Dear Reader -

At Munson Healthcare, we have a goal to engage providers more directly and substantively. To help meet this goal, Munson Healthcare created Practice Pro, a monthly newsletter for officer managers and staff. In addition, Munson Healthcare has a For Providers website to help support practices and providers with key topics and resources.

We are now one year into Practice Pro and want to ensure the content of this newsletter and our For Provider website are relevant to you. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey.

Thank you,

Munson Healthcare Provider Services

 FOR PROVIDERS WEBSITE | NEW LOOK

The For Providers website has a new layout with the same relevant content. We encourage you to take a look around the website for helpful resources, tools, and information for healthcare entities. 

Practice Resources includes: Provider Onboarding/Offboarding; Forms (Referrals, Orders, Requests); Provider Profile Update Requests; and more. 

 MEDICAID ENROLLMENT

As of April 1, Michigan has resumed Medicaid eligibility renewals previously paused due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Patients currently participating in Medicaid will receive a renewal packet in the mail sometime over the next year, corresponding to the individual’s renewal month. Renewal dates may differ between family/household members. If Medicaid recipients do not return the completed renewal packet by their due date, they may lose or have a gap in Medicaid coverage. Those who are no longer eligible for Medicaid can purchase health insurance through HealthCare.gov.

The MDHHS has provided printable flyers and information sheets. 

Additional questions can be directed to MDHHS via their Beneficiary Help Line at 1-800-642-3195 (TTY: 1-866-501-5656), or at COVID-19 PHE Benefit Changes.

SERVICES

Neurology Headache E-Consults

The e-consult model will allow patients to receive neurology-guided headache care through a primary care provider (PCP); eliminating the need to be referred to the neurology office for a consult. The interprofessional consult involves a records review by a neurologist with a subsequent written and optional verbal discussion for the referring provider. 

Learn more about headache e-consults.

• Electronic Consultation Insurance Information - For PCP Offices
• Electronic Consultation Insurance Information - For Patients

COVID-19 UPDATES

COVID-19 Stats

In response to the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), Munson Healthcare will no longer be providing daily COVID-19 stats. We will continue to update our COVID-19 Resources page. 

Masking Policy Changes

On April 14, Munson Healthcare updated the masking and visitor policy in response to the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please find an outline of the new masking policy below. Any updates or changes to the masking policy will be made on this webpage. 

• Universal masking is no longer required for everyone in our hospitals, facilities, and clinics.
• Masking at our hospitals and clinics is optional for most patients and visitors.
• Some patients may still want to mask and, if requested, staff will honor that request and mask around those patients.
• Some Healthcare Team members may still want to mask and we support that and will provide all appropriate PPE to staff.
• Unvaccinated employees are included in the lifting of the mask mandate. Much like influenza, we may require unvaccinated team members to mask if rates of COVID-19 increase. We will keep the Healthcare Team informed if changes need to be made.
• Staff, patients, and visitors displaying any respiratory symptoms, such as fever, cough, runny nose, or sore throat, are required to mask.
• Patients who test positive for COVID-19 will continue to have the same precautions in place as before (including N95 masking by staff caring for those patients).
• Masking stations will remain in place at hospitals and clinics for anyone who wants or needs to mask.

Visitation Policy Changes

On April 14, Munson Healthcare updated the visitor policy to be more in-line with the pre-pandemic visitor policy. The new policy is patient/family centered, supporting patient rights; safety centered, supporting staff and patient safety; and more open, allowing healthy children to visit and allow more visitors per patient. The policy also outlines health and behavioral expectations for visitors and parameters and processes for restricting visitation; reminds the Healthcare Team that policy enforcement is a shared responsibility; covers MHC hospitals, clinics, and ambulatory sites; and specifies visitation restrictions and hours for certain areas and locations.

CLINICAL UPDATE

Updated Antimicrobial Card Guidelines

Munson Healthcare has updated its Antimicrobial Guidelines for Adults. In mid-May, the Antimicrobial Guidelines for Pediatrics can be found online.

Want a copy of the 2023 antimicrobial guideline pocket card? 
If you have received cards in the past, you will receive the same quantity as 2022. If you need to change your quantity or would like to request receiving this year's pocket card, please contact Nick Torney at ntorney@mhc.net with your name, office, address, and the number of pocket cards you would like to receive. 

For more information on antibiogram guideline updates, watch the April 26 Provider Forum. 

COMMUNITY HEALTH

Every Child Deserves a Healthy Future

Pregnant patients are encouraged to enroll in the Healthy Futures program, but new parents can also sign up.

By enrolling in Healthy Futures, parents will receive:

• Newsletters: Mailed newsletters that are personalized based on their child’s due date or age, including baby safety, nutrition, developmental milestones, and sleep.
• Home Visits: Free home visits from a nurse after the baby is born to help support feeding issues (and breastfeeding). Also includes newborn weight checks and blood pressure checks for mom. Helps to connect moms and their babies with immunizations, well-visits/find a doctor, playgroups and support, and other helpful resources.
• Text Updates: Parents can sign up for regular text updates that are customized to their child’s due date or age.

For more on the Healthy Futures program, parents can visit the Healthy Futures website, call 231-935-5640 or toll free at 1-888-403-8468, or email contact@healthyfutures.com

PRINT FLYER

Science of Substance Use Disorder

Understanding the science behind substance use disorder (SUD) can greatly enhance our relationships with people who struggle with SUD, including our patients. In a new video, James Whelan, MD, Medical Director for the Munson Healthcare Clinically Integrated Network explains the eye-opening biology of substance use disorder and what we can all do to create an environment of healing.

WATCH VIDEO

RESOURCES

Provider Moves

The Provider Moves webpage that lists provider moves across the MHC system has been updated for April including new providers, location changes, retirees, providers no longer on staff (or practicing), and other updates (e.g., name changes, practice moves, new phone and fax numbers). For a complete directory of MHC-credentialed providers, go to Find A Doctor.

Please join us in welcoming the following employed providers who are new to Munson Healthcare:

• Jonathan Bickmann, CRNA; Munson Healthcare Anesthesia
• Jonathan Ducastel, MD; Frankfort Specialty Clinic's Munson Healthcare Hypertension & Kidney Specialists
• Alyssa Pechta, NP; Munson Healthcare OMG Medical Group - Indian River
• Amy Popa, NP; Munson Healthcare Cadillac Urgent Care
• Jennifer Wolfe, CRNA; Munson Healthcare Anesthesia

The following are Munson Healthcare employed providers who are new to the following locations:

• Shaun Eisengruber, PA; Munson Healthcare Orthopedic Institute
• Susan Korson, PA; Munson Healthcare Neurology
• Whitney Mervau, NP; Munson Healthcare Northwood Obstetrics & Gynecology
• Diana Novak, MD; Munson Healthcare Northwood Obstetrics & Gynecology
• Caitlin Schmidt, DO; Munson Healthcare Northwood Obstetrics & Gynecology

To read past issues of Practice Pro, visit our website.