As questions swirl about transparency of Michigan nursing home data, a Democratic lawmaker slams Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s policies that required homes to accept COVID-19 patients as an ‘epic fail.’
Robin Erb
Robin Erb covers a range of health issues in Michigan, including the industry of aging and the issues facing older residents in Michigan, a state that is aging faster than most others. She joined Bridge in 2019 and has led investigations that tracked millions of dollars in opioid settlement money and explored severe worker shortages in health care that threaten lives and the state's economy. She chronicled the shock and grief of Michigan families in COVID’s wake, as well as state policy decisions and the triumphs of medical breakthroughs. Robin previously spent six years covering health at the Detroit Free Press, documenting the battle over, and the eventual passage of, the Affordable Care Act and Michigan's Medicaid expansion. She studied communications and political science at Miami University and has a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Lourdes University (Toledo, Ohio). She and her husband raised two wonderful children — but have failed miserably at training their Beagle-Bassets — in southeast Michigan. Reach her at rerb@bridgemi.com.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Nearly killed by COVID-19, Michigan doctors, nurses return humbled, smarter
Two new studies suggest 1 in 100 health care workers involved in the care of coronavirus patients may have become infected themselves. Bridge Magazine spoke to some of them about how their experiences changed them.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan regulators moved fast on dangerous dam. To protect mussels.
In court papers, the owners of a dam that failed this week near Midland acknowledged it was considered unsafe for decades. But Michigan’s only action against the dam was a suit contending it lowered water and killed freshwater mussels.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan appeals court sides with vape shop, against flavored vaping ban
The Michigan Court of Appeals panel upheld a trial court’s injunction against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s emergency rules against flavored vaping products.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
As floodwaters bear down on Dow Chemical, worries about water toxins
Dow Chemical evacuates its Midland headquarters as dam breaches bring flooding to the complex’s containment ponds.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Health board accuses Michigan State Police of being lax on Capitol protesters
An Ingham County community health board said state and Lansing officials endanger public safety by not cracking down on anti-Whitmer protesters who do not follow restrictions intended to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Police say they will take enforcement action when necessary.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
In Michigan, 23K are ‘recovered’ from COVID. Many still feel like hell.
Destroyed kidneys, ravaged lungs and liver — the coronavirus that nearly killed some patients leaves them struggling to do everyday tasks long after Michigan considers them ‘recovered.’
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan’s definition of coronavirus ‘recovery’ looser than other states
Michigan counts those “who are 30 days out from their onset of illness” as recovered. The definition reflects the disconnect between data and real life underscores both the shortcomings in reporting.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Treatment and trials go on, but Michigan doctors split on coronavirus drug
Hydroxychloroquine was touted early on as possible treatment for COVID-19 patients, but a growing body of research points to possibly deadly side effects
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Plasma may hold promise for Michigan coronavirus patients, but where is it?
Some families turn to social media as doctors work the phones trying to find plasma donors among those who beat the virus, a treatment with early promise but for which proven benefits are not yet known.