News

Congratulations to ED Tech Debra Palmateer, emergency department, our October 2025 Outstanding Employee of the Month. In her 23 years with McLaren Flint, colleagues have come to think of Deb as someone they can count on for her kindness and rock-solid work ethic. "Deb is one of the hardest working people in the emergency department," said her nominator. "In all of my years here, I have never seen her in a bad mood. She goes above and beyond for patients and her team. She is a role model for her team and...

After skin cancer, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men in the U.S., and it is also the second leading cause of cancer death among men after lung cancer. Over the years, especially within the last decade, prostate cancer screening guidelines have changed dramatically. The guidelines even vary between different organizations.  The core message in most health organizations’ recommendations is that whether to screen is something men should decide for themselves. “Men should absol...

McLaren Flint is excited to partner with Mid-Michigan NOW and former news anchor and prostate cancer survivor Bill Harris for a free prostate cancer screening event in honor of Veterans’ Day.  Harris is a longtime veterans advocate. He has also shared his own brave prostate cancer journey with the community in hopes of building awareness of this potentially deadly disease, the importance of screening, and the value of having a strong support system during a cancer battle.  Harris had no sympto...

The heart’s main job is to pump blood throughout the body, but when that blood flow is interrupted, it can have deadly consequences - a heart attack (acute myocardial infarction) or sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).  Both conditions are related to a lack of blood flow, but their causes are very different. Cardiac arrest is caused by a sudden electrical failure in the heart that triggers an abnormal rhythm. The heart suddenly stops and no longer pumps blood into the brain or other vital organs. When this...

A $6 million gift from Joe and Julie Serra, inspired by Joe's own open heart surgery experience, will transform cardiac care for future patients at McLaren Flint. Joe, a former patient who has endured a heart attack, multiple stents, and quintuple bypass surgery, can attribute his cardiac challenges to genetics despite his healthy lifestyle. Now, he and Julie are advocating for others and investing in the very care that saved his life. “Most people assume I went out of the area for care, but I didn’t―an...

Yes, the practice of midwifery still exists; however, it may not be exactly what you think it is. The four midwives at McLaren Flint do not deliver babies in the home, but they do provide care during pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, and more. This group of midwives’ practice encompasses sexual and reproductive health, gynecologic health, and family planning services, including preconception care. Midwives also provide primary care for women from adolescence into adulthood, as well as care for the heal...

When something suspicious shows up on a routine mammogram, patients are often asked to come back for further screening. It happened to Caroline Allen in May 2025.  “They called me back a week or so later and told me they saw something and wanted to take another look,” Caroline said. “I have dense breasts, so it has happened before. I didn’t think much of it.” Caroline got the shock of her life when she learned the radiologist discovered a mass on her breast ultrasound. “It was 5 millimeters- about ...

McLaren Health Care, the multistate, 12-hospital health care system, has named Angie Long, DNP, MSN/MBA/HC, RN, FACHE, NEA-BC, its system-level Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, effective Oct. 6, 2025. Dr. Long assumes the role made available upon the departure of Jennifer Montgomery, McLaren Health Care’s inaugural CNO. Dr. Long returns to McLaren after having previously served as CNO at McLaren St. Luke’s, where her leadership led to the hospital’s improved clinical quality, safety outc...

Early detection saves lives—and when it comes to breast cancer, getting screened regularly is one of the most important steps women can take. Karmanos Cancer Institute and McLaren Health Care recommend that women of average risk begin receiving annual mammograms at age 40. For those at higher risk, screening may need to start even earlier. But mammograms are just one part of the picture. Understanding breast cancer risk factors, recognizing early warning signs, and staying ...

There was something in the corner of Jerry Melendez’s eye, in the tear duct. He thought it was a stye or a cyst. “The eye doctor gave me steroids,” Jerry said. “He also sent me to a plastic surgeon for a biopsy, be he said he expected that to come back benign.” The growth in Jerry’s eye was not benign. It was cancer, and Jerry was floored. “I got the call on July 5, 2024, and it felt like the floor caved in,” Jerry said. “I looked at my wife and she started crying, and that made me cry.” Jerry’s surgeon...