One of Michigan’ most sprawling hospital systems is expanding a little more. MidMichigan Health in Midland and the Mackinac Straits Health Systems in the U-P have announced an affiliation.
The agreement focuses on bolstering I.T. and Electronic Medical Records at the Saint Ignace hospital. President and C-E-O of Mackinac Straits Health Systems, Karen Cheeseman said the affiliation will, among other things, help her health system serve the needs of Michigan’s tourists.
"It allows us to communicate much more efficiently with hospitals when we’re treating those patients here that are traveling through the area and need that information transferred back to their main residence and their primary health care providers, specialists, etc."
President and C-E-O of MidMichigan Health, said the affiliation will also expand the footprint of her system.
"I think from a geography standpoint, we probably have one of the largest footprints of any health system in Michigan. Our current northern facility is Alpena, and this now takes us above the bridge."
Postler-Slattery said the affiliation will allow patients to benefit from the shared knowledge that larger case loads can provide.
"More people that have congestive heart failure, more like diagnosises, you can work collectively as a system to work on helping make sure that that care gets delivered the same way no matter where you are in the state. "
MidMichigan Health is a supporter of WCMU