In the past century, the world of medicine has changed almost unrecognizably.
In 1929, the first polio patient was saved using the newly-developed iron lung.
In 1954, the first clinical trials of oral contraceptives began.
In 1998, the first adult live-donor liver transplant took place.
And MyMichigan Medical Center Sault has stood through it all.
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First opening its doors on Feb. 28, 1924 the formerly-known War Memorial Hospital began serving the community with dedication to quality care and has stayed true to that commitment for the last century. First opening its doors on Feb. 28, 1924, the formerly known War Memorial Hospital began serving the community with dedication to quality care and has stayed true to that commitment for the last century.
MyMichigan Medical Center Sault recently celebrated the 100-year anniversary in a special community gathering held in the hospital entrance. Guests had the opportunity to enjoy a historical photo display, refreshments, and were invited to sign a commemorative banner.
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A 100-year old newspaper features the opening of War Memorial Hospital, now known as MyMichigan Medical Center Sault.“For the last century we have had the privilege to provide care and support to the local community. We have much to be proud of and to celebrate,” says Kevin Kalchik, M.H.A., C.P.A., president of MyMichigan Medical Center Sault. “We look forward to bringing our community, employees, volunteers and providers together to honor the history of our community hospital and celebrate and share the stories of the lives we have touched.
While MyMichigan Medical Center Sault has served the community for a century, like modern medicine, it too has grown to meet the growing needs of the community.
“Our hospital’s evolution from a small community hospital to a Medical Center capable of providing top-tier care is nothing short of amazing,” says Kalchik. “The fact that a community of our size can support a hospital that still has obstetrics, dialysis, inpatient behavioral health, and services like neurology and endocrinology offered through telehealth, is a notable chapter in our organization’s story.”
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MyMichigan Medical Center Sault has grown to meet the needs of the community over the past century and looks forward to doing so in the next century as well.One of the things Dr. Paula Rechner, MD, vice president of medical affairs, MyMichigan Medical Center Sault, is proud of is the improvement in access to specialty care the facility has been able to provide in recent years. Through creative solutions, such as virtual care and having providers come intermittently, local residents now have greater access to care than ever before.
“Some of the services we've really worked hard to offer – and most rural communities aren't able to offer – are programs such as neurology, endocrinology, sleep medicine, as well as inpatient psychiatry, which is a much-needed service in our region and beyond,” says Dr. Rechner.
They’ve also provided access to surgical subspecialties such as Ear, Nose, and Throat and Orthopedic surgery, which means patients have that care closer to home.
The facility has no intention of plateauing their care now, though. In fact, they have several plans in the works that will continue to drive healthcare forward for the community in the coming years.
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MyMichigan Medical Center Sault is honoring its past with a special fundraising effort to underwrite reconstruction of the gazebo, accompanied by an attractive landscape surrounding the memorial.“Joining the MyMichigan Health family has been a catalyst for so much positive change,” says Nicole Oliver, M.B.A., B.S.N., R.N., vice president of nursing, MyMichigan Medical Center Sault. “They have invested in us, their employees, as well as much needed facility improvement projects. Several projects are coming up that will impact the way care is delivered to our patients now and will strengthen our Medical Center for another 100 years to come.”
Upcoming projects include the launch of the new Epic electronic medical record this spring, the construction of a new pharmacy that will serve the Infusion and Oncology Unit, renovation of the Nuclear Medicine Department and addition of a new high-tech nuclear medicine camera with spec CT, along with the purchase of the Malcolm School building and its property for future campus growth. Improvements made in the past year include the implementation of a new nurse call system, purchase of all new hospital beds, and initiation of department renovations, including the Emergency Department, just to name a few.
Additionally, Dr. Rechner would like to see the community as a whole turn their minds toward prevention. Particularly through the pandemic, many people fell behind on routine screenings such as mammograms and annual doctor’s visits.
“We’re proud to offer a number of specialty care services, but ensuring we have prevention options through screenings and check-ups is equally important,” says Dr. Rechner. “We’re offering more of these options now that we have joined the MyMichigan Health family.”
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“Since our inception, the hospital has served as a memorial for those who served, fought, and died for their country,” said Kalchik.She adds that, while the hospital has always been committed to ensuring the wellbeing of its employees, being part of the MyMichigan Health system has created new avenues to focus on that goal and draw in potential employees.
“There’s a lot of focus on keeping our employees healthy,” says Dr. Rechner. “In fact, we recently introduced our Lifestyle Medicine program to teach healthy, lasting habits for the lasting overall health and well-being of our employees. It’s been very successful.”
Kalchik says being part of the MyMichigan Health system is also a draw for new employees, something that will benefit the community as a whole as the facility continues to grow and expand to meet local needs.
“Being part of the MyMichigan Health system, we're starting to see the benefits as physicians want the support of a robust health system and peers,” says Kalchik. “I'm looking forward to not only maintaining primary care services, but expanding it and really improving our access.”
As MyMichigan Medical Center Sault celebrates its anniversary and looks to the future, they are also committed to remembering the past with a special fundraising effort.
“Since our inception, the hospital has served as a memorial for those who served, fought, and died for their country,” said Kalchik. “The memorial located here has long been situated on hospital grounds. We are currently fundraising to underwrite reconstruction of the gazebo, accompanied by an attractive landscape surrounding the memorial.”
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“We want to make sure our memorial is in a place and in an environment that people can actually go there and pay tribute to those that came before us and those that have sacrificed for us," says Kalchik.Kalchik adds that it is only fitting for the hospital and community to revitalize the memorial that honors veterans now, since local veterans contributed heavily to the building 100 years ago.
“In 1923, I think it was, the county commission was going to utilize $30,000 for a memorial tribute,” he says. “Back then the veterans actually asked them to instead put the money towards the new hospital. And that's what happened, and they got the community behind them to get the funding for the $180,000 that it took to build the original building.”
“We want to make sure our memorial is in a place and in an environment that people can actually go there and pay tribute to those that came before us and those that have sacrificed for us – not just in getting the hospital but in sacrificing their lives in the wars.”
Those interested in making a donation to this effort may call the MyMichigan Health Foundation at (989) 839-1932 or visit www.mymichigan.org/sault100.