October 2023

Regional Care Transformation Plan

On September 27, Munson Healthcare (MHC) announced its 3-year Regional Care Transformation Plan to provide more and better patient access to healthcare services across Northern Michigan and preserve care close to home.

When the plan is complete, patients will experience: 

  • New front doors: More access and different options for care. 
  • Efficiency & Convenience: Easier access to preventive care (e.g., primary care, x-rays, blood draws).
  • A more consistent, seamless experience: Less paperwork, better coordination, more virtual tools.
  • High-Level Specialty Care: An elevated level of care throughout the region – patients won’t need to go downstate for high-level specialty care (e.g., cardiology, stroke, oncology).

Future State: What's Changing?

All Regions

  • Expanding primary care, improving access and expanding virtual care.
  • Patients have a consistent, quality experience no matter what Munson Healthcare System front door they go through.
  • Emergency Services remain at all hospitals.

East Region

  • Otsego Memorial Hospital becomes a Regional Hospital.
  • Charlevoix Hospital and Grayling Hospital become Community Hospitals; focused on more outpatient services and limited inpatient services.
    • Example: Redesigned Regional Birthing Center in Gaylord, serving Grayling/Gaylord communities. 

South Region

  • Cadillac Hospital becomes a Regional Hospital.
  • Manistee Hospital and Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital become Community Hospitals; focused on more outpatient services and limited inpatient services.
    • Example: Regionalizing after-hours inpatient surgery.

Central Region

  • Munson Medical Center functions as high-level specialty care center, available 24/7 to treat complex conditions (e.g., NICU, Oncology, Critical Care, Stroke, Cardiology).

For more information — including frequently asked questions — on the Regional Care Transformation Plan, visit munsonhealthcare.org/transformation and watch the recording of a special virtual Provider Forum with Dr. Joe Santangelo, Ellen Smith, and our Regional CMOs. 

 

SERVICES

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Grand Traverse County has the highest breast cancer incidence in Michigan. As healthcare professionals, it is important to encourage and provide the resources patients need to seek preventive care like a mammogram.

As of Spring 2023, Munson Healthcare is proud to offer 3D mammography in all 11 locations. 3D mammography is an option for any patient. It is also the preferred choice for both patients and radiologists. Annual 3D screening mammography is recommended for all women who meet these guidelines and is covered by most insurances. 

To give your patients' the best option, make sure to update your electronic health records to have 3D mammography as the default option. If you use Physician Web Scheduling (PWS), only 3D Mammography is orderable.

To make an appointment, call: 

*On Sat., Oct. 21, this location is hosting a mammography screening day. Call to make an appointment. Click here for a flyer to print and post.

 

Informed Consent: Witness Not Required for Phone Consents

A witness is no longer required for telephone consents. The Informed Consent FAQs have been updated to reflect this change. For more information, read the updated Informed Consent policy.

 

Ambulatory Standing Order Pre-procedure COVID-19 Testing

The Ambulatory Standing Order for Pre-Procedure COVID-19 Testing has been sunset. This decision was made because COVID-19 testing prior to surgeries/procedures is no longer required for all pre-surgical patients. COVID-19 testing remains available for providers to order.

Pre-procedural COVID-19 testing is still recommended to determine the best plan of care (e.g., rescheduling surgery/procedure) if the patient reports COVID-like symptoms and has risk factors as outlined in MHC's Surgical/Procedure Guidelines Following COVID-19 Infection.

 

Charlevoix Women's Health Expands Services to Harbor Springs

Munson Healthcare Charlevoix Women's Health is pleased to announce they began seeing patients at the Munson Healthcare Harbor Springs Specialty Clinics on Oct. 2. Board-certified OB-GYN physicians, James Jeakle, MD and Caitlyn Monks, DO, will rotate through the clinic hosting hours every Monday from 8 am - 5 pm.

The clinic, located at 8881 M-119 in Harbor Springs, will care for a wide variety of conditions including pre- and post-natal, gynecologic care, well-women visits, and menopause and hormone therapy.  

