Currently serving the Alpena community, the 139 bed Alpena Regional Medical Center provides a full range of diagnostic, therapeutic, and outpatient services. Located in the town of Alpena, the health care system has over 900 employees and volunteers, including nearly 100 physicians and other professionals. The health system also has a network of specialty treatment facilities.
In addition to its 139 bed hospital, the health system provides 24-hour emergency services, rehabilitation services, cancer care, and surgical services. The health system also offers behavioral health services, women’s health care, and wound and hyperbaric medicine. In the future, it plans to open a new patient tower, a six-story, $63.5 million building that will feature eight intensive care unit beds, eight labor and delivery rooms, and 44 medical beds. The hospital also plans to expand its outpatient services with remote clinics.
The health system is also known for its acclaimed Diabetic Center, which is one of only seven centers of its kind in the state. It also has an Autologous Blood Clinic, which provides blood-related services to patients with cancer, HIV, and other diseases. Its Cancer Program is approved by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons.
The hospital has an integrated system approach that engages all members of the care team. It uses standard work that incorporates evidence-based guidelines. It also uses an electronic medical record system, Epic, to facilitate faster communication and cost-saving efficiencies. It also has a procedure for sending medical records to outside providers. The health system recently implemented a new procedure that allows patients to have their records sent to other providers in their area.
The hospital has a staff of over 900 and employs approximately 300 volunteers. The health system has a comprehensive network of outpatient services including a diabetes self-management training program, ambulance transportation, and an outpatient pharmacy. There are many specialties at the hospital, including oncology, orthopedics, and cardiopulmonary services. The hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, and it received the highest score for performance on the HMS focus areas in 2016.
Currently, the hospital is affiliated with Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. The health system is one of 23 hospitals that have signed on to join the children’s hospital. The health system also provides clinical outreach and pediatric-specific continuing medical education programming. It also advocates for the health of children in its community and offers periodic community education programs.
The health system’s president and CEO, Diane Postler-Slattery, said the community will continue to receive high quality care from the Alpena hospital. The health system recently received a $500,000 grant from the Alpena Regional Medical Center Endowment Fund. The endowment was established by Lucas and Janet Pfeiffenberger in 1990, and the fund is held by the Community Foundation of Northeast Michigan. The fund is designed to support the hospital’s mission, which is to improve services in the community. The hospital development council worked with the community to build the fund.