January 2025

Supporting People on Their Path to Healthy Weight
In Michigan, one in every three adults is obese. Although maintaining a healthy weight is critical to safeguarding health, it can be a real challenge for some. Their journey can include a combination of medical interventions, lifestyle changes, and professional support. Munson Healthcare offers a variety of programs, services, and resources to help support your patients in their New Year’s resolutions of achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, including:

Nutrition Counseling
Nutrition counseling is a cornerstone of any weight management plan. Working with one of Munson’s registered dietitians, patients receive personalized guidance on making healthier food choices, managing portion sizes, and developing sustainable eating habits. This approach addresses individual dietary needs and preferences, helping patients achieve gradual and lasting weight loss. Nutrition counseling is particularly beneficial for those who struggle with emotional eating or have specific health conditions.

A referral is required. To learn more, visit munsonhealthcare.org/nutrition.

Fitness Programs
Regular physical activity is essential for weight loss and overall health. In addition to supporting a healthy weight, a fitness program can improve mood, build stronger bones, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Munson offers medically-supervised fitness centers, exercise programs, and classes in Frankfort and Manistee.

Munson has also partnered with Mary Free Bed to offer comprehensive physical therapy throughout Northern Michigan. Mary Free Bed also offers Medical Exercise Consultation, which includes a 1-month YMCA membership, in Traverse City.

To refer a patient for physical therapy or a medical exercise consultation, please fax referral form to Mary Free Bed at Munson Healthcare or via DirectTrust. To learn more, visit munsonhealthcare.org/MaryFreeBed.

Weight Management Medications
Many of Munson’s primary care providers offer weight management medications, including GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) injections. Although patients often experience significant weight loss with the aid of these medications, it’s recommended to counsel patients to combine weight loss medications with lifestyle changes for sustained results as well as to advise them on the potential side effects and risks.

For a list of PCPs who are accepting new patients, visit Find A Doctor.

Surgical Weight Loss
For individuals with severe obesity, bariatric surgery can be a life-changing option. Procedures like Roux-en-Y, vertical sleeve gastrectomy, and duodenal switch alter the digestive system to limit food intake and nutrient absorption. In addition to facilitating substantial weight loss, these surgeries can also significantly improve health by eliminating or reducing some of obesity co-morbidities, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and sleep apnea. However, they require a lifelong commitment to dietary changes and regular medical follow-ups.

To refer a patient for Bariatric Surgery, please fax referrals to Traverse General Surgery & Trauma Care at 231-935-2424 or via Direct Trust at mhc.generalsurgery@gts.eclinicaldirectplus.com. To learn more, visit munsonhealthcare.org/bariatrics. You can also read a patient’s story on how weight loss surgery brought her new self-confidence.

To learn more about Munson’s healthy weight programs, patients can visit munsonhealthcare.org/healthyweightcenter.

Physician Spotlight

“I am here to work with my patients, without judgement, to help them understand their health so we can manage it together. I am here to be an educator and an advocate, as well as a physician.”

“I chose to practice surgery because I am able to work with both my head and my hands to help others."

“I enjoy creating longitudinal relationships with my patients and their families. I strive to work collaboratively with patients and specialists to create an effective care plan.”

“I like to make sure my patients play an active role in their health. We focus on ways they can contribute to their own health.”

Technology

Action Requested: Updated Lab Compendium
Munson Healthcare’s Laboratory Compendium has been updated and is available at munsonhealthcare.org/labcompendium. Please work with your EHR vendor to update your lab orders list. Although the lab compendium is available in Excel, PDF, and Word, please contact us if you need a different format.

Questions? For details on this change, visit munsonhealthcare.org/labcompendium. If you still have questions or experience any gaps after Jan. 25, please contact Dr. Jim Whelan at jwhelan@mhc.net, Medical Director, Munson Clinically Integrated Network and Northern Michigan Care Partners, or Munson’s Physician Liaisons at physicianliaison@mhc.net.

New Scheduling Processes in Charlevoix and Gaylord
As of Monday, Jan. 27, Munson’s centralized scheduling services are expanding to include locations in Charlevoix and Gaylord. Please use the phone numbers below to schedule testing at ALL Munson testing locations except those in Manistee as the process remains the same.

• Lab: 231-392-7891 (online scheduling: munsonhealthcare.org/lab)
• Radiology: 1-800-968-9292
• All Other Testing: 231-935-6718

Because of these changes, which align with our current processes, either the patient or your office will need to call to schedule their testing. With the current process, it is difficult to contact patients at a convenient time for them. Now, your patients can either call to schedule their testing, or your staff can call to schedule when the patient is in the office.

