MHA staff recently attended the Navigating Supply Chain Challenges in the Current Healthcare Environment event hosted March 4 by the Great Lakes Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives. This participation represents the MHA’s continued efforts to advocate for member supply chain issues, which also includes supporting the priorities listed in an American Hospital Association letter issued Feb. 5 to the administration.
Chris Giese, senior vice president of AES-MS, the MHA Service Corporation Supply Chain Program Partner, served as moderator during the event. Panelists included MHA Service Corporation board member Andrea Poulopoulos, senior vice president of supply chain, Corewell Health; Christy Nguyen, supply chain manager, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital; and Luke Aurner, coordinator, Region 6 Healthcare Coalition.
Insights were shared on innovations to address workforce shortages and improve productivity. Corewell Health currently operates two distribution centers and are in the process of building a 300,000 square foot distribution center with automation in Wyoming, MI to mitigate these issues.
The panelists discussed cyber risks associated with automation, prompting participants to reflect upon and plan for what happens when there is a cyberattack or grid outage. Panelists also shared about creating resilient supply committees that can convene at a moment’s notice to evaluate suitable alternatives, early warning system algorithms and participation in the Healthcare Industry Resilience Collaborative. In addition, speakers covered how having a designated individual on the supply chain team dedicated to environmental sustainability, as well as the challenges and rewards of maintaining a resilient and diverse group of vendors amid cost reductions and changing federal policies.
Other issues addressed by the panelists included how to mitigate potential impacts of the new tariffs, inflation and the rapidly rising costs of pharmaceuticals and medical devices. One strategy shared was to focus on supply chain resilience with high-cost, low-volume items that are not conducive to traditional group purchasing organization negotiations, such as physician preference items, specialty drugs and capital equipment. Addressing this requires intentional focus on medical staff and organizational culture.
The MHA recently launched the Supply Chain Collaborative, which provides members with a complimentary cost analysis in collaboration with AES-MS, with no cost or committment required.
Members with questions or seeking more information may contact Rob Wood at the MHA.
The Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) released the 2024 Community Impact Report highlighting how Michigan hospitals are strengthening the healthcare workforce, enhancing access to care and building community health and wellness. This report shares 15 hospital-led community impact programs from nearly every region of the state.
Michigan hospitals are advancing the health of patients and communities beyond the traditional healthcare setting with a variety of community-focused programs. These efforts are a result of strategic community benefit investments, in addition to local partnerships and support from state and federal healthcare champions.
“The MHA Community Impact Report demonstrates a long-standing commitment by Michigan hospitals to advance the well-being of patients and communities beyond the traditional four walls of the hospital,” said MHA CEO Brian Peters. “It also showcases the strong, lasting impact of investments in health education, community outreach services, clinical research and workforce development.”
Examples of stories include Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital’s Street Medicine Oakland program that provides free medical care to patients experiencing homelessness; MyMichigan Health’sGrow Our Own initiative, which provides financial assistance to individuals who want to further their education in healthcare; and Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital’s Community Connect program that is reducing health disparities related to mental health, substance abuse and adverse childhood events.
The investments total more than $4.5 billion in community impact activities in fiscal year (FY) 2022, from education and prevention services to community outreach, research and workforce development.
“At ProMedica Health, we’re always looking for innovative ways to address the specific health needs of our patient population and reach communities where they are,” said MHA Board Chair Julie Yaroch, DO, president of ProMedica Charles and Virginia Hickman Hospital. “It’s inspiring to see the work of other hospitals featured in the report that are focused on bringing solutions to the table, especially when it comes to closing gaps in public health and enhancing access to care in rural communities.”
The full report and community impact stories from hospitals across the state can be accessed on the MHA website.
The MHA hosted a webinar Oct. 23 overviewing the National Special Pathogen System (NSPS) of care. The NSPS is a tiered system with four facility levels that have increasing capabilities to care for suspected or confirmed patients with high consequence infectious diseases.
