MiCare Champion Cast

State Rep. Bill G. Schutte joined Rich Helppie from The Common Bridge podcast May 27 at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference to discuss key policy issues, affordability and the economic impact of Michigan hospitals. To learn more, visit MIHospitals.org.

Monique Stanton, president, CEO, Michigan League for Public Policy, joined Rich Helppie from The Common Bridge Podcast May 27 at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference to discuss pending Medicaid changes, rural access barriers and the essential role Michigan hospitals play as community leaders and trusted messengers when it comes to protecting access to care across the state.

Former U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow joined Rich Helppie from The Common Bridge Podcast May 27 at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference to discuss healthcare policy issues, upcoming Medicaid changes, access challenges impacting rural communities and Sen. Stabenow's appreciation for Michigan's healthcare workforce.

Rick Baker, president and CEO, Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, joined Rich Helppie from The Common Bridge Podcast May 27 at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference to discuss the important role hospitals plays in local communities not only for the clinical care they provide, but also as economic drivers and primary employers.

State Senator Sarah Anthony joined Rich Helppie, host of The Common Bridge Podcast, May 27 at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference to discuss healthcare policy, Medicaid and key issues impacting Michigan communities.

Former Michigan governor Rick Snyder joined Rich Helppie, host of The Common Bridge Podcast, May 27 at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference to discuss key policy priorities impacting Michigan communities.

Robert Casalou, executive vice president, associate chief operating officer, Trinity Health, joined Rich Helppie from The Common Bridge podcast May 27 at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference to discuss how hospitals are always caring for their communities and always advancing the health of the state. To learn more, visit MIHospitals.org.

Shannon Striebich, president and CEO, Trinity Health Michigan, joined Rich Helppie from The Common Bridge podcast May 27 at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference to discuss how hospitals are always caring for their communities and always advancing the health of the state. To learn more, visit MIHospitals.org.

Matt Elliott, founder, Blue Lake Ideas, chair emeritus, board of directors, Detroit Regional Chamber, joined Rich Helppie from The Common Bridge Podcast May 27 at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference to discuss the state's evolving economic climate, the vital role of hospitals and the power of 'and' when it comes to moving Michigan communities forward.

Dorrie Dils, president, CEO, Gift of Life Michigan, joined Rich Helppie from The Common Bridge Podcast May 27 at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference to discuss the evolution of Gift of Life, the powerful impact of organ donation and policy change that would increase education around organ and tissue donation among high school students.

Dominick Pallone, executive director, Michigan Association of Health Plans, joined Rich Helppie from The Common Bridge Podcast May 27 at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference to discuss healthcare affordability challenges, policy priorities, health literacy and the importance of partnering with Michigan hospitals to enhance access to quality care.

Dr. Adnan Munkarah, president, care delivery system, chief clinical officer, Henry Ford Health joined Rich Helppie from The Common Bridge Podcast May 27 at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference to discuss how hospitals are always caring for their communities and always advancing the health of the state. To learn more, visit MIHospitals.org.

Denise Brooks-Williams, executive vice president & chief operating officer, Henry Ford Health, joined Rich Helppie from The Common Bridge Podcast May 27 at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference to discuss how hospitals are always caring for their communities and always advancing the health of the state. To learn more, visit MIHospitals.org.

Luanne Thomas Ewald, chief operating officer, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital, University of Michigan Health, joined Rich Helppie from The Common Bridge Podcast May 27 at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference to discuss how hospitals are always caring for their communities and always advancing the health of the state. To learn more, visit MIHospitals.org.

Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO, Corewell Health and Lamont Yoder, president, Corewell Health East, joined Rich Helppie from The Common Bridge Podcast May 27 at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference to discuss how hospitals are always caring for their communities and always advancing the health of the state. To learn more, visit MIHospitals.org.

Russ Kavalhuna, president of Western Michigan University joined Rich Helppie from The Common Bridge Podcast May 27 at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference to discuss how leaders in healthcare and education work together to uplift Michigan communities, build the talent pipeline and advance care across the state. To learn more, visit MIHospitals.org.

