News

“In recognition of your humanitarian spirit and swift action in a medical emergency.” So reads the dedication on the Community Health Care Hero Award presented to John Comparoni, a transit driver in Northern Oakland County whose recognition of stroke symptoms in his passenger potentially saved her life. On the morning of March 20, John was transporting Lindalee from her appointment at McLaren Oxford. Soon into the trip, John noticed sudden changes in Lindalee’s behavior — slouching over to one side and ...

Sarah Seymour, RN, a caregiver on the hospital’s oncology unit (11 South), is the 2025 Margaret McLaren Nursing Excellence Award Winner.  McLaren Flint honored Sarah and 21 other nominees at a May 8 ceremony.  The excellence award is named after Margaret McLaren, RN, who served as Superintendent of McLaren General Hospital and its predecessor, the Women’s Hospital, for 27 years. When McLaren General Hospital opened in October 1951, the facility was named in her honor, making it the first hospi...

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is common and widespread virus, and about 85% of people will get an HPV infection in their lives. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , it spreads mainly through direct contact, particularly during sexual activities such as vaginal, anal, or oral sex. There are over 200 types of HPV, but some of them can cause serious health problems, like cancer. Most of the time, the body fights off the infection on its own, but if certain types of HPV persist for too...

Friday, March 21 proved to be a day to celebrate for McLaren Health Care Graduate Medical Education. The annual Match Day — the day on which medical students learn the results of their residency or fellowship applications and receive their assignments to continue their training — concluded with McLaren GME filling its 149 available positions. This marks a 100 percent fill rate across the 42 GME programs throughout the system. “The result of Match Day 2025 further demonstrates the merit and proficiency o...

McLaren Oakland, part of statewide Karmanos Cancer Institute and a regional leader in cancer care and screening procedures, has enhanced its capabilities to assess patients’ risk for developing breast and other common cancers with the addition of Volpara® Risk Pathways. An industry-leading software program, Volpara determines patients’ individual and unique risk for cancers and manages their care to ensure they receive the appropriate level of timely care. Volpara will be available to patients through M...

When should you go to the ER for the flu? With the 2024-2025 flu season being described as the “most intense” in 15 years, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have estimated there have been at least 24 million cases across the country. This has resulted in more than 310,000 hospitalizations and, tragically, 13,000 deaths. The widespread nature of this flu has caused many to seek care in their nearest emergency department, increasing the potential to overwhelm physicians and caregivers. In ...

What would eventually become a first-of-its-kind event for McLaren Oakland began when a few Waterford Fire Department firefighters brought an idea to their captain. Naturally placing an importance on their health in their physically and emotionally demanding profession, the group of first responders had the idea of partnering with a local Oakland County hospital and bringing a health screening to them and their colleagues. Waterford Fire Marshall Capt. Christopher Webster was motivated by his team’s ent...

McLaren Oakland, the Pontiac-based hospital serving all of Oakland County, partnered with the Waterford Fire Department to provide critical health and wellness screenings to more than 40 of the county’s courageous and selfless first responders. Hosted at the Waterford Fire Department on Tues., Jan. 28, the event was open to all men and women serving as police officers, fire fighters, EMTs, or any first responder service, with more than 40 responders attending. “We are incredibly grateful to the fire dep...

At what point should a doctor evaluate headaches? Everyone gets headaches. They can range, perhaps starting as a dull pain before escalating to the squeezing, dizzying feeling, and start from a number of causes: a lack of/poor quality sleep, certain foods, alcohol consumption, stress, eye straining, dehydration/lack of food, among others. In many cases, a drugstore pain reliever or headache medicine will resolve the symptoms relatively quick. There does reach a point, though, that consistent headaches —...

McLaren Oakland, the Pontiac-based hospital serving all of Oakland County, has partnered with the Waterford Fire Department to provide critical health and wellness screenings to county’s courageous and selfless first responders. Hosted at the Waterford Fire Department (2495 Crescent Lake Road in Waterford) on Tues., Jan. 28 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., the screening is open to all men and women serving as police officers, fire fighters, EMTs, or any first responder service. “We are incredibly grateful to the ...