During the webinar, Julie Bulson, DNP, MPA, RN, NE-BC, HcEM-M, director of business assurance, Corewell Health, overviewed the minimum capabilities of the NSPS system of care, specifically highlighting:
Regional opportunities to enhance overall special pathogen preparedness.
The pros and cons of joining the system of care at a level two or three.
How to align recommendations to advance readiness with The Joint Commission standards and building system-wide awareness.
Several MHA leaders recently visited the Corewell Health Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center which serves as a resource hub, training and coordination leader in the region.
Members interested in engaging in the NSPS, may visit NETEC.org or contact Julie Bulson at (616) 391-2244. NETEC will continue to build resources, develop online education and deliver technical training to meet the needs of partners.
Members interested in the on-demand recording and resources from the live webinar may contact Rob Wood at the MHA.
Attendees at the MHA Healthcare Workforce Conversation event Sept. 11 in Lansing, MI.
The MHA hosted nearly 150 thought leaders from healthcare, post-secondary education and workforce talent development Sept. 11 in Lansing for a discussion to help strengthen connections across the sectors focused on building the pipeline for Michigan’s future healthcare workforce.
Leaders engaged in the day-long summit, moderated by Elizabeth Kutter, senior director, government & political affairs, MHA, which highlighted panel discussions on healthcare workforce data, partnerships and best practices between hospitals and academia, guided discussions on addressing barriers to upskilling and reskilling current the workforce, challenges and opportunities in clinical placements and early career attraction. Each panel brought incredible knowledge and expertise to the topic areas, spurring robust conversations between panelists and attendees.
The event began with reviewing data indicating that more than 48,000 jobs in healthcare will be necessary in the next 10 years. That data highlighted the need to gather this diverse stakeholder group to push new, creative solutions to career attraction, educational enrollment and attainment, career readiness and retention. Colby Cesaro, vice president, Independent Colleges and Universities, moderated the panel comprised of John Karasinski, senior director, communications, MHA; Craig Donahue, CEO, Michigan Health Council; and Sarah Szurpicki, director, Michigan office of Sixty by 30.
Following the discussion, participants spent time sharing partnership best practices. Russ Kavalhuna, president, Henry Ford College; Don MacMaster, president, Alpena Community College; John Kaczynski, executive director of external governmental affairs, Saginaw Valley State University; Kelley McMillian, senior director of professional nursing practice, Corewell Health; and Brandy Johnson, president, Michigan Community College Association, shared how to develop direct partnerships between hospitals and post-secondary institutions, how to bring new programs to rural Michigan and how to structure a successful academic and healthcare employer partnership.
Over lunch, the group participated in a guided discussion led by Ryan Hundt, CEO, Michigan Works! and Christi Taylor, director of talent initiatives, Detroit Regional Chamber. The discussion encouraged attendees to network while discussing guided prompts on barriers to upskilling, reskilling and recruiting talent from within existing employee bases.
Following the guided networking lunch, the group dove deeply into the challenges academic institutions and hospitals alike are facing in undergraduate and graduate nursing clinical rotation placements. Immersive in-person clinical education is imperative to nursing licensure and long-term success. Without it, students lack preparedness for bedside practice, contributing to concerns about nursing turnover. This topic area teed up further need to specifically convene on ways to disrupt the current placement framework. Amy Brown, chief nursing officer, MHA, lead the panel of experts featuring Cynthia McCurren, dean of the school of nursing UM-Flint; Amy Stahley, dean of the college of health professions, Davenport University; Maria Vitale, administrative manager of students of nursing and physician assistant studies, Corewell Health; and Deborah Lopez, clinical liaison, UM Health-Sparrow.