David Miller, MD, MPH, CEO of Michigan Medicine and EVP for Medical Affairs, University of Michigan joined Rich Helppie from The Common Bridge Podcast May 27 at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference to discuss how hospitals are always caring for their communities and always advancing the health of the state. To learn more, visit MIHospitals.org. To subscribe to The Common Bridge Podcast, visit thecommonbridge.com.

Tonya Darner, Market CEO, UP Health System Marquette & Bell joined Rich Helppie from The Common Bridge Podcast May 27 at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference to discuss how hospitals are always caring for their communities and always advancing the health of the state. To learn more, visit MIHospitals.org. To subscribe to The Common Bridge Podcast, visit thecommonbridge.com.

MHA CEO Brian Peters joined Rich Helppie from The Common Bridge Podcast May 27 at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference to discuss how hospitals are always caring for their communities and always advancing the health of the state. To learn more, visit MIHospitals.org. To subscribe to The Common Bridge Podcast, visit thecommonbridge.com.

MHA Board Chair Bill Manns, president and CEO, Bronson Healthcare, joined Rich Helppie from The Common Bridge Podcast May 27 at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference to discuss how hospitals are always caring for their communities and always advancing the health of the state. To learn more, visit MIHospitals.org. To subscribe to The Common Bridge Podcast, visit thecommonbridge.com.

Hospitals are improving the health and well-being of communities through a care model that fosters collaboration between clinicians, patients and their support systems. Person- and Family-Centered Care (PFCC) — often referred to as Patient and Family Engagement (PFE) — is an approach to care delivery that has been shown to improve health outcomes, lower costs, enhance patient experience and boost overall staff satisfaction. In this episode of the MiCare Champion Cast, two members of the MHA Person & Family Engagement Advisory Council from MyMichigan Health and Michigan Medicine provide first-hand insight on the powerful impact of PFE. It also provides actionable ways for healthcare teams to implement PFE and uplift its value to hospital leadership. Guests include Michelle Brady, MSHAL, BSN, RN, CPXP, director, patient experience and relations, MyMichigan Health and Michele Mitchell, BS, MS, PMP, a nationally recognized patient advocate and breast cancer survivor. EPISODE REFERENCES: "Consumers' and health providers' views and perceptions of partnering to improve health services design, delivery and evaluation: a co‐produced qualitative evidence synthesis": Link: www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1…274.pub2/full Impact of Patient Engagement on Healthcare Outcomes: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5651621/ Mitchell (mmmitchell99@gmail.com) can be found below: www.linkedin.com/in/michele-mitchell-403361135/ www.instagram.com/mmmitchell8 www.youtube.com/@PatientEngagement-tn6yr

This episode of the MiCare Champion Cast exploring state and federal healthcare priorities with Tina Freese Decker, MHA, MSIE, FACHE, President & CEO, Corewell Health and 2025 Chair of the American Hospital Association (AHA). The episode, hosted by MHA CEO Brian Peters, explores healthcare innovation, affordability, and how institutions like Corewell Health are bracing for the impact of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).” Peters and Freese Decker also explore the future of growing the healthcare workforce talent pipeline, the role technology will continue to play in hospitals and the importance of fostering new partnerships across industries.

Looking Ahead with Bill Manns, Bronson Healthcare by Michigan Health & Hospital Association

In this episode of the MiCare Champion Cast, Lauren LaPine, senior director of legislative & public policy, MHA, provided insight on how Michigan continues to experience issues with timely access to behavioral health services. More specifically, LaPine shares how and why Medicaid patients experiencing a behavioral health crisis are often stuck in emergency departments (EDs) longer than those who are commercially insured. LaPine explores the proposed solution of expanding the three-hour assessment responsibility in order to allow clinically qualified staff to conduct pre-admission screenings in order to improve the delivery of care for behavioral health patients in Michigan hospital EDs.

