Community Care Remained Strong as Medical Center Looks Ahead
ALMA, Mich. – As MyMichigan Medical Center Alma moves forward following the recent work stoppage, the Medical Center is expressing its gratitude to the physicians, nurses, advanced practice providers, clinical teams, support staff, volunteers and leaders who remained focused on providing safe, compassionate care for patients throughout the Michigan Nursing Association’s (MNA) three-day strike.
“Every day, our teams came together with one shared purpose—to care for our patients,” said Chuck Sherwin, market president - west, MyMichigan Health. “We are incredibly grateful for the professionalism, resilience and teamwork demonstrated by employees across our health system who stepped up to ensure our community continued to receive the care it needed.”
Throughout the strike, MyMichigan Medical Center Alma remained open and continued to provide emergency care, inpatient services, surgical procedures, labor and delivery services and other essential health care services. Consistent with holiday weekend operations, no elective surgeries were scheduled, and MyMichigan evaluated and performed all emergency services and surgical cases that our community required. During this time, the team successfully managed four urgent cases, including two late-night C-sections.
“The collaboration we witnessed throughout this experience was remarkable. Employees from across MyMichigan Health worked alongside Alma caregivers to support patient care and maintain operations,” said Marissa Palmer, D.N.P., R.N., chief nursing officer, MyMichigan Health. “Staff from across our health system worked seamlessly with our local teams, sharing knowledge, supporting one another and demonstrating what it means to be part of one health system dedicated to serving our communities.”
Evelyn Bovan of Farwell was an inpatient this past weekend and shared her experience as she recovered from a total knee replacement.
“Had I not known there was a strike, I never would have realized it,” said Bovan. “I couldn’t have asked for a better staff. My nurse went out of his way for me and everyone was so supportive and helpful. Before I left, the staff even asked if there was anything they could do for me. I told them I wanted to dance and sure enough they put on music and we danced. We all laughed. I loved the people, their kindness and honestly didn’t want to leave.”
Medical Center Alma moves forward, its focus remains on providing the safe, high-quality care patients have come to expect.
“We know our community depends on us, and we remain committed to earning that trust every day,” said Sherwin. “Our focus is on caring for our patients, supporting one another and building an even stronger future together.”
MyMichigan Health remains committed to bargaining in good faith and continues to believe that productive discussions at the bargaining table are the best path to reaching a fair agreement. The next bargaining session between the MNA and MyMichigan has not yet been scheduled.