirements, is a collaboration between Munson Healthcare, local health departments and healthcare providers across 31 counties in the northern Michigan region.
The main goals of the program are around increasing access to care, immunization education and breastfeeding support services. The program includes newsletters and texts sent by Munson, phone calls and home visits by a public health nurse in the community.
After struggling with breastfeeding her newborn daughter, one patient enrolled in the program and accepted a home visit, which resulted in a life-saving diagnosis and treatment for postpartum preeclampsia, a condition that can be fatal if left untreated.
“Today, I’m alive, healthy, and here to enjoy my daughter, son and family because Healthy Futures stepped in at the right time,” said Marina, a Healthy Futures participant. “They helped me breastfeed, taught me how to boost my milk supply, monitored my baby’s weight, checked in on my mental health…and after almost five months, they’re still checking on me and my baby.”
Rural schools in Newaygo County, like so many across Michigan, were seeing an increase in the number of students caught vaping. To address this community-wide concern, Corewell Health Gerber Hospital established the Corewell Health Gerber Vaping Prevention and Cessation program to reach students early on and find an upstream solution.
The program is designed to decrease youth use of tobacco and nicotine products through the implementation of early education and access to onsite quit services. With this in mind, Tobacco Treatment Specialists (TTS) are deployed into Newaygo County schools during grades 4-8 to provide hands-on, age-appropriate education. This engaging education teaches youth about the chemicals in vapes and highlights the health consequences that result from vaping.
Students have an opportunity to practice how to say no to peers and how to resist peer pressure. The program also reaches families and caregivers with this important messaging by presenting at school and community events throughout the year. The TTS team partners closely with school resource officers to identify students that have been caught with nicotine products and provide additional education and support as an alternative to suspension whenever possible. One-on-one, onsite, weekly cessation counseling is offered to each student. If students are caught again, they are referred to the juvenile court where more intensive education takes place for both youth and their parents.
During the 2024-2025 school year, 2,348 youth received nicotine prevention education and 16 were seen for tobacco cessation counseling.
“We are fortunate to collaborate with all Newaygo County Schools to provide this education and cessation support for students,” said Shelly Klochack MSN, BSN, RN, clinical program specialist, tobacco treatment specialist, Corewell Health Gerber Hospital. “Through our continued efforts, we are keeping more students in school and encouraging them to make healthier choices.”
