Ascension reinvestment in northern Michigan hospitals continues

SAGINAW, MI - This week, Ascension announced it will be investing $125 million in operational capital into their northern Michigan health ministries - Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital in Saginaw, Ascension Standish Hospital in Standish and Ascension St. Joseph Hospital in Tawas City. 

This latest investment from Ascension is evidence of the organization’s ongoing commitment to the growth and success of its three northern Michigan hospitals that was initiated in May 2018. At that time, $50 million was dedicated to facility renovations and upgrades, advanced imaging technology, various patient care enhancements and an $18 million emergency care center expansion at Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital in downtown Saginaw which is expected to be complete in November. 

Combined, this equates to more than $175 million of investment into Ascension’s northern Michigan hospitals. This latest capital dollar commitment will support multiple strategic growth initiatives identified through the development of master facility plans including:

• The renovation and expansion of intensive care units and rooms, and private patient rooms throughout Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital
• Upgrades to cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology labs at Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital
• Development of a new emergency department waiting area at Ascension Standish Hospital
• Construction of a medical office building at Ascension Standish Hospital for primary and specialty care physician offices, laboratory and rehabilitation services
• Relocation and expansion of obstetrics and the birthing center at Ascension St. Joseph Hospital 
• Two new linear accelerators for the radiation oncology services at Ascension St. Mary’s Seton Cancer Institute in Marlette and West Branch 

“This exciting news is possible thanks to the dedication and commitment of our associates, physicians and hospital leaders who work hard each and every day to provide compassionate, personalized care,” said Joe Hurshe, FACHE, Chief Operating Officer, Ascension Michigan. “We are thrilled these enhancements will be coming to fruition and our care teams can continue to be proud of the incredible work and service they provide to the communities we are privileged to serve.”

Details and timelines for the projects will be established and shared in the coming weeks. 

“I am so overjoyed by this announcement and Ascension’s acknowledgment of the great work performed at our healthcare sites,” expressed Stephanie Duggan, MD, Regional President and CEO, Ascension Michigan Northern Ministries (photo above). “Ascension's ongoing investment and commitment to the northern Michigan ministries is a validation of what we have been working towards. This is all about our patients, they are at the center of everything we do. It’s a testament to our front line caregivers and medical providers who continue to fulfill our Mission of caring for all. We will be here for generations to come.” 

About Ascension Michigan

In Michigan, Ascension operates 16 hospitals and hundreds of related healthcare facilities that together employ over 23,000 associates. Across the state, Ascension provided over $311 million in community benefit and care of persons living in poverty in FY2020. Serving Michigan for over 140 years, Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization dedicated to transformation through innovation across the continuum of care.

As the largest non-profit and Catholic health system in the U.S., Ascension is committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. In FY2020, Ascension provided $2.4 billion in care of persons living in poverty and other community benefit programs. Ascension includes more than 160,000 associates and 40,000 aligned providers. The national health system operates more than 2,600 sites of care – including 139 hospitals and more than 40 senior living facilities – in 19 states and the District of Columbia, while providing a variety of services including clinical and network services, venture capital investing, investment management, biomedical engineering, facilities management, risk management, and contracting through Ascension’s own group purchasing organization.

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