News List

Earlier this month, we’d reported that some of the Medicare telehealth flexibilities enacted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) during the COVID-19 public health emergency to promote the adoption and awareness of telehealth services were set to expire as of Dec. 31, 2024. Over...

Munson Healthcare is pleased to welcome Matthew Schuch, DO, to Munson Orthopedic Institute. 

Dr. Schuch is a Michigan native and is happy to return to his home state after completing his Orthopedic Trauma Fellowship at the University of Nevada School of Medicine in Las Vegas. He attended medical...

In-person classes for One Patient Record Wave 2 education have now been underway for two weeks! 

So far: 

With less than 40 days until our go-live date, this means that there are still hundreds of...

Munson Healthcare is pleased to welcome Caila Kippe, PA-C, MMS, to the Munson Healthcare Orthopedic Institute team in Gaylord. 

Caila attended Wake Forest University School of Medicine and is board certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. 

Her experience as an...

Munson Healthcare is pleased to welcome Ryan Miller, DO, to Infectious Disease Consultants. 

Dr. Miller completed medical school at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, an internship at Good Samaritan Hospital, residency at Cleveland Clinic Health System/South Pointe Hospital, and a...

As you may recall, HHS implemented various telehealth flexibilities during the COVID-19 public health emergency to promote the adoption and awareness of telehealth services. While some of these flexibilities have been made permanent, several key regulations are temporary and are set to expire on...

In response to Roe v. Wade being overturned, the 2024 update to the HIPAA Privacy Rule introduces significant changes aimed at enhancing the privacy of reproductive health care information. These changes are crucial for our Healthcare Team to understand and implement in our hospitals, clinics, and...

Munson Healthcare is pleased to welcome Nate Rousse, NP, to the Grayling Cancer & Infusion Clinic. 

After serving as a medic in the U.S. Army, he was recruited by his mom, an oncology nurse, to join Dr. Schwert's practice in Traverse City.  He finds oncology care to be an incredibly meaningful and...

No matter where you travel, maintaining data security is always important. Here are helpful tips while travelling:

Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital has received an “A” grade from The Leapfrog Group for Fall 2024. The hospital received the same top mark in the spring. The twice-yearly report card from the hospital quality organization was released November 15, 2024.

Manistee Hospital President Kelly Tomaszewski...

Munson Healthcare Grayling Hospital has received an “A” grade from The Leapfrog Group for Fall 2024. The hospital received the same top mark in the spring. The twice-yearly report card from the hospital quality organization was released November 15, 2024.

Munson Healthcare Grayling Hospital President...

Munson Healthcare Cadillac Hospital has received an “A” grade from The Leapfrog Group for Fall 2024, marking the fifth straight time it’s received recognition at this level. The twice-yearly report card from the hospital quality organization was released November 15, 2024.

Cadillac Hospital President...

As part of our Committed to You brand campaign, we’re sharing stories from your healthcare teammates about how they demonstrate their commitment to our patients every day. Mammography Coordinator Shelly Hass is Committed to Early Detection. 

“As a Mammography Coordinator, I am most committed to...

Munson Healthcare is pleased to welcome Dallas Foley, NP, to the neurosurgery team. 

She enjoys learning new things every day in a field that is constantly evolving. 

Dallas earned her graduate degree from the University of Michigan and is board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. ...

Munson Healthcare is pleased to welcome Taylor Schuch, DO, to Elmwood Primary Care. 

Dr. Schuch values building relationships with families and helping them with their health needs. She enjoys seeing patients of all ages and has special interests in pediatrics, obesity medicine, and women’s health. ...

CDC recommends lowering the age for pneumococcal vaccination from 65 to 50 years. To learn more, read the CDC news release.

CDC recommends 2nd dose of 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine 6 months after their 1st dose for adults 65+ and individuals who are moderately or severely immunocompromised. Updated...

As RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization among infants in the U.S., MHC's birthing hospitals will begin immunizing newborns against RSV who are eligible for Michigan's Vaccines for Children (VFC) program.

As there has been increased incidences of diagnosed pneumonia in pediatric populations in Michigan, please have a heightened suspicion for this diagnosis when evaluating a pediatric patient with a respiratory illness as pneumonia can result from infections with several common viruses and bacteria...

Munson Healthcare is pleased to welcome Michelle Chartier, DO, to the Little Traverse Primary Care team. 

As a family physician, Dr. Chartier takes pride in her role, taking care of people of all ages and providing holistic healthcare. She takes inspiration from her family physicians growing up, who...

Munson Healthcare is pleased to welcome Emily Nelson, FNP, to Munson Healthcare Cadillac Hospital’s Sleep Disorders Clinic.  