Maurica Cox, NP, along with Drs. Jeakle and Monks, will continue to see patients at the Charlevoix clinic location. All 3 providers are accepting new patients. Patients can make an appointment at either location by calling 231-547-4477.

 

New Traverse City MHC Home Medical Equipment Location

 

The Munson Healthcare Home Medical Equipment retail location at 921 W. Front Street has closed and will reopen on Monday, Oct. 16 within the north entrance of Foster Family Community Health Center, 550 Munson Ave. Intake and delivery services in Traverse City will not be impacted during this transition.

 

MHC Receives Grant Towards Pediatric Behavioral Health Services
Funds to provide pediatric services at planned GT Center for Mental Wellness

The Michigan Health and Hospital Association (MHA) has awarded a $5 million grant to Munson Healthcare toward adding much needed pediatric mental health and crisis services in northern Michigan.

The funding is in addition to $5 million in American Rescue Act Funding awarded in June toward establishment of the Grand Traverse Center for Mental Wellness to be located on the Munson Medical Center campus. The additional $5 million from the MHA will be used exclusively to provide pediatric programming at the center.

Over the past three years, there has been 25 percent increase in the number of children and youths admitted to Munson Healthcare Emergency Departments. This funding will help toward goals to create greater access to pediatric mental health and crisis services over the next four years.

READ MORE

 

CLINICAL UPDATES

Infusion Order Requirements

Please review infusion order requirements and how to schedule your patient for treatment close to home in Cadillac, Charlevoix, Gaylord, Grayling, Manistee, St. Ignace, and Traverse City.

 

RSV Updates

 

RSV Testing Not Recommended
For pediatric patients less than 2 years of age, RSV testing should only be ordered on a case-by-case basis when it will help guide treatment decisions regarding therapy or hospital stay.

For patients 2 years of age or older, routine RSV testing is discouraged as it is of limited clinical utility.

MHC will monitor the situation to see if any adjustments to the recommended age range become clinically indicated.

RSV Vaccine for Babies, Toddlers Now Available
Beyfortus (Nirsevimab) — a long-acting monoclonal antibody for prevention of severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) among infants and children — is now available for providers to order. Nirsevimab may be given in child's first year and then their second RSV season for some high-risk patients.  

MHC Facilities: MMC P&T has approved the formulary addition of Nirsevimab for use in MHC pediatric and family medicine clinics, as well as for high-risk NICU discharges during RSV season, using the same inclusion criteria previously used to determine Synagis (Palivizumab) eligibility. This inpatient restriction is consistent with practice at other Michigan health systems. Healthy infants are recommended to receive a dose at their first post-discharge pediatrician visit, or first visit during RSV season for those born outside of the season.

The CDC does not recommend Nirsevimab for most infants born to a mother who received maternal RSV vaccine, except for infants where less than 14 days have elapsed between vaccination and birth.

For more on prescribing Nirsevimab, read AAP's Nirsevimab FAQs.

Vaccine for Pregnant Individuals to Prevent RSV in Infants

The CDC recently recommended the first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for pregnant people to protect their newborn from severe RSV illness.  You can read more at CDC Recommends New Vaccine to Help Protect Babies Against RSV. 

 

Vaccine Preventable Diseases in Children

The State of Michigan recently reported that overall childhood immunization rates continue to decline across the state. Immunization levels have fallen below the level necessary to maintain herd immunity, which may lead to an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease.  

We need your help to encourage parents to keep up to date on vaccinating their children against preventable illnesses. Please talk to every patient, every visit, every time about immunizations. Help us keep one another healthy.

The I Vaccinate initiative (supported by MHA) has a provider toolkit to help providers educate Michigan parents about the safety and effectiveness of childhood immunizations.

 

RESOURCES

Provider Moves

The Provider Moves webpage that lists provider moves across the MHC system has been updated for September 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:

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

 

EDUCATION & EVENTS

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