Patient Stories

Over the past four weeks, the McLaren Northern Michigan team has collectively spent thousands of hours preparing for the COVID-19 pandemic to reach our northern Michigan community. Although the number of confirmed COVID-19 patients in northern Michigan remains low, the team at McLaren Northern Michigan is actively preparing for an influx of COVID-19 positive patients within the coming days and weeks. Right now, this is the calm before the storm in northern Michigan “Right now, this is the calm before th...

McLaren Northern Michigan has expanded telehealth capabilities for patients in our community. With social distancing and stay at home measures put in place, McLaren Northern Michigan clinicians have been seeking innovative ways to respond to patient needs. Clinicians have worked closely with McLaren Health Care to adapt existing telehealth technology to allow them to continue serving regularly scheduled clinic patients.  In 2019 McLaren Health Care launched the McLarenNow app to allow consumers to s...

A Facebook post by Shaggy’s Copper Country Skis triggered McLaren Northern Michigan to reach out to understand their capabilities to manufacture Face Shields for the protection of patients and employees. It began on March 18, 2020, when the McLaren Northern Michigan COVID-19 preparedness team was discussing manufacturers in the area and how they might be able to make needed products. Shaggy’s Facebook post was discussed and a call was placed. “All of the pieces came together quickly. When we called the ...

The PGA TOUR made the announcement on March 17 that due to the ongoing health crisis related to COVID-19, all PGA TOUR Champions events through the week of May 10 have been postponed or canceled. Furthermore, the PGA of America has postponed the PGA Championship (May 14-17) for a date later this year, to be announced. As a result of this news, we wanted to provide an update regarding The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren’s 2020 playing, scheduled for July 27 – August 2. First and foremost, the health ...

In light of the national shortage of medical supplies, McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation is seeking critical medical supplies to protect the frontline caregivers in the fight against COVID-19. McLaren Northern Michigan currently has the appropriate medical supplies to properly protect employees and medical staff, as well as care for the patient. However, in the coming weeks, medical supplies will continue to be in short supply as increased cases of COVID-19 continue throughout the nation. To safeguar...

On March 22, McLaren Northern Michigan received a presumptive positive COVID-19 result from the Michigan State Lab for a patient on our COVID isolation unit. The isolation unit was started on March 13 and this patient was admitted to the unit on March 17. This first positive result reinforces the reasons McLaren Northern Michigan acted quickly in putting together processes and procedures that will protect our employees, patients, and community. “In our preparation we have implemented proper training for...

Over the past five days, Petoskey Plastics, a northern Michigan manufacturing company, has worked with McLaren Health Care to develop and approve a prototype for a hospital isolation gown. On Friday, March 20, Petoskey Plastics received design approval and will begin manufacturing 10,000 gowns per day at their Petoskey plant to supply McLaren Health Care hospitals across the state of Michigan. Petoskey Plastics has a long history of supporting McLaren Northern Michigan patients and has generously suppor...

McLaren Northern Michigan is actively planning and preparing for the COVID-19 crisis despite a national shortage of testing kits and medical supplies. “We want the community to know that the safety of our patients, colleagues, and entire community is our top priority,” said Todd Burch, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Northern Michigan. Several weeks ago, when the COVID-19 outbreak became more widespread nationally, McLaren Northern Michigan started a COVID-19 planning and preparedness team. In collabora...

McLaren Fenton, McLaren’s newest 24/7 emergency center located at 2420 Owen Road, is now open. Staff began seeing patients at the facility on Monday, March 16. The opening is actually the completion of the second phase of a major makeover that will change health care for southern Genesee and northern Livingston County residents. The emergency center has 22 private rooms, including three resuscitation rooms, an isolation room and one specialized room for patients experiencing a mental health emergency. I...

Congratulations to Lauren Lawrence, vice president, Karmanos Cancer Network, who was named one of Crain’s Notable Women in Health. Lawrence’s “experience and understanding of complex geo-political considerations makes her an essential executive for Karmanos Cancer Institute,” said Karmanos Cancer Hospital President Justin Klamerus, M.D., MMM. The year’s list includes 41 women who are making a difference for patients, their businesses and in the field. Those who know them praise their vision, acumen and ...