This episode of the MiCare Champion Cast explores what Medicaid is, what's happening at the federal level and how potential funding changes could impact Michigan hospitals, patients, access to care and more. To contact members of Congress to prevent Medicaid cuts, visit the MHA Legislative Action Center: https://bit.ly/41705qc

This episode of the MiCare Champion Cast features Laura Ortiz, MD, Emergency Medicine Provider at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, who explores a collaborative effort that's enhancing access to care for vulnerable communities. The program, known as Street Medicine Oakland, is a collaborative effort between Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital and Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine that delivers free medical care to those experiencing homelessness in Oakland County. To learn more, visit: https://www.streetmedicineoakland.org/

This episode of the MiCare Champion Cast explores the latest on healthcare workplace safety with Brian Uridge, MPA, CPP, CHPA, CTM, senior director at the University of Michigan Department of Public Safety and Security (DPSS). As a sworn police officer for the university, Uridge manages over 300 public safety staff members for a system that has 40,000 employees and sees over four million patients a year. In this role, Uridge prioritizes creating a culture of safety beyond moments when he and his team are responding to a security threat. The discussion explores the integral role of Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) for identifying and managing safety threats. All resources shared in the episode are open-source and available for other hospitals and health systems to use to enhance security protocol. Those interested in learning more or collaborating with the UM Health DPSS team are encouraged to contact Brian at buridge@med.umich.edu or visit the UM Health DPSS page at: https://www.dpss.umich.edu/content/about/our-departments/michigan-medicine-security/

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, LCSW, CADC, program manager for the department of social work and community health program at RUSH University Medical Center and Joshua Suire, MHA, BSN, RN, senior manager of safety & quality at the MHA Keystone Center. The Keystone Center is partnering with RUSH's Center for Excellence in Aging to create an online learning series for hospitals interested in exploring how their staff can better integrate caregivers into a patient's care team. To access the MHA-member module for implementing a caregiver navigation program, visit: https://bit.ly/3Oj3Kvf To access the Michigan Caregiver Navigation Toolkit, visit: https://bit.ly/491kMY2 To learn more about RUSH's Caring for Caregivers (C4C) program, visit: https://bit.ly/415a3Kx

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 learn more about candidates, you can download the free Gongwer app available on both iOS and Android devices by searching ‘Michigan Elections' in the app store. To see the MHA's Race of the Week series, visit MHA.org. More information, key dates and Michigan voting FAQs can be found at Michigan.gov/vote.

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, as well as what issues are top of mind that impact hospitals and health systems across the state and country as the 2024 general election approaches. To learn more about the AHA, visit: https://www.aha.org/.

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 Centralized Nurse Triage. The Ask-A-Nurse program is a free 24/7, year-round phone line staffed by registered nurses offering easy access to health-related information and triage services. To learn more, visit: https://bit.ly/3WPqRRX or call (231) 935-0951. To learn more about Munson's virtual urgent care, visit: https://bit.ly/47apzG1 To explore career opportunities at Munson Healthcare, visit: https://bit.ly/3YTaBlA

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 what healthcare priorities are top of mind in Michigan.

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 more about Care.ai, visit: https://www.care.ai/ To learn more about Michigan Medicine, visit: https://www.uofmhealth.org/ To learn more about Phenomics Health, visit: https://www.phenomicshealth.com/

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, Ph.D., manager of Forest Hills Clinic and child and adolescent project coordinator, each share insights about the advantages and challenges of telemedicine when delivering behavioral health care services. To learn more about internships, fellowships and career opportunities at Pine Rest, visit: https://www.pinerest.org/

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 CyberForce|Q or the MHA EBP program can visit: https://www.mha.org/business-services...