For details on how to order testing in Charlevoix and Gaylord as of Jan. 27, 2025, go to munsonhealthcare.org/chxomhscheduling.

One Patient Record (OPR) Goes Live Next Week!
One Patient Record (OPR), which goes live Saturday, Jan. 25, will create a single patient record experience across all of Munson Healthcare. For the latest OPR updates, read this week's One Patient Record Digest.

Questions? Refer to munsonhealthcare.org/OnePatientRecord for details and resources. If you have questions or experience any gaps after Jan. 25, please contact either Dr. Jim Whelan at jwhelan@mhc.net, Medical Director, Munson Clinically Integrated Network and Northern Michigan Care Partners, or Munson’s Physician Liaisons at physicianliaison@mhc.net.

PerfectServe Has New Names/Icons
A reminder Telmediq has been renamed PerfectServe Clinical Collaboration. And Lightning Bolt is now PerfectServe Lightning Bolt Scheduling.

Healthcare Team

Getting to Know: Brandon Wojcik, MD
Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Brandon Wojcik is a cardiothoracic surgeon with a broad practice in both adult cardiac and thoracic surgery. He has special interests in the repair of thoracic aortic aneurysms, multi-arterial coronary artery bypass grafting, valve repair and replacement surgery, the treatment of esophageal cancer, robotic navigational bronchoscopy to biopsy lung nodules, and robotic-assisted minimally invasive lung and mediastinal surgery. Originally from Saranac, Michigan, he was thrilled to return to his home state to practice in 2022.

Consults/Referrals
Dr. Wojcik is easily accessible and welcomes providers to contact him directly if they have any cardiac or thoracic-surgery related issues with their patients that they would like to discuss.

Email
bwojcik@mhc.net

Direct Trust
bwojcik@direct.mhc.net

Lung Nodule Program
click here

How does Munson’s new Ion robot technology improve patient care and outcomes?
Munson Medical Center is the only hospital in Northern Michigan offering robotic-assisted navigational bronchoscopy! The first procedure was performed in June 2024, and we have performed 50 to date. This minimally invasive procedure enhances our ability to diagnose and treat lung conditions with greater precision, safety, and effectiveness. This technology will help to diagnose and treat lung cancer at earlier stages, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes.

In addition to myself, other providers currently performing Ion navigational bronchoscopy include Melanie Holtrop, MD; Shelly Lall, MD; and Shiloh Tackett, MD.

Do you offer robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) for patients with early-stage lung cancer?
Yes! We have a very active robotic-assisted thoracic surgery program at Munson Medical Center. If surgery is determined to be the appropriate treatment, a patient can have this minimally invasive option offered in Traverse City. Dr. Shelly Lall and I perform robotic-assisted lung cancer resections using the da Vinci XI platform from Intuitive. This program was started five years ago by Dr. Lall and >95% of the surgeries we perform for lung cancer are now done robotically. We also perform robotic surgery for mediastinal tumors, including thymic masses.

How can I refer a patient into the Lung Nodule Program?
For referral guidelines and how to refer patients into the Lung Nodule Program, click here or scan the QR code below.

In Brief

Primary Hospital:
Munson Medical Center

Joined:
September 2022

Practices at:
Cardiothoracic Surgeons of Grand Traverse

Specialty:
Cardiothoracic Surgery

Education:
University of Michigan Medical School

Residency:
General Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital

Fellowship:
Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Colorado

Married to:
Jennifer Singleton, MD, who is an Emergency Medicine physician within the Munson Healthcare system

Children:
Preston (6), Juliana (3)

Favorite Pastimes:
Snowboarding, jogging, fishing, cooking, and experiencing the four seasons of Northern Michigan with his family

Welcome to Munson's Newest Providers!
In addition to announcing new providers when they join as part of Provider Moves (see below), we invite you to learn more about some of the recent additions to our Healthcare Team by reading their news release. Please join us in welcoming...

• Caila Kippe, PA-C, MMS | Munson Healthcare Orthopedic Institute
• Matthew Lederer, DO | Munson Healthcare Cedarwoods Internal and Geriatric Medicine
• Michael Sand, DO | Munson Healthcare Charlevoix Sleep Center
• Matthew Schuch, DO | Munson Healthcare Orthopedic Institute
  
  

Provider Moves
Munson Healthcare's Provider Moves webpage has been updated for December including new providers, practice 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 Munson-credentialed providers, go to Find A Doctor.