The event concluded with Mark Burley, state director, HOSA Michigan, leading a discussion with Christin Tenbusch, director, care experience and organizational development, Covenant Healthcare; Jill Jarvis, manager, clinical development and education, Covenant HealthCare; Ashlee Offord, Corewell Health Lakeland GROWTH Internship Program; Jamie Jacobs, Michigan College Access Network; and HOSA’s state student director Zainab Ahmed. The group focused on how to attract younger generations to healthcare careers and career pathways, with conversations on impactful paid internship programs, early healthcare career exposure and the role leaders play in ensuring positive recognition of the profession.
Members with questions about the event or interest in future engagements are encouraged to contact Elizabeth Kutter at the MHA.
Colby Cesaro, vice president, Independent Colleges and Universities, moderated the panel comprised of John Karasinski, senior director, communications, MHA; Craig Donahue, CEO, Michigan Health Council; and Sarah Szurpicki, director, Michigan office of Sixty by 30.
Russ Kavalhuna, president, Henry Ford College; Don MacMaster, president, Alpena Community College; John Kaczynski, executive director of external governmental affairs, Saginaw Valley State University; Kelley McMillian, senior director of professional nursing practice, Corewell Health; and Brandy Johnson, president, Michigan Community College Association.
Amy Brown, chief nursing officer, MHA, lead the panel of experts featuring Cynthia McCurren, dean of the school of nursing UM-Flint; Amy Stahley, dean of the college of health professions, Davenport University; Maria Vitale, administrative manager of students of nursing and physician assistant studies, Corewell Health; and Deborah Lopez, clinical liaison, UM Health-Sparrow.
Christin Tenbusch, director, care experience and organizational development, Covenant Healthcare; Jill Jarvis, manager, clinical development and education, Covenant HealthCare; Ashlee Offord, Corewell Health Lakeland GROWTH Internship Program; Jamie Jacobs, Michigan College Access Network; and HOSA’s state student director Zainab Ahmed. (Mark Burley, state director, HOSA Michigan not pictured.)
Dr. Loren Hamel speaks at the 2018 MHA Annual Meeting.
The MHA announced the 2024 winner of its highest achievement award during the association’s Annual Membership Meeting June 27. Receiving the award for his decades of healthcare leadership is Loren Hamel, MD, president, Corewell Health in Southwest Michigan.
Hamel has been closely involved with the MHA for 18 years, highlighted by serving as MHA Board Chair for the 2017-18 program year. His tenure on the board lasted seven years and ended in 2019. He has continued serving in a leadership role as the co-chair of the MHA Public Health Taskforce since 2022. He also served on various MHA committees, councils and task forces, including the Legislative Policy Panel, the Safety & Quality Committee, the Strategic Planning Committee and the Task Force on Future Health Insurance Markets.
Dr. Hamel has been closely involved with healthcare in southwest Michigan, where he practiced medicine as a family physician for 23 years. He currently leads care delivery for three hospitals, 53 outpatient locations, telehealth initiatives and approximately 500 independent, affiliated and employed physicians in Southwest Michigan. Hamel also served as Chief Executive Officer of Lakeland Health for nine years and held various other executive roles with the organization prior to their integration with the former Spectrum Health in 2018 and his current position with Corewell Health.
Lakeland Health was formed through the integration of Watervliet Hospital, Southwestern Medical Clinic and Hospice at Home, which Dr. Hamel led. He also helped drive investments in several facilities that include the Pine Ridge Rehabilitation Center, Merlin and Carolyn Hanson Hospice Center and the Corewell Health Lakeland Hospitals Marie Yeager Cancer Center. Corewell Health Lakeland Hospitals – St. Joseph Hospital also completed a 260,000-square-foot renovation and expansion in 2022.
In addition to his role as a healthcare executive, Dr. Hamel served his alma mater Andrews University in Berrien Springs in several roles, including as a clinical professor, director of the university’s health services, president of the alumni association and board member. Dr. Hamel retires from his role at Corewell Health June 30, 2024.
The MHA recently launched the Supply Chain Collaborative, which provides members with a complimentary cost analysis in collaboration with AES-MS, with no cost or committment required. 
