Alpena Joins MidMichigan Health Family, Now Named MidMichigan Medical Center - Alpena

"What an incredible milestone this marks in the history of Alpena Regional Medical Center as we have now become MidMichigan Medical Center – Alpena. We wish to thank our Board of Trustees, employees, providers, volunteers and donors, the County Commissioners, legislators, and above all, our community for the support they have given to us throughout this journey," said Eric Smith, board chair of MidMichigan Medical Center – Alpena. "Bringing together our Medical Center with MidMichigan Health and the University of Michigan Health System creates a unique opportunity for residents in and around Alpena to receive outstanding care from the physicians they know and trust, and from those who bring additional medical expertise and advanced technology with these strong health systems. This partnership ensures a strong and viable future for our organization for years to come."

"Adding Alpena to MidMichigan Health and our family of Medical Centers in Alma, Clare, Gladwin and Midland is an honor to which we are all so proud. The employees and medical staff of Alpena share our mission of providing excellent health services to improve the quality of life for people in our communities," said Diane Postler-Slattery, president and CEO of MidMichigan Health. "We look forward to working with them to enhance the depth and breadth of services available to area residents and beyond."

With the affiliation complete, MidMichigan Medical Center – Alpena is now the second-largest subsidiary of MidMichigan Health with 139 licensed-beds, followed by MidMichigan Medical Center in Alma with 79 beds, the Medical Center in Clare with 49 beds, and the Medical Center in Gladwin with 25 beds. MidMichigan Medical Center – Midland is the largest hospital in the MidMichigan Health system with 328 licensed-beds. In addition to the Medical Centers, MidMichigan Health also includes urgent care centers, home care, physicians, medical offices and other specialty health services.

"Our hospital has been a valued part of our community for decades. We intend to reinforce and continue to build upon the connection we have to our residents, patients, health care providers, employees and volunteers," said Karmon Bjella, president of MidMichigan Medical Center – Alpena. "This affiliation with MidMichigan Health moves us forward in a powerful way. It enables us to be better positioned to provide patient care that is safer, more effective and well-coordinated. Together, we will offer more convenient access and navigation to treatment and care that is not locally available."

MidMichigan Medical Center – Alpena offers inpatient and outpatient health care services to a broad region, which includes 24-zip codes in Alpena, Alcona, Iosco, Montmorency, Oscoda and Presque Isle counties. The Medical Center has approximately 1,000 employees, 200 volunteers and about 100 physicians.

Since October 2015 when Alpena announced they selected MidMichigan Health as a partner after evaluating several proposals, a letter of intent was signed, an extensive due-diligence process was completed, and a definitive agreement was signed. Numerous actions have also occurred involving legislative changes, approvals by the Alpena County Board of Commissioners, as well as formal actions taken by the Alpena Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees and MidMichigan Health Board of Directors.

As a result of the affiliation, the MidMichigan Health Board of Directors will increase by two members from Alpena and will include Eric Smith and Jim Arbuckle. The MidMichigan Medical Center – Alpena board will increase by two members to include Postler-Slattery and Greg Rogers, senior vice president of MidMichigan Health and president of MidMichigan Medical Center – Midland.

"Hospitals and health systems across the nation are entering a new era of medicine as we all thrive, live and grow in a challenging health care environment that demands continuous progression," said Glenn Smith, board chair of MidMichigan Health. "Together, we will be stronger than ever, working together to provide highly specialized, expert health care to the people who reside in our communities."

MidMichigan Health is a non-profit health system, headquartered in Midland, Michigan, affiliated with the University of Michigan Health System. MidMichigan covers a 20 county region with medical centers in Midland, Alma, Clare, Gladwin, and now Alpena. In addition to the Medical Centers, MidMichigan Health also includes urgent care centers, home care, physicians, medical offices and other specialty health services. MidMichigan currently has more than 7,200 employees, volunteers and physicians and provided $76 million in community benefits in fiscal year 2015.

Media Contacts:
Millie Jezior                                                                   
Public Relations Manager
MidMichigan Health     
Phone (989) 839-3351                                                                                                     [email protected]                          
www.midmichigan.org/newsroom                                

Diane Shields, SPHR
Vice President 
Human Resources/Support Services 
MidMichigan Medical Center – Alpena 
Phone (989) 356-7352
[email protected] 
www.myarmc.org

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SOURCE MidMichigan Health