The MHA received media coverage on several topics during the week of Sept. 12. Areas of focus included the Economic Impact of Healthcare in Michigan report and the new national rural emergency hospital (REH) designation.
MHA CEO Brian Peters was a guest on the MIRS Monday podcast Sept. 12, discussing the findings of the Economic Impact of Healthcare in Michigan report, while discussing a variety of other challenges impacting the healthcare industry and potential legislative or policy solutions. Also appearing in the episode was Republican gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon and former Gov. Gretchen Whitmer aide Mark Burton.
The Lansing State Journal also covered the Economic Impact of Healthcare in Michigan report in an article published Sept. 14 that looked at emergency department wait times and staffing shortages. The article referenced data from the report on the sudden loss of healthcare workers in 2020 as a result of the pandemic and how that has led Michigan to have an average of 1,700 fewer staffed beds in Michigan hospitals compared to October of 2020.
Crain’s Detroit Business also published a story Sept. 15 on Sturgis Hospital pursuing the new REH designation. Peters is quoted at the end of the article discussing why hospitals may consider adoption the new designation.
“This is about keeping the doors open,” said Peters. “Telemedicine is a potential game changer for these struggling hospitals. Prenatal visits are critically important, but if you’re in a community where you used to have a full-service OBGYN clinic and now you don’t, a robust telemedicine offering can bridge that gap. This will allow health care leaders to not feel they are abandoning their mission while remaining open.”