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Securing Healthcare in Cheboygan

Securing Healthcare in Cheboygan

*This article appeared in the Cheboygan Daily Tribune on December 17, 2011.

As the Interim CEO, I am reaching out to our community and requesting your support. Your commitment to Cheboygan Memorial Hospital is greatly needed.

Why we need your support. Cheboygan Memorial Hospital has been a vital part of our community since 1942. Over the years, the organization has been able to grow with the region. However, the last several years have been extremely challenging for us financially. Healthcare reform, the economic climate in northern Michigan and some internal challenges have placed a significant strain on the organization. Healthcare in Cheboygan is at risk. Our goal moving forward is to secure healthcare in our community, recognizing it may look different than what it looks like today. Healthcare is a tough business but one very crucial to our community, its loss could be catastrophic.

Our commitment. The Board of Trustees and Executive Team are committed to work toward a healthier community and making every effort to secure and continue high quality patient care.

Actions taken to secure healthcare. With fiscal year 2011 being less than stellar, our focus began with a multimillion dollar turnaround plan that has been implemented. We have added a team of financial specialists who offer extensive experience in organizational restructuring. As part of our turnaround plan we have redesigned our care delivery model in the inpatient areas including our hospitalist program, renegotiated several contracts, restructured our anesthesia services, implemented productivity standards that have resulted in a reduction of force of 25 FTE’s, and made changes in the employee benefit programs. These changes have been aggressive but necessary to secure short term viability. We are actively making changes to our billing systems to address the number one dissatisfaction with our patients and community. Changes, though not complete, have begun to positively impact our hospital billing processes while additional strategies are being implemented to support the physician clinic billing processes. In order to continue to serve our community we have decided to seek partnership with a larger organization. This partnership may result in an affiliation, merger or acquisition. Activities focused on a successful partnership have been occurring over the past 30-60 days. The good news is that we have multiple parties interested in our organization. We will soon be entering due diligence activities with all interested parties with the goal to secure a partner in the next 90 days. This is an extremely aggressive time frame but necessary to meet our goal.

Quality care is close to home. CMH is known for its quality of care and recently received the 2011 Michigan Rural Health Quality Improvement Award. We hold State of Michigan, Rural Health and Joint Commission accreditation. CMH has outstanding primary care and general surgery physicians on staff. Cheboygan has access to many specialists both on campus and through affiliated staff providing specialized care such as cardiology, orthopedics and oncology services which include chemotherapy and infusion. Outpatient services include outstanding programs such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy, along with cardiac/pulmonary rehab. Lab and diagnostic testing such as MRI, digital mammography, radiology, CT, ultrasound, echocardiogram, and stress testing can all be done here in Cheboygan. Our surgical department safely provides quality care, offering inpatient and outpatient services including general surgery, endoscopy, gynecology (including total hysterectomies), urology and orthopedics (including total knee replacements, shoulder and carpal tunnel surgeries). We offer extensive surgical programs for ophthalmology (eyes) and otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat). These are just a few of our surgical procedures available right here in your community. We are here when you need us. CMH provides emergency care 24 hours a day, every day. The hospital also plays a key role in developing the emergency preparedness plans for Cheboygan County. Our hospital depends on the community and the community depends on the hospital. One without the other is not an option. On behalf of our employees, affiliated staff and many volunteers, I would like to thank you for your support. Working together we can meet our goal to secure healthcare in Cheboygan!

Shari Schult is the Interim CEO of Cheboygan Memorial Hospital. You can contact her at (231) 627-1240.

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Cheboygan
Memorial
Hospital
748 S. Main Street
Cheboygan, MI 49721
231-627-5601
800-866-9196