One in five American adults – about 48 million individuals – are considered caregivers. In observance of National Caregiver Month, this episode of the MiCare Champion Cast explores how the caregiving landscape has evolved and what resources are available to support caregivers in clinical and non-clinical settings. The episode features Diane Mariani…

This episode of the MiCare Champion Cast explores why casting a vote in the 2024 General Election matters to the future of healthcare in Michigan, what health policy issues are top of mind for the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) and what role the association plays when it comes to advocating for healthcare and Michigan hospitals.To lea…

In this episode of the MiCare Champion Cast, Rick Pollack, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association (AHA) joins MHA CEO Brian Peters to discuss current and future healthcare priorities. In addition to sharing more about his journey to the AHA, Pollack explores the fundamental shifts he's seen within the national healthcare environment…

This episode of the MiCare Champion Cast explores more about Munson Healthcare’s Ask-A-Nurse program with Bonnie Kruszka, DNP, FNP-C, ENP-BC, RN, Chief Operating Officer, Munson Physician Network, Chief Advanced Practice Provider, Munson Healthcare; and Allison Passinault, RN, BSN, Ambulatory Nursing Manager for the Ask-A-Nurse program and Centrali…

This episode of the MiCare Champion Cast is a conversation between MHA CEO Brian Peters and 2024-2025 MHA Board Chair Julie Yaroch, DO, president of ProMedica Charles and Virginia Hickman Hospital. Listeners can expect to learn more about Yaroch’s journey becoming a healthcare leader, along with her aspirations for the new board of trustees and wha…

This episode of the MiCare Champion Cast explores the role artificial intelligence (AI) plays in healthcare today and what it will look like in the future. The episode features Bruce Brandes, president of Care.ai and Monica Holmes, a PhD candidate in bioinformatics at the University of Michigan and current member of the MHA AI Task Force.To learn m…

This episode of the MiCare Champion Cast, released during Mental Health Awareness Month, features two providers from Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services who discuss how clinicians are navigating virtual care in the behavioral health space.Dr. Heide Rollings, M.D., child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship director and Dr. Lisa Vroman Stokes…

This episode of the MiCare Champion Cast explores what happens when a hospital or health system experiences a cyberattack featuring Jack Kufahl, chief information security officer at Michigan Medicine. Those interested in learning more about Michigan Medicine can visit: https://www.michiganmedicine.org/Those interested in learning more about CyberF…

This episode of the MiCare Champion Cast, released during National Public Health Week, explores how hospitals are engaged in public health. Featured guests include Julie Yaroch, D.O., president of ProMedica Charles and Virginia Hickman Hospital and senior vice president of ProMedica Inpatient and Retail Pharmacy, and Frank Nagle, MBA, director of C…

This episode of the MiCare Champion Cast, released during Patient Safety Awareness Week, uplifts why hospitals should prioritize submitting adverse event data and what can be done to improve the culture around reporting. The episode features Nadine Post, MSN, RN, manager of Quality and Patient Safety at MyMichigan Health and Nicole Stefan, CNMT, MB…

This episode of the MiCare Champion Cast explores the impact medical mistrust has on health outcomes for Black Americans featuring Lynn Todman, PhD, vice president of Health Equity and Community Partnerships for Corewell Health.Av Michigan Health & Hospital Association

This episode of the MiCare Champion Cast explores workplace violence resources for Michigan hospitals featuring Jenifer Monzo, director of Quality and Risk Management at McKenzie Health System and Stephen Weiler, IPEM, MEP, CPP, CPD, manager of Resiliency Services at HSS.MHA-member hospitals interested in receiving support for safety and quality in…

The December 2023 episode of the MiCare Champion Cast, released during National Influenza Vaccination Week, features Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MD, MPH, FIDSA, chief medical executive for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and Dr. Matthew Denenberg, MD, pediatric emergency medicine physician at Corewell Health. Throughout th…

The November 2023 episode, released on National Rural Health Day, features 2023-2024 Small and Rural Hospital Council Chair Peter Marinoff, president and CEO of Munson Healthcare’s (MHC) Southern Region. Marinoff is joined by Lauren LaPine, senior director of legislative and public policy at the MHA. Together, they explore the unique challenges fac…

This episode of the MiCare Champion Cast, hosted by MHA CEO Brian Peters, features MHA Board Chair Shannon Striebich, president and CEO of Trinity Health Michigan. Peters and Striebich explore what priorities are top of mind for the MHA Board, what workforce challenges are impacting Michigan hospitals, and what behavioral health efforts are underwa…

September is National Recovery Month. Over the last decade, opioid use disorder (OUD) has risen exponentially across the state and country. In 2022 alone, there were more than 21,000 overdose cases reported in Michigan emergency rooms, and sadly, more than 2,600 overdose deaths. This impacts people at all walks of life, across all communities, and …

