Nancy Graebner, CEO of St Joseph Mercy Hospital Chelsea, gave Dexter Rotary an update at their weekly meeting regarding the expansion currently in progress at St Joe’s in Chelsea.
The renovations are a collaborative effort between two of Michigan’s powerhouse health systems: Trinity Health (St Joseph’s parent organization) and Michigan Medicine, the academic medical center of the University of Michigan.
St Joseph Mercy Health Systems (SJMHS) is a member of Trinity Health based out of Livonia, MI. The Catholic health care system has facilities in 22 states and employs around 97,000 people. SJMHS employs 16,200 people in facilities throughout seven southeastern Michigan counties. Michigan Medicine operates 40 outpatient locations as well as home health care that serve 2.1 million individuals annually.
At their weekly Thursday morning breakfast, Graebner told the Rotarians that St Joe’s in Chelsea is adding four operating rooms. The first two are under construction with blueprints for the next two being finalized. The increased surgical facilities will be able to serve patients with bariatric urological, thyroid or endocrine, oncological, gynecological and general surgery needs.
St Joe’s CEO also mentioned that the 133-bed facility underwent recent renovation for their behavioral health department improving aesthetics, therapeutic facilities and updating safety concerns. In addition to the physical improvements, St Joe’s Chelsea is increasing the number of child and adolescent psychiatrists.
This joint venture, announced last Spring, allows two strong health systems with excellent care delivery models to join forces and strengthen care delivery between the statewide network of Trinity Health’s tertiary and health care facilities, and Michigan’s premier center for highly specialized, complex care cases.
“This emerging relationship is groundbreaking in Michigan, ” said Rob Casalou, regional president and CEO, Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, in a press release. “Patient-centered collaboration is in the best interests of our communities. Together we can offer high-quality care locally and higher levels of specialized care when necessary.”
Once approved, the potential agreement will expand the surgical procedures Michigan Medicine provides at the Chelsea hospital. The agreement will also increase access to U-M physicians for patients in Chelsea and elsewhere in western Washtenaw County.
“We are excited to bring our capabilities closer to patients,” said Dr. David Spahlinger, MD. “We have long cared for patients who live in the greater Chelsea area – but who travel to and from Ann Arbor for their care. With this affiliation, Chelsea-area patients will have expanded care choices closer to home.”
“The planned joint venture expands upon years of successful collaboration between our two organizations with the inpatient family medicine teaching service and faculty practice on the St Joseph Mercy Chelsea campus,” said Graebner in the initial release last Spring. “This natural progression of our relationship will enhance our ability to provide a broader range of services jointly with Michigan Medicine.”
More information about the ongoing project can be found at St Joseph Mercy Health Systems
