Located in northeast Michigan on the shore of Lake Huron, Alpena is home to a variety of businesses and recreational activities. The city has a rich industrial heritage that dates back to the logging of the 1800s and is now a thriving community with plenty of jobs in both private and public sectors. The local economy is bolstered by tourism, the health care industry and education. The City is proud to offer a wide range of services for residents and visitors alike.
The City of Alpena boasts a top-rated regional medical center, the MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena. The hospital is a 139-bed critical access hospital providing inpatient and outpatient medical and surgical services along with a 24-hour emergency department to the greater Alpena area. Some of the hospital’s medical specialties include behavioral health, cancer care, diagnostic imaging (X-ray, CT scanning, etc.), orthopedics, pain management, rehabilitation services and women’s health.
MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena recently received a four-star rating from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, based on patient survey results. In addition, the hospital received a C grade in the latest Leapfrog Hospital Safety Report. President Michael Erickson says the hospital is happy with its performance in both categories.
In the safety of care category, the hospital scored six out of eight measures with all of those above the national average. In the patient experience category, the hospital received a four out of five rating, with seven of the measures above the national average.
There were 677 surveys submitted in the patient experience category, with patients asked 10 different questions. For example, patients were asked if they always receive help as soon as possible and whether doctors listen to them carefully. Of the responses, 78% of the patients said their doctors listened to them and 81% of the patients reported that they would recommend the hospital to a friend or family member.
The MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena is also a Federal Tort Claims Act Deemed Facility. The facility’s status means that the hospital is protected from certain types of legal claims, including medical/dental malpractice and personal injury lawsuits. This type of protection is only available to hospitals with high levels of quality, and this designation helps to give the public confidence in the facility’s abilities and the medical staff who work there. It is important to note that the FTCA status does not shield medical/dental facilities from liability for negligence or errors in treatment. However, it does protect the facility from claims brought by individuals for damages arising out of their own negligent acts or omissions in the course of providing healthcare.