Health and Wellness

Fed-up doctors and health advocates want Michigan lawmakers to curb insurers’ cost-control methods they say are delaying care, frustrating patients, and creating unnecessary red tape and expense. Physicians say requirements to get pre-approval from insurance companies once were limited to newer, expensive services and medications. But now, they contend, it has been expanded to necessary, routine and lower-priced treatments — …

The Michigan Department of Health & Human Services and 12 local health departments will be conducting aerial spraying in 14 counties to combat mosquito-borne disease. This action is due to the large geographic distribution and number of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) cases in humans and/or animals, coupled with warm weather projections. Spraying is scheduled to take place starting Sunday, September …

Officials in Kalamazoo County say a person who contracted a mosquito-borne virus called Eastern Equine Encephalitis has died. Mlive reports that the Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services said in a statement on Friday that the person was one of two in the county to contract the virus. Another confirmed case has been reported in Berrien County and health officials are …

Sturgis Hospital has been working with Ascension Borgess to take over Sturgis Medical Group. Hospital officials said last week they hope to have an agreement finalized as quickly as possible, hospital board vice president Joe Haas told Sturgis city commissioners at their meeting Wednesday. Ascension Borgess would rent Medical Commons 1 and some of Medical Commons 2, and purchase the equipment. …

The Three Rivers Health Foundation announced its 2019 fundraising campaign. Hospital officials said the drive will target the purchase of two pieces of medical equipment in support of helping to advance Three Rivers Health – inclusive of a laparoscopic piece for surgeries and an echo cardio ultrasound system. David Casterline, Executive Director of the Three Rivers Health Foundation, points out …

Five area students are each getting a boost from the Three Rivers Health Auxiliary team. The medical scholarships, which are $1,000 each, were announced in a press release on Thursday. Being selected for the scholarships were Keri Doutlick and Tessa Hawkins of Glen Oaks Community College; Carley Morrill of Western Michigan University; Maegan Saunders of Grand Valley State University and …

Three Rivers Health has selected American Physician Partners (APP) to enhance the already high level of care it provides to the more than 20,000 patients who visit its Emergency Department annually. APP is one of the nation’s leading providers of emergency department management services to community hospitals nationwide, and they have a strong presence throughout Michigan. “In searching for the …

Three Rivers Health is pleased to announce that Dave Shannon was recognized by Becker’s Healthcare as one of 60 rural hospital CEOs to know in 2019. Becker’s Hospital Review is a monthly publication that offers business and legal news and analysis related to hospitals and health systems. The CEOs featured on this list have overcome challenges associated with operating healthcare …

Three Rivers Health has announced that Dr. Orlando Landrum will host a free seminar in which he will present revolutionary Interventional Orthopedic treatments at the medical facility. The seminar begins at 11 a.m. Saturday and will be staged in the St. Joseph and Portage River conference rooms. Advances in the use of orthobiologics make invasive orthopedic surgeries unnecessary for many …

Three Rivers Health employees have selected registered nurse Diane Hawkins as 2018 “Employee of the Year.” Hawkins was honored last week at the “Three Rivers Health Employee Gala” at Pine View Golf Club. She has been with Three Rivers Health since 1990 and currently works as a registered nurse in the Perioperative Department. She was described by her peers as …