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Munson Heart Surgery: Committed to Mending Hearts in N. Michigan
Munson’s dedicated heart team includes a group of highly experienced cardiothoracic surgeons who save lives by performing heart surgery to bypass blocked arteries, replace or repair faulty heart valves, resect cardiac tumors, and monitor and intervene when appropriate on thoracic aortic aneurysms. Munson Medical Center stays at the forefront of adopting new technology and surgical techniques.
Munson Heart Surgery Highlights
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Cardiothoracic Surgeons of Grand Traverse (CTSGT) is repeatedly recognized in the state and nation as a top-rated coronary bypass and heart valve surgical group due to its great patient outcomes.
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Each year, Munson performs 400-500 open heart surgeries. In addition, they perform approximately 200 transcatheter aortic valve replacements (TAVR), which is a minimally invasive alternative to traditional cardiac surgery.
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Four cardiothoracic surgeons (see spotlight below) lead a team of physician assistants, nurse practitioners, perfusionists, and hospital staff who specialize in the care of cardiac surgery patients.
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We have established a thoracic aortic aneurysm evaluation program. Primary care providers who identify an aortic root or ascending aortic aneurysm >4.2cm should refer patients to CTSGT. With the assistance of a specialized nurse practitioner, we will evaluate and determine appropriate surveillance or treatment.
Patients experiencing symptoms of heart attack or stroke should call 911. EMTs can begin life-saving care immediately before they reach the hospital.
To learn more about Munson's Heart Services, patients can visit munsonhealthcare.org/heart.
 A reminder there’s a Heart Health toolkit available for practices.
To refer a patient for heart services, please fax referrals to Traverse Heart & Vascular at 231-935-5744 or via Direct Trust at MHC.TraverseHeartandVascular@direct.mhc.net.
To refer a patient for the thoracic aortic aneurysm evaluation program, please fax referrals to Cardiothoracic Surgeons of Grand Traverse at 231-935-5736 or via Direct Trust at MHC.CardiothoracicSurgeonsOfGrandTraverse@direct.mhc.net.
Our Cardiothoracic Surgeons
“As a native of Northern Michigan, it is fulfilling to care for the community that nurtured and supported me.”
“Every cardiothoracic procedure has a series of steps and curve balls are thrown at you all the time. I enjoy maneuvering a patient safely through each procedure. There is always a way to do it better and every patient is different.”
“As a Cardiothoracic surgeon at Munson Medical Center for the past 31 years, I have enjoyed working with the employees and staff of this hospital to ensure that our patients have the best possible experience. We are fortunate to have this great facility and associated hospitals in Northern Michigan.”
“The most rewarding aspect of my job is navigating a patient, and their family, through an incredibly challenging time in their lives. As their surgeon, I’ll be with them every step of the way, in and out of the operating room, working to improve their quality of life.”
 Technology
One Patient Record (OPR): Thank You to Ambulatory Offices!
We are deeply grateful for your patience and understanding as we continue to transition to the One Patient Record (Oracle Health) system, which went live on Jan. 25. This project aims to create a unified patient record experience across all of Munson Healthcare. We recognize that the implementation has brought several unforeseen challenges, particularly affecting patient scheduling and the receipt of outpatient lab results.
We sincerely apologize for the disruptions this has caused to your office's workflow and the impact on patient care. Your dedication and resilience during these past few weeks have been truly commendable. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to providing exceptional care.
For questions or issues, please contact the Help Desk at 231-935-6053. Munson's Provider Services is also available at PhysicianLiaison@mhc.net.
Updated Lab and Radiology Compendiums
A reminder Munson Healthcare has updated its laboratory and radiology compendiums, which can be found here:
If you haven't already, please work with your EHR vendor to update these.
Healthcare Team
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...
Provider Moves
Munson Healthcare's Provider Moves webpage has been updated for January 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:
The following Munson-employed providers are new to the following MHC practices:
Patient Care
Child and Adolescent Psych Consults Now Available
Munson's Child and Adolescent Psychiatry is now offering inpatient child and adolescent psych consults (ages ≤18) for MHC Hospital Medicine, Pediatric, and ED providers. Munson is also excited to offer outpatient child and adolescent psychiatric consults (ages ≤18) to MHC Primary Care providers.
Consults include:
- Phone consultation with provider and child/adolescent psychiatrist.
- Consultations will answer questions related to diagnoses, medication management, non-pharmacologic treatment options, and non-emergent disposition.
- For more complicated scenarios, child/adolescent psychiatrist will see the patient for a telemedicine evaluation.
- Families will be asked to complete an intake form with detailed history prior to visit.
- Potential of 1-3 virtual visits with patients, as indicated.
- Written evaluation/recommendations based on initial discussion/chart review will be communicated with provider.
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5pm.
How to request a consult: There are multiple ways to request a consult.
Reminders
MHC and HRMI Install 25 NARCAN® Distribution Boxes Across Northern MI
Munson Healthcare, in partnership with Harm Reduction Michigan (HRMI), has installed 25 NARCAN® (Naloxone) Distribution Boxes at facilities across the system to continue supporting a statewide trend of declining overdose deaths. With grant funding from the Health Resource and Service Administration (HRSA), Munson has placed repurposed newspaper distribution boxes with the life-saving drug at 25 MHC locations across Northern Michigan. For more information, read the news release.
NARCAN® Remains Effective After Being Frozen
Narcan is still effective after being frozen. Rolling a frozen nasal applicator between warm hands vigorously can quickly thaw the contents for use. If frozen at the time of an overdose, call 911 immediately and perform rescue breathing/chest compressions until the NARCAN® is thawed, or until help arrives. For more information, click here.
2025 MSU-CHM Rural Premedical Internship Program Taking Applications
Know someone who is interested in a career in the medical field? MSU-CHM is taking applications for its premedical internship program. The Rural Premedical Internship Program is designed to be a flexible, self-directed summer experience for premedical students interested in rural medicine. The program's goals are to introduce each student to rural medicine while working on activities designed to strengthen medical school applications and interview skills. To learn more and apply by March 14, click here.
Education
Save the Dates: MHC Virtual Michigan Licensure Sessions
Please share with your providers
Munson is hosting free, virtual education focusing exclusively on CME licensure requirements, including implicit bias, medical ethics, and pain & symptom management.
- Wednesday, Feb. 26
- 11 am - 12 pm: Pain & Symptom Management Topic | Register
Barent Bradt, DO; Mary Free Bed/Munson Healthcare
- Thursday, Feb. 27
- 11 am - 12 pm: Ethical and Practical Approaches to Drug Shortages | Register
Andrew G. Shuman, MD; Michigan Medicine
- 12 - 12:30 pm: Break
- 12:30 - 1:30 pm: Weight Bias: Providing Better Care for Patients with Obesity | Register
Heather Trudeau, MPAS, PA-C; Michigan State University
- Friday, Feb. 28
- 12:30 - 1:30 pm: The Multimodal Approach for Acute Pain Management | Register
Jenna Smigielski, PharmD; Munson Healthcare
For details, including learning objectives, please read the printable flyer. Sessions will also be recorded for viewing on-demand. For guidance on how to claim CME credits, read the FAQ.
These activities have been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
Upcoming CME Opportunities
For a list of upcoming events, visit our website.
To read past issues of Practice Pro, visit our website.
Have staff who would benefit from receiving Practice Pro? Please have them subscribe by completing this form.
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