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 Community Impact in Michigan at ProMedica. Yaroch and Nagle highlight the strong impact the ProMedica Farms and Veggie Mobile are having on residents and communities by improving access to fresh, affordable produce and nutrition education. The episode is available to stream on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts and SoundCloud. Those interested in learning more about the ProMedica Farms can visit: https://www.promedica.org/locations-and-doctors/location/clinics/promedica-farms Those interested in learning more about the Veggie Mobile can visit: https://lenaweeveggiemobile.com/#home To nominate a hospital or health system for future a Ludwig Community Benefit award, visit: https://www.mha.org/About/Awards/Ludwig-Community-Benefit-Award/

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, MBA, CPPS, CPHRM, manager of Risk Management at Trinity Health Livonia. Those interested in getting involved in the MHA Keystone Patient Safety Organization (PSO) or the Adverse Events Review Committee (AERC) should contact the MHA Keystone Center at Keystone@MHA.org. Current PSO members are also encouraged to submit nominations for the quarterly Speak-up! Award to acknowledge the efforts of individuals or teams who are preventing harm to patients or fellow staff members. Learn more: https://bit.ly/2GJpK1S

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.

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 initiatives are encouraged to submit their OSHA data to the MHA Keystone Center. Members with questions about the program or consideration requirements can reach out to the MHA Keystone Center PSO at keystonepso@mha.org. HSS, an MHA Endorsed Business Partner (EBP), is a leader in healthcare, airport, and government facility security – as well as emergency and aggression management training, security systems integration, and medical equipment management services. To learn more and to request to be considered to become an EBP, contact the MHA or MHA Business Development Consultant Brian Stevens at (972) 768-5755.

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 the episode, the two explore vaccine misinformation, common misconceptions and tips for patients and providers to navigate vaccine hesitancy. Bagdasarian, who serves as a cabinet member of Gov. Whitmer, kicks off the episode with a statewide look at routine childhood immunization rates in Michigan. Denenberg, interviewed later in the episode, shares his insight and expertise on pediatric respiratory illness from the hospital perspective. To learn more about the 2023-2024 flu season, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/season/faq-flu-season-2023-2024.htm To ensure everyone in the family is up-to-date on routine immunizations, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/index.html To find a vaccine nearby, visit Vaccines.gov. To learn more about MDHHS, visit: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs To learn more about Corewell Health, visit: https://corewellhealth.org/

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 facing Michigan's rural hospitals; what rural issues are being prioritized at the state and federal level; how MHC is prioritizing the well-being of their workforce and communities; and how decision-makers can support rural communities. To learn more about National Rural Health Day, visit: https://powerofrural.org/about-nrhd/ To learn more about Munson Healthcare, visit: https://www.munsonhealthcare.org/ To learn more about the Regional Community Health Opioid Initiative or the MHA's 2023 Community Benefit Report, visit: https://www.mha.org/newsroom/publications/community-benefit-report/stories/#1698683625108-0f8bd18c-1a2c To explore hospital careers across the state (clinical and non-clinical), visit: https://mihospitalcareers.com/ To contact lawmakers or learn more about the recent nurse staffing bills, visit: https://www.mha.org/issues-advocacy/key-issues/nurse-staffing-ratios/

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 underway at Trinity Health. Available to stream on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts and SoundCloud. To learn more about Trinity Health Michigan, visit trinityhealthmichigan.org.

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 worsens existing health disparities and inequity. In this episode of the MiCare Champion Cast, Michelle Norcross, MSA, senior director of safety and quality at the MHA Keystone Center and Marissa Natzke, senior project manager of health and human services at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CFSEM), discuss one of the tools that continues to impactful in this space: Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD). This pathway to recovery involves medications that relieve withdrawal symptoms and substance cravings. In many cases, MOUD treatment is paired with interventions like counseling or peer support so that a person is able to address the social and psychological factors that influence recovery. Throughout the episode, Norcross and Natzke share details about an innovative partnership between the MHA Keystone Center and CFSEM that brings MOUD programming to hospital emergency departments (EDs). They discuss what this path to recovery looks like specifically, along with the strong, positive impact ED MOUD programming is having on OUD patients in Michigan hospitals. To learn more about ED MOUD programming and CFSEM, visit: https://cfsem.org/initiative/opioid/ To learn more about the MHA Keystone Center, visit: https://bit.ly/3ZkuTTg If you or someone you know is struggling with opioid use disorder, visit Michigan.gov/opioids or call the SAMSHA National Hotline, a 24-hour, 365-day-a-year, treatment referral hotline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

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 rank “healthiest” and how the report drives home the importance of continuing to invest in Michigan's healthcare talent pipeline. Don't miss the 2023 Michigan Nursing Summit coming up in Grand Rapids, Michigan Oct. 12-13. Early bird registration ends Aug. 15. For more info, visit: https://lnkd.in/gQJ5fstb Vitals, a new educational activity book that empowers students to learn about health, the body, and health careers, can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C3JG625D?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_XV4MT6N3HWHVSE0REXM9 Those interested in bulk purchases may contact MHC. Those interested in learning more about hospital careers – both clinical and non-clinical – are encouraged to visit MIHospitalCareers.com.