On the first episode of the 2023-24 program year, Melanie Brim, president and CEO of the Michigan Health Council (MHC), discusses the Michigan Healthcare Workforce Index (MHWI) – a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive index assessing the “health” of 36 healthcare occupations in Michigan. Brim covers the methodology of the index, what healthcare jobs ra…

On the final episode of season 1 of the MiCare Champion Cast, MHA CEO Brian Peters and Kim Meeker, RN, BSN, MBA, president of the Michigan Organization for Nursing Leadership (MONL), discuss a recent package of bills introduced in the Michigan Legislature that could severely harm hospitals and access to patient care, if passed.Senate Bills 334 – 33…

On episode 30 of the MiCare Champion Cast, State Representative Julie Rogers, 41st House District; and Laura Appel, executive vice president of Government Relations & Public Policy at MHA, discuss current health policy priorities impacting Michigan hospitals, patients and communities.Those interested in learning more about Rep. Rogers, can visit: h…

On episode 29 of the MiCare Champion Cast, State Representative Graham Filler and Dr. Julie Yaroch, DO, president of ProMedica Charles and Virginia Hickman Hospital and Senior Vice President of Inpatient & Retail Pharmacy for ProMedica Health System discuss how lawmakers, healthcare leaders and the community can work together to improve and address…

In conjunction with the MiCare Champion Cast, Hillsdale Hospital released an episode of the Rural Health Rising podcast April 27 featuring MHA CEO Brian Peters. Joining hosts Jeremiah Hodshire, CEO of Hillsdale Hospital, and Rachel Lott, director of Marketing and Development, Peters explores the state of healthcare as the MHA and member hospitals a…

Adam Novak, director of safety & quality at the MHA Keystone Center, joins host Lucy Ciaramitaro during Patient Safety Awareness Week to provide a refresh on the work of the patient safety organization (PSO) along with resources that are available to Michigan hospitals and health systems through the Keystone Center. To learn more about the upcoming…

Helen Johnson, RN, MSN, NEA-BC, FACHE, president at Sparrow Eaton Hospital and chair of the MHA Small & Rural Hospital Council, shares the impact rural hospitals have on their communities and local economy.Johnson shares her personal journey to healthcare and the heart-warming experiences that have made her – and many of her staff – proud to serve …

Dr. Ross M. Ramsey, MD, President & CEO of Scheurer Health, gives listeners an inside look at working in one of Michigan’s rural hospitals as both a clinician and leader. Ramsey, who grew up in the region before attending medical school at Michigan State University, explains the care model and culture that sets rural hospitals like Scheurer apart f…

On this episode, Laura Appel, executive vice president of Government Relations and Public Policy at the MHA, discusses the upcoming general election, which will set the stage for critical healthcare decisions for Michigan and the nation in the years ahead. Appel explains how voting directly impacts healthcare and outlines details on this year’s can…

On this episode, MHA CEO Brian Peters is joined by T. Anthony Denton, J.D., MHSA, senior vice president and CEO of University of Michigan Health – Michigan Medicine, and 2022-2023 Chair of the MHA Board of Trustees. The two explore priorities for the new program year along with efforts underway to address workforce challenges, improve health equity…

On this episode, Lucy Ciaramitaro of the MHA interviews Karen Cheeseman, Chief Executive Officer of Mackinac Straits Health System and Leah Heffernan, retail pharmacy director, to explain the 340B drug pricing program; specifically what it is, and how it benefits Michigan's rural communities.You can help protect 340B by heading to the MHA Legislati…

Lucy Ciaramitaro of the MHA is joined by Wright Lassiter, President and CEO of Henry Ford Health, to discuss the social determinants of health - what they are, why they matter and how understanding them can help us achieve better health outcomes. As President and CEO, Lassiter oversees the $7 billion integrated health system comprised of six hospit…

On this episode of the MiCare Champion Cast, Michael Leonard, MD, partner at Safe & Reliable Healthcare, shares his personal experience falling severely ill to COVID-19 in 2020. Leonard, who spent a total of 59 days in the hospital, gives a close-up look at what it was like as a tenured, perfectly healthy physician to become a critically ill COVID-…

On this episode series – which follows the theme of health equity – MHA CEO Brian Peters is joined by Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO of Corewell Health (previously Spectrum Health) and 2021 chair of the MHA Board of Trustees. The two discuss health equity from a leadership lens, and why/how Spectrum Health has made health equity a priority a…

Lucy Ciaramitaro of the MHA is joined by Dr. Renée Branch Canady, PhD, MPA, who serves as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MPHI; a Michigan-based and nationally engaged non-profit public health institute dedicated to advancing population health through public health innovation and collaboration.Dr. Canady gives us insight into not only health equit…

The MiCare Champion Cast features interviews with healthcare policy experts in Michigan on key issues that impact healthcare and the health of communities. On this episode, Lucy Ciaramitaro of the MHA is joined by Dr. Lydia Watson, SVP, chief medical officer (CMO) of MidMichigan Health. The two discuss the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of …

