"In her decades on the West Shore Medical Center Board of Trustees, Saari has been a strong proponent of local health care, supporting initiatives to bring state-of-the-art technologies and needed specialties to Manistee County," said West Shore Medical Center CEO James Barker. "Her advocacy on behalf of the health care workers and patients has benefited countless people in the community."
In 1999, the Michigan Health and Hospital Association recognized Saari with the Trustee of the Year Award for her leadership and governance efforts. Saari has established a legacy of education at West Shore, supporting two scholarships to help sustain the future of health care in Manistee County, one for high school seniors pursuing post-secondary education in health care fields and one for West Shore employees furthering their education.
Much has changed since Saari was appointed to the Board of Trustees in 1975. What was then known as West Shore Hospital was licensed for 95 beds, with most of the hospital's operations centered around the care of inpatients whose stay averaged eight days. During Saari's tenure, health care payment models have changed repeatedly, imaging technology has advanced from simple x-rays to PET scans and MRIs, and the number of physicians employed by the hospital has grown.
"While health care has undergone almost continual change, what has remained constant during the last 40 years is Saari's dedication to Manistee County," said Barker. "While her position on the board will be filled, no one can take her place."