On episode 31, 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 – 336 and House Bills 4550 – 4552 propose a one-size-fits-all nurse ratio staffing mandate. In a recent joint statement, the MHA and MONL noted how this approach would limit the number of patients receiving hospital care at any one time and services hospitals can offer to their communities, prolong the time it takes for a patient to receive care and hinder many hospital's ability to respond to a crisis in fear of violating Michigan law. Those interested in learning more or connecting with local lawmakers on this issue are encouraged to visit the MHA's Legislative Action Center: https://www.mha.org/issues-advocacy/advocacy-resources/legislative-action-center/ Note: Each interview in this episode was recorded prior to the passing of the legislative fiscal year 2024 state budget. To see MHA CEO Brian Peters statement on new healthcare funding, visit the MHA Newsroom: https://www.mha.org/newsroom/legislative-fiscal-year-2024-state-budget-renews-commitment-to-healthcare/ Additional resources mentioned include the MHA Keystone Center and Duke Center for Healthcare Safety and Quality WellB program: https://mhha.informz.net/mhha/data/images/Keystone Center/Well-B Webinar_Series2_Keystone.pdf and the MI Hospital Careers webpage: https://mihospitalcareers.com/.

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: https://housedems.com/julie-rogers/ Those interested in learning more about how to get involved in healthcare advocacy or are looking to engage with local lawmakers on issues such as nurse staffing legislation, 340B, auto no-fault, etc. can visit: https://www.mha.org/issues-advocacy/advocacy-resources/legislative-action-center/ Interested in pursuing a career in healthcare? There's a role waiting for you (clinical or non-clinical) in Michigan's hospitals. Learn more: https://mihospitalcareers.com/

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 gaps in the state's behavioral healthcare system. Those interested in learning more about Rep. Filler, can visit: https://gophouse.org/member/repgrahamfiller/posts Those interested in learning more about ProMedica or the work of Dr. Yaroch's teams, can visit: https://www.promedica.org/ Additional behavioral health resources in Michigan: - https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/keep-mi-healthy/mentalhealth/mi-behavioral-health-crisis-services - https://www.mha-mi.com/ - https://cmham.org/

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 approach a new program year. Rural Health Rising aims to bring attention to the unique circumstances rural healthcare providers operate within and create awareness regarding the major issues facing rural hospitals today. From rural hospital leaders to academic researchers to educators and economic development professionals, the goal is to shed light on the important role rural hospitals play in their communities. Listen now or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts: https://www.hillsdalehospital.com/rur... To learn more about the MiCare Champion Cast or the Michigan Health & Hospital Association, visit MHA.org.

On episode 27 of the MiCare Champion Cast, 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 Keystone Center Safe Patient Mobility and Handling Conference on April 13 (2023), visit: https://www.mha.org/newsroom/registration-available-for-mha-keystone-center-safe-patient-handling-conference/ To learn more about the MHA Keystone Center, visit: https://www.mha.org/MHA-Keystone-Center-Patient-Safety-Organization/About-the-MHA-Keystone-Center

In episode 26 of the MiCare Champion Cast, 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 rural communities. She also shares the stories of residents who have found community and connection through Sparrow's Al!ve wellness facility, where she is currently interim executive director. The episode is available to steam on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts and SoundCloud.

On episode 25, 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 from their urban counterparts. The episode, currently available to steam on Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts, also explores the vital role healthcare plays in rural communities and why those in the medical field might consider a career in the less populated areas of the state. To learn more about Scheurer Health, visit: https://www.scheurer.org/