Beaumont Health, the state’s largest health system, blamed the dramatic cuts on losses incurred during the pandemic, which forced it to cut revenue-generating procedures to handle the surge. CEO temporarily cuts his own pay 70 percent.
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
Michigan needs big boost in coronavirus testing to reopen economy
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is under enormous pressure to loosen an economic lockdown by May 1. But by any national standard, the state must significantly improve COVID-19 testing to safely reopen for business.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Wary of hospitals during coronavirus, some Michigan moms turn to midwives
Midwives, mostly paid out of pocket, say they could serve more