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MyMichigan Health to absorb 3 Ascension hospitals

MyMichigan Health Medical Center in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Courtesy Photo
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MyMichigan Health
MyMichigan Health Medical Center in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

MyMichigan Health signed an agreement with Ascension Medical Group earlier this week to take acquisition of Ascension's hospitals in Standish, Tawas and Saginaw this summer.

Dr. Lydia Watson is MyMichigan's CEO and President. She said the purpose of the deal is to help people gain quality care within communities MyMichigan already serves.

"Our purpose is creating healthy communities together. And adding these three new hospitals allows us to continue to improve the health of the communities we serve," said Watson. "It also abides by our belief that we know that communities are healthier and stronger if we can provide care as close to home as possible. So by bringing the three Ascension hospitals into our fold, it's going to help strengthen us in the Great Lakes Bay region."

Dr. Watson told WCMU that MyMichigan's goal in absorbing these hospitals is to help bring quality services to patients locally, to keep them from having to travel to Detroit or Ann Arbor to get care.

"Our goal is to try to keep excellent care within their reach," she said. "We should be able to support programs that will keep them closer to home."

Brianna Edgar is a general assignment reporter for WCMU.