On this episode, MHA CEO Brian Peters is joined by Ed Ness, president and CEO of Munson Healthcare and the 2020-2021 chair of the MHA Board of Trustees. Their conversation explores the unprecedented challenges that Michigan hospitals faced amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the response of the healthcare community and what’s ahead for championing our stat…

Approximately 90 women die each year in Michigan during pregnancy, at delivery, and within a year of giving birth, and 44 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are considered preventable. Today on the MiCare Champion Cast, we’re talking about what Michigan hospitals and physicians are doing to keep moms and babies healthy and safe. The episode featur…

Michigan's auto no-fault insurance system is under attack in a last-minute effort to dismantle it during lame duck – or the period after an election when outgoing officials are still in office. Today, we talk to Laura Appel, senior vice president and Chief Innovation Officer at the MHA about current auto no-fault benefits and how this lame duck att…

When we think of healthcare, most people think of medicine, nurses, physicians and hospitals. But one major component of modern healthcare is data. By collecting and securely sharing patient data, Michigan hospitals are working to improve efficiency and safety in healthcare for patients.Today, we talk to Tim Pletcher, executive director of the Mich…

The 2018 midterm election is coming up on Nov. 6. Historically, voter turnout is lower during midterms, compared to presidential elections. However, there are several races in 2018 that will have a big on impact Michiganders’ health and access to care and the hospitals and providers who serve our communities. Today, we talk with Laura Appel, the MH…

Michigan hospitals are working in local communities to help people of all ages get healthy and stay healthy both in and out of the hospital. Two new reports – the Economic Impact of Healthcare in Michigan and the Community Benefit Report – demonstrate the substantial role healthcare plays in the well-being of both the state’s residents and its econ…

Last year, we talked about the impact of the opioid crisis in Michigan and what we can do to help. Today, we’re revisiting this important topic as we talk about some of the new steps being taken to help prevent opioid abuse and overuse with Paige Fults, director, advocacy, Michigan Health & Hospital Association; Kim Gaedeke, acting deputy director,…

We’re in the middle of a serious flu season in Michigan, so we’re talking about the importance of the flu shot and other vaccines. Veronica McNally of Oakland County, founder of the Franny Strong Foundation, shares her family’s story. Her infant daughter, Francesca Marie, lost her life to pertussis, or whooping cough, and she now works to educate p…

Patients and families need reliable and timely information about the quality of care at their local hospital, so they can make better healthcare decisions. In this episode, we talk to Tina Freese Decker, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Spectrum Health; MHA CEO Brian Peters; and Sam Watson, Senior Vice President, Patient Safety & …

In the seventh episode of our series, we get the patient and caregiver perspective on sepsis, the body’s life-threatening response to infection. Sepsis kills hundreds of thousands of Americans every year, and it’s something Michigan hospitals are working hard to combat. In this episode, we talk to Rebecca Thomas of Harrison Township; Corine Pope, P…

In the sixth episode of our series, we discuss staffing ratios and efforts to legislate them from Lansing. Chris Mitchell, senior vice president of advocacy at the MHA, shares an update on the current proposals in Lansing, and Joyce Young, regional chief nursing officer for Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, shares how individual hospitals handle st…

In the fifth episode of our series, we learn about advocacy from Kate Steele, an auto accident survivor and advocate; Stephanie Helton, who leads communications & grassroots advocacy at Trinity Health; and Rep. Daniela Garcia (R-Holland). They share their experiences and advice for advocates.Av Michigan Health & Hospital Association

The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, has had a tremendous positive impact on people in Michigan. Nearly 1 million Michiganders now have healthcare coverage thanks to the ACA, which could potentially be lost if efforts to repeal and replace the law are successful.In the fourth episode of our series, we talk to Dizzy Warren, executive di…

In the third episode of our series, we learn about health equity from Ewa Panetta, manager of Patient Safety & Quality at the MHA Keystone Center, and Jacqueline Thomas-Hall, Beaumont Health’s system director of Diversity and Inclusion. Learn what hospitals are doing and how you can get involved at micarematters.org/take-action.…

We covered Michigan’s auto no-fault insurance system in the first episode of our series, and there have been several developments since then. We spoke again to Laura Appel, the MHA’s senior vice president and chief innovation officer, to talk about the latest proposal that would drastically change Michigan’s auto no-fault law, HB 5013. To learn mor…

In the second episode of our series, we talk to Rami Khoury, MD, FACEP, Medical Director of Emergency Medicine at Henry Ford Allegiance Health, and Paige Fults, Director of Advocacy at the MHA, about the impact of the opioid crisis in Michigan and what we can do to help.Av Michigan Health & Hospital Association

In the first episode of our series, Laura Appel, the MHA’s senior vice president and chief innovation officer, explains the history of Michigan’s auto no-fault insurance law and what is being considered to reform the system.Av Michigan Health & Hospital Association