Please join us in welcoming the following new Munson-employed providers:

• Michael Morey, CRNA | Kalkaska Memorial Health Center Surgery
• Caila Kippe, PA | Munson Healthcare Orthopedic Institute - Gaylord
• Ellen Talbott, NP | Munson Healthcare Digestive Health

The following Munson-employed providers are new to the following MHC practices:

• Jonathan Beaulac, DO | Munson Geriatric Inpatient Services
• Molly Kidner, NP | Kalkaska Medical Associates (now practicing full-time in Kalkaska)

Also, Darcie Sharapova, MD; Munson Healthcare Charlevoix Primary Care, has changed her name to Darcie Dohnal, MD.

 Services

GT Mental Health Crisis and Access Center Opens to Patients
The Grand Traverse Mental Health Crisis and Access Center at 410 Brook St., Traverse City has now officially opened its doors to patients offering select services Sunday through Thursday, 8 am – 8 pm.  The Center is open to patients of any age, regardless of their ability to pay.

As part of a four-phase plan, Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Authority will operate the Welcome Center in this initial phase, providing services that include:

• Behavioral Health Assessments
• Face-to-face Crisis Intervention
• Psychiatric Pre-admission Screening
• Crisis Phone Screening (1-833-295-0616)
• Mobile Crisis services
• Peer Support services
• Referral to community services and outpatient therapy  

To learn more about the four-phase plan, read the news release or visit gtmentalhealth.org.

 Patient Care

Regional Increase in Seasonal Respiratory Viruses
As we are seeing an increase in COVID-19 and influenza diagnoses across northern Michigan, it is recommended to test symptomatic patients. We also continue to see cases of RSV.

Vaccination, including recommended boosters, remains our single most important tool to protect against serious illness, hospitalization, and death.

Regional respiratory illness data is updated weekly on our For Providers website.

MDHHS Updates Michigan Reportable Communicable Disease List
MDHHS has updated its list of reportable communicable diseases. Read the summary of changes.

The list is available in 2 formats:

• Organized by Pathogen (Color Print or Black & White Print)
• Organized by Condition (Color Print or Black & White Print)

The revised 2025 Healthcare Professional's Guide to Disease Reporting in Michigan (MDHHS Brick Book) is also available.

 Resources

 Reminders

Munson Accepting New Insurance – Health Alliance Plan – as of Jan. 1
Munson Healthcare is now accepting a new insurance plan – Health Alliance Plan. HAP is one of the largest health insurance carriers in Michigan. This contract covers Commercial HMO and PPO, Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO, and ASR Commercial PPO.

More information: 

• Verify Eligibility: Call 866-766-4661 or log into hap.org and go to Member Eligibility. 

• Prior Authorization: Check to see if a prior authorization is required by logging into hap.org and then select Procedure Reference Lists under Quick Links. Be sure to refer to the “Key” field for special instructions. 

• Claims: Call 866-766-4661 or log into hap.org and select Claims.

Questions? Visit hap.org or contact Kim Speese, Executive Director, Value Based Care/Munson CIN.

Announcing the Voices for Recovery Virtual Art Exhibition
We are thrilled to announce our annual Voices Art Exhibit. Submit your artwork now through Jan. 29!    

This year’s exhibition showcases the resilience, creativity, and voices of people impacted by substance use disorders — whether you are personally affected or supporting someone who is.   

This is your chance to share your story and/or inspire hope through art. We’re looking for pieces that explore the complexities of substance use disorder and the way it affects your life or others. All mediums are welcome! Let’s foster a community of understanding, healing, and hope together.  

The first 150 approved submissions will receive a $50 gift card for supplies!    

More information, dates, guidelines, and resources at recovery.voicesforcommunityhealth.org.

*Must be 16+ or co-sponsored by an adult to submit work.

 Education

MHC is hosting free, virtual education focusing exclusively on CME licensure requirements Feb. 26-28, 11 am - 1:30 pm. Stay tuned for topics, speakers, and how to register. For those who unable to join us live, sessions will also be recorded for viewing on-demand.

These activities have been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

Introduction to Treating Patients with Buprenorphine for Primary Care Providers
This virtual training is designed to equip providers with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively manage and treat patients with OUD using Buprenorphine.

• Date: March 5, 9 am - 1 pm
• Financial Incentives:
  • To minimize the impact on productivity, MHC providers can be compensated for their time through the HRSA MAT Access II Grant. For details, email SUDsupport@mhc.net.
  • BSBSM will also provide a $250 incentive to primary care providers who attend this training.
• Register: Click here to register.
  
  

Upcoming CME Opportunities
For a list of upcoming events, visit our website.

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

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