Cheboygan Memorial Also Eyes McLaren

<p><em><a href="mailto:stephanlj@interlochen.org">By Linda Stephan</a></em></p> <p>After news last week that Northern Michigan Regional Hospital in Petoskey has joined a Flint-based health system, another northern Michigan hospital says it's interested in McLaren Health Care: Cheboygan Memorial Hospital.</p> <p>Cheboygan Memorial's financial woes have been apparent in recent years. The community gave up its birthing ward and there have even been times when the payroll was threatened. </p> <p>A sale fell through last year after creditors stepped in and raised concerns but the hospital continues to seek a sale, merger, or some other type of affiliation with a larger system.</p> <p>A spokesman for the hospital says Cheboygan is not in serious talks with any one system, but it has feelers out to several. With McLaren now as close as Petoskey, he says the hospital is sending that group information as well.</p> <p>With such weak finances, though, it is possible Cheboygan Memorial's bar<a name="_GoBack"></a>gaining position with McLaren, or any other system, could be significantly weaker than that of NMRH in Petoskey.</p>