MHA CEO Report — Highlighting Hospitals

“Sometimes when you sacrifice something precious, you’re not really losing it. You’re just passing it on to someone else.” ― Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet in Heaven

This month’s CEO Report is being filed from Washington, DC, where I am honored to join my colleagues from throughout our state and nation at the American Hospital Association’s Annual Meeting. On the agenda are robust conversations about the many challenges confronted by the healthcare field amid a tumultuous and often unpredictable political environment. The timing is fortuitous, as we officially celebrate our healthcare providers with National Nurses Week beginning May 5, followed by National Hospital Week. These honorary weeks shine a spotlight on the amazing dedication of hospital and healthcare workers in service to their patients and communities and encourage us to show our deep appreciation.

Our nurses, and many other healthcare workers, were widely hailed as heroes throughout the pandemic, and the reality is that they continue to show extraordinary commitment to service on a regular basis.  Just one recent example: northern Michigan was ravaged by a devasting ice storm earlier this year and despite power outages that were measured in weeks, the healthcare providers in that region did whatever was necessary to make sure people received the medications and care they needed. This included utilizing snowmobiles and ATVs for patient and staff transport when countless roads remained inaccessible due to downed trees and power lines.

Hospitals annually quantify the benefits they provide to the community through the IRS 990 form, and the MHA disseminates our own Community Impact Report. However, in reality, it is impossible to adequately document or fully do justice to the examples shared above, and countless others.  Healthcare interactions change people forever. And I’m not talking about the physical changes from surgery or treatment, but the emotional impact that saving a life, lending a helping hand or crying shoulder can make for someone. In times of need, emergency and disaster, hospitals – and more specifically, the people who work inside of them – are there WHEN and WHERE you need them. The sacrifices made by these extraordinary people are real, and they do so for our benefit.

Later this month we’ll be able to share our latest economic impact and workforce data for Michigan hospitals and healthcare. While the data may be slightly different, the overall story remains the same: healthcare is the leading private-sector employer in Michigan and the demand and reliance on healthcare has never been greater. So, what can we do to help? May is a time to unite behind our healthcare institutions and the work they do every day to touch and change lives, improving the health and wellness of our communities. While Congress continues to contemplate potential Medicaid funding cuts that would have devasting consequences to healthcare access for all Michiganders, please join us in speaking up and sharing the importance Medicaid plays in our state. You can do so by using the MHA’s action alert to send a personalized message to your member of Congress. Your local hospitals – and more importantly, the nurses, doctors and other healthcare workers who work there – need your help.

As always, I welcome your thoughts.