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.