Munson Healthcare announced big changes on Wednesday in its new “Regional Care Transformation Plan,” which will impact all seven of its hospitals across northern Michigan.
One of the first changes patients will see is a more streamlined record system, according to a news release.
Munson officials say the new plan comes amid ongoing post-pandemic challenges, like staffing issues and inflation. The plan expands outpatient services, adds more virtual care, and focuses on improving Munson’s specialty care, like oncology, critical care, NICU, and stroke and cardiology. It also includes an effort to consolidate services.
Under the plan, Otsego Memorial Hospital will become the "East" region's regional hospital, while Charlevoix and Grayling will become “community” hospitals, with a greater focus on outpatient services than inpatient care.
In Munson’s “South” region, officials say Cadillac will become the regional hospital, while Manistee and Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital will limit inpatient care, prioritizing outpatient care instead.
Despite these changes, Munson officials say all hospitals will continue to provide emergency services, observation care, and outpatient care.
Patients can expect quicker scheduling for things like annual physicals, primary care, and urgent care. Officials also say check-in times will get faster and there will be better coordination among different Munson locations.
Some of those changes will start to take place as soon as 2024.