After working in the emergency and primary care settings during her nursing career, Emily realized sleep concerns were a leading issue in many of her patients, inspiring her...

Munson Healthcare is pleased to welcome Kegan Rummel, DO, to Cadillac General Surgery.

Dr. Rummel is a Michigan native who grew up in Lake Leelanau and has spent his entire career in the mitten state. He is a board-certified general surgeon and went to Michigan State University College of...

As part of our Committed to You brand campaign, we’re sharing stories from your healthcare teammates about how they demonstrate their commitment to our patients every day. Today, Michael Stargardt, DO, FAAP, Manistee Pediatrics is Committed to Young Lives.

“Growing up in Charlevoix, I always admired...

Munson Healthcare OMH Family Practice is pleased to welcome Victoria Watters, MD, to the clinic. Dr. Watters has transitioned her practice to Gaylord two days a week and will be full-time in Gaylord effective January 2025. This transition will increase access to family medicine and pediatric...

Munson Healthcare Boyne Area Health Center is pleased to announce the addition of same-day x-ray services. Services are open to the public and available Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4 pm. 

Patients with an x-ray order from their healthcare provider are encouraged to call the clinic at 231...

Munson Healthcare is pleased to welcome Leeda Bashardost, MD, to the Neurocritical Care team. 

Dr. Bashardost is a highly dedicated board-certified neurologist with a specialization in neurocritical care. Her passion for neurology was ignited during her undergraduate studies in Neuroscience at the...

Munson Healthcare is pleased to welcome Caitlin Buren, NP, to Munson Healthcare Gynecologic Oncology. 

Through her work as a registered nurse, Caitlin became interested in women’s health. As a nurse practitioner, she chose her path in gynecology oncology because it allows her to help improve the...

Munson Healthcare is pleased to welcome Shawna Thomas, NP, to the clinical team at the Comprehensive Pain Management Program.

After working 14 years as a registered nurse, she decided to pursue a career as a nurse practitioner. She completed her graduate education at Grand Valley State University.  

S...

Munson Healthcare is pleased to welcome Diana Bischer, NP, to the gynecology oncology clinical team in Traverse City. 

Diana obtained her graduate education from the University of Michigan. She was drawn to oncology because cancer has impacted a lot of people close to her, and it is a dynamic field...

Munson Healthcare is pleased to welcome Devin Rohde, PA, to the Advanced Wound Center. 

She obtained her graduate degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and is board certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. 

Connection to her community and...

Munson Healthcare is pleased to welcome Neil Shaw, NP, to the clinical team at Traverse Heart & Vascular. 

Prior to joining Traverse Heart & Vascular, Neil provided care to patients in the primary care setting. 

“I am passionate about providing exceptional care to the patients I see,” he says. Neil...

Munson Healthcare Boyne Area Health Center is pleased to welcome Catherine Wonski, MD to the family medicine team. 

After spending several years in a leadership role at Munson Healthcare Charlevoix Hospital, Dr. Wonski is excited to be offering primary care to her community in Boyne City. She...

Munson Healthcare is pleased to welcome Cory Messingschlager, MD, to the gynecology oncology team at Munson Healthcare. 

Dr. Cory Messingschlager is a fellowship-trained Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgeon (MIGS). He attended medical school at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine...

Munson Healthcare is pleased to welcome CJ Staley, PA-C to Traverse Heart & Vascular.

CJ chose to specialize in cardiology because the field requires him to take a multidisciplinary and unique approach to each patient’s care. He earned his graduate degree from Western Michigan University.  

“I strive...

Munson Healthcare is pleased to welcome Aeman Hana, DO, to Traverse Heart & Vascular. 

Dr. Hana chose cardiology because cardiovascular disease remains the number one killer of Americans. Although remarkable advances in medical care have been made to prevent cardiovascular disease, it unfortunately...

Charlevoix, Mich – Munson Healthcare Charlevoix Hospital is one of nine hospitals in Michigan, and 394 nationally, to receive a 5-star ranking for Physician Communication from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in 2024. 

With over 4,600 hospitals in the United States, this puts...

Manistee, Mich – Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital is one of nine hospitals in Michigan, and 394 nationally, to receive a 5-star ranking for Physician Communication from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in 2024. 

With over 4,600 hospitals in the United States, this puts...

Munson Healthcare is pleased to welcome Beau Johnson, PA-C, to the Neurosurgery clinical team. 

Beau chose neurosurgery because it allows him to problem solve and work with patients in a variety of settings from emergency through recovery. 

“I want all of my patients to know my passion toward stroke...

Munson Healthcare is pleased to welcome Anthony McClafferty, MD, to the team at Traverse Heart & Vascular. 

