It was yet another, for the most part, briskly paced meeting with a wide range of informational topics, diversity of visitors and Rotary personalities; urged on by President Mike’s alternate reality storyline that the Grey Wolf Lodge waterslides would open right after the meeting.
Nikki Sobkowski’s invocation to open our eyes, ears and heart to others and in spirit become one was in keeping with the international and diverse flavor of our meeting.
Then after recounting memories of her Girl Scout youth marching in Memorial Day parades in Hinsdale, Illinois (from which there were two visiting Rotarians this almost sunny day) newsletter scribe Cindy also led the troops in a salute to the armed services. With barely seconds of plan review (due to an email glitch) the talented Byron amazingly came up with short intros to each of the first 4 songs getting the crowd off and singing on key; and then regaled us with a previously unheard version of the Army’s anthem. As the song leader was unable to get on the right melody a cappella, in true Rotarian style help came from the back of the room as a group of officers got us back on track.
Personalities came to the forefront even in introductions and announcements. Trevor joyfully introduced the worldwide nature of attending Rotarians Nancy Fleming and Robert Smallwood from aforementioned Hinsdale, and their friend Tracey Wyatt who won the farthest traveled award as Australia, and Sharron and Wayne Workman (Guatemala’s Safe Passage benefactors).
Lee Torrey jubilantly introduced his guests. And Chris DeGood set a new standard for demonstrationally enhanced announcements by brandishing several madly whipping fishing poles to emphasize the need for more fishing poles and volunteers for Kid’s Free Fishing Day on June 17th. And finally, promising it was his last appearance for this year, was emphatic Ralph Mittleberger creating a new definition for the phrase “in short order” to remind us of the importance of Tag Day June 2; encapsulating the point that “we do what you do”. The gist of which is that it is crucial to the cause to donate your time and/or $50 that will be matched to provide much needed services to handicapped (or whatever your choice for the current version of politically correct terminology is) persons in our community.
Prior to introducing the Workmans, Susan Krause reminded us of the fun to be had at the June 12th Wine Tasting at Bowers Harbor featuring several local winemakers to talk about their wines and pair them with delicious food from the Boathouse.
The presentation for World Community Service was made by Wayne Workman updating things at Safe Passage. There are now 550 kids in the educational program extending that positive influence to a total of more than 3000 family members. Young children start by participating full time in the program then as they get older ½ of the day is spent in public school and ½ at Safe Passage; where they also are assured two meals a day. When the program first began many children were malnourished and now 100% are healthy, and 111 have graduated from high school versus previously only 10% did so.
Allison Beers collected the $51 in the 50/50, and claims it wasn’t really her ticket but Benjamin’s and she was just collecting it for him. Oh sure, good one! We will probably have to follow up on that at a later date just to see what really happened. Just kidding, as Allison is one of the best Rotarians at “Is it the truth” as we all know.
Meghan Daigh introduced our program speaker, Ed Ness, President and Chief Executive Officer for Munson Healthcare. Under his leadership, Munson Medical Center has been recognized numerous times for quality, receiving 100 Top Hospitals recognition from Thomson-Reuters (now Truven Health Analytics) 14 times. Only one other hospital in the nation has been recognized more often.
Mr. Ness joined Munson Medical Center as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in 1999 and was appointed President and CEO in 2004. In May 2010, he became President and CEO of Munson Healthcare. Before joining Munson Medical Center, Mr. Ness was Vice President of the Hospitals and Clinics Division of Evanston Northwestern Healthcare in Evanston, Ill. from 1990 - 1999.
Ed’s resume itself is impressive, but so also was the great quantity of information contained in his presentation which I shall make my best effort to encapsulate accurately in this shortened version.
Overall healthcare is trending toward more fully integrated hospital systems versus affiliated than was true 10 years ago. This provides better access to capital, better coordinated information systems, and a greater ability to accommodate the specialization in regulation. As far as who pays the bills the main source is government related through Medicare at 50% and Medicaid 11%, with Blue Cross next at 18%; so lots of Ed’s time is spent dealing with the government generally and state budget.
Munson is advocating for a replacement to the Affordable Care Act versus outright dismemberment. The ACA provided coverage for more than 640,000 people through Medicaid expansion, and another 340,000 through the Marketplace Exchange, with coverage for more than 90,000 between the ages of 19 and 26. The AHCA (American Health Care Act) places a per capita based cap on Medicaid payments to states, phases out Medicaid Expansion, and replaces advanced premium tax credits with subsidies. If costs shift as a set block amount from the federal to state level the concern can be whether that money then can be shifted to alternate uses as the state needs versus support of the health care system. And also there is concern of retreating back to more use of the emergency room for medical treatment.
Munson’s plan for strategic IT growth is in communication to create a single system of records that can be shared providing better continuity, efficiency and cyber security. Right now 9 hospitals have 4 different medical record systems; and affiliated doctors have 10 different ones, making interfacing difficult.
Another focus area for strategic growth is in Family Birth, as Munson has the only Neo-natal facility north of Highway 10. Building a new 3 story parking ramp will free up space for a new center providing intensive care, maternity and pediatric care with more private rooms becoming available. Plans are to increase procedural capacity in the cardiac cath lab and operating room. And Munson Community Health Center will undergo renovations in Urgent Care, and improvements to the lobby and café.
CURRENT CAREER – Publisher, Traverse City Record-Eagle
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