Dr. McClafferty chose to specialize in cardiology because of the significant impact cardiovascular disease has on patients’ quality of life. He attended Wayne State University School of...

Are you ready to Sworkit? Our new health and fitness tracker is available for all Munson employees, employed and contracted providers, and volunteers. 

You and two family members have free access to this user-friendly health app. Jump in and try it on your phone, tablet, or computer! 

Click here to...

We’re taking appreciation to the next level with The Rec Center, Munson's new recognition platform! It has a social media feel — you give thanks and see everyone being recognized in real-time.

Want to thank a team member for a job well done? In the Rec Center you can now give/receive Munson Merit...

In his role as Munson Healthcare Chief Medical, Quality, & Safety Officer, Dr. Joe Santangelo started rounding at each of our system hospitals in August.

Below are Dr. Santangelo's upcoming rounding dates. If you see him, please take a few minutes to say "hi", ask questions, and share any feedback.

Congratulations to the Healthcare Teams at Grayling, Charlevoix, and Munson Medical Center for being recognized as best hospitals by The Women’s Choice Award for Best Hospitals™. 

With healthcare awards spanning multiple service lines, the Women’s Choice Award for Best Hospitals is a credential that...

Integration Testing Round 2 (IT2) is now underway, and the outcome of this testing will help determine our readiness for the One Patient Record (OPR) Wave 2 go-live. As a result, it is necessary to pause certain IT application change requests. This will ensure the system environment is stable and...

Earlier this year, Munson Medical Center’s Advanced Registration and Testing Center (ARTC) merged with the Pre-Operative Assessment Clinic to become the Pre-Operative Assessment Clinic (POAC). This decision was made to streamline operations, improve patient experience, optimize outcomes, and expand...

As always, the attendees of our recent Ed Talks-Live! webinars posed some great questions to Munson Healthcare President and CEO Ed Ness and MHC Chief Information Officer Michael Saad.  

These “Ed FAQs” cover topics like our Regional Care Transformation Plan, VOICE Reports, One Patient Record...

After you've downloaded and logged into the Telmediq paging app, please drop off your hard pager at a drop-off box. Drop-off boxes are in the following secure areas:

To improve the patient experience and outcomes, Munson Healthcare has partnered with SCP Health to pilot an outreach campaign to adult patients (18+) upon discharge. After a successful four-month pilot at four* of our system hospitals, we are now expanding this program to the following emergency...

Effective Tuesday, July 30 at 10 am, a new layer of login security will be added for everyone accessing Munson Healthcare systems via Imprivata. Users will be required to enter either a 6-digit code (Checkpoint VPN or Storefront) or a 2-digit code (all other systems) from the Imprivata ID app.

When...

No matter where you travel this summer, maintaining data security is always important. Here are helpful tips while travelling:

If you currently use the Spok Mobile app for paging, please wait until July 16 to remove Spok as Telmediq will not have full functionality until July 16.

If you are not a provider in an on-call role and use a shared department pager today, you will be able to continue using a pager. If you use the...

PerfectServe's Telmediq, Munson's new paging solution, will launch on Tuesday, June 18. 

Munson Healthcare is proud to announce that it has been recognized for the second consecutive year as one of the nation’s 15 Top Health Systems™. This recognition, reported by Fortune and PINC AI™, the technology and services brand of Premier, Inc, also places Munson Healthcare as the fourth ranked...

As part of our Committed to You brand campaign, we’re sharing stories from your healthcare teammates about how they demonstrate their commitment to our patients every day. Today, Clinical Psychologist Michael Lucido, PhD, is Committed to Mental Health.

Choosing psychology was not really a choice for...

Munson's Provider Moves webpage has been updated for April 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...

PerfectServe — a replacement for clinical paging and on-call scheduling — will launch in mid-to-late June at all Munson Healthcare locations.

Rapid Intravenous Glyceryl Trinitrate in Ischemic Damage (RIGID): A potential neuroprotection strategy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients

Highlights:

A reminder per MHC's Medical Record Completion policy, credentialed medical staff are required to complete medical records within 7 calendar days of discharge at all MHC entities, both hospital and ambulatory.

For more information, read the Medical Records Completion FAQs.

Understanding the science behind substance use disorder (SUD) can greatly enhance our relationships with patients who struggle with SUD as it can help us to rethink harmful assumptions and unconscious biases.

To hear James Whelan, MD, Medical Director, MHC Clinically Integrated Network, explain the...

As the influenza season has ended, providers are asked to consider the possibility of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in persons showing flu-like symptoms or conjunctivitis who have relevant exposure history.

Pediatric Sepsis Week (April 21-27) is an annual observance to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of sepsis in children as it is the leading cause of death of young children and babies worldwide. In the U.S., 75,000 children develop sepsis each year (i.e., 200 children/day).

Unused or expired prescription drugs can be safely disposed of at the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 27, 10 am – 2 pm.

MHC offers free, safe medication disposal year-round at 9 of our facilities. Acceptable medications include pills, tablets, capsules, ointments, creams...

Congratulations to David Michelin, MD, who recently co-authored the following clinical journal article in JCO Precision Oncology:

Regorafenib in Patients With Solid Tumors With BRAF Alterations: Results From the Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry (TAPUR) Study

Highlights:

Munson Healthcare (MHC) announced this week it has made a commitment to donate $300,000 to Traverse Health Clinic over the next two years to support expansion of the Street Medicine Program in Traverse City. 

"This is an exciting day for Traverse Health Clinic and our partners,” said Casey Kandow...

Munson Healthcare is pleased to welcome Stephen Welsh, MD, to Munson Healthcare Cadillac Primary Care. 

Dr. Welsh graduated from Wayne State University School of Medicine and completed his residency in Family Medicine at Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners in Grand Rapids. He is board certified...

The latest issue of Practice Pro, MHC’s Newsletter for Practice Managers/Professionals, was released on April 17.

To read the April issue, click here. An archive of past issues is available on our website.

If you are not already receiving the Practice Pro newsletter and would like to subscribe, please...

The CDC, FDA, and several state/local health departments are investigating reports of harmful reactions among people who received injections of counterfeit or mishandled botulinum toxin (Botox). For details, read the CDC alert.

As of April 12, no cases have been reported in Michigan.

Symptoms

Munson Healthcare is thrilled to announce the upcoming Charlevoix Baby Expo, scheduled to take place on April 18 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Charlevoix Hospital Birthing Center, located on the lower level of 14700 Lake Shore Dr., in Charlevoix.

The Munson Healthcare Baby Expo offers a unique...

In March 2024, we implemented standardized life support certification requirements for all MHC-credentialed providers.

The new requirements are being phased in by specialty based on reappointment cycles with maintenance of life support certification a requirement to maintain privileges.

Al...

Congratulations to Peter Kohler, MD; Yelena Kier, DO; and MSUCHM medical student Sierra Silverwood, who recently co-authored a clinical journal article – Ectopic production of beta-hCG in anal cancer: A case report – in Clinical Case Reports.

Munson Graduate Medical Education team is proud to announce the Residency Class of 2027! 

Residents match in March and will join the Munson team this summer. We look forward to welcoming these residents to the Munson family:   

Munson's Provider Moves webpage has been updated for March 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...

Although the risk is low, the CDC has issued a health advisory on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus. For more, read CDC's news release.

Although human infections with HPAI A(H5N1) virus are rare, having unprotected exposure to any infected animal or to an environment in which...

National Healthcare Decisions Day, celebrated annually on April 16, is an important reminder to encourage people to complete an advance care directive.

For Your Patients

Munson Cadillac Hospital held an open house April 10 for members of the hospital’s Foundation Board and Community Healthcare Council to introduce them to the hospital’s most recent addition to their surgical services technology. The da Vinci XI® surgical robot was put into service in early February...

Gift of Life Michigan held its annual Gala on Thursday in Novi where more than 40 of our team members from Munson Medical Center traveled to accept the Hospital of the Year award.

Additionally, ICU Nurse Manager, Eric Jean was honored as the Donation Liaison Champion and John Stanifer, MD, and...

In response to provider and clinician feedback regarding the ongoing challenges with Spok Mobile, a multidisciplinary Munson Healthcare team evaluated several technology solutions for clinical paging and on-call scheduling.

A reliable messaging solution is critical to support timely patient care...

Practicing good hand hygiene is the single most important strategy for preventing healthcare-associated infections. It’s also one of the best ways to protect our patients and our Healthcare Team. Which is why we recently kicked off our “Committed to Healthy Hands” campaign promoting best practices...

Starting this Sunday, April 7, Munson Urgent Care West in Traverse City is extending its Sunday hours.

Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 am – 7 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm.

Starting this summer, the clinic will also be open regular hours on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day.

No...

Munson Healthcare launched a new best-in-class EMR — PointClick Care (PCC) — at the following long-term care facilities on April 1:

With cybersecurity at TCAPS in the news and the recent Change Healthcare cyberattack still impacting healthcare organizations nationwide, these events are reminders that cyberattacks are targeting critical infrastructure everywhere, even in Northern Michigan. We need your help in keeping MHC safe...

To screen patients in preparation for use of medications such as primaquine, MMC's lab will begin offering Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency screening beginning March 25. For details, read the latest LabMed Report on G6PD.

An archive of LabMed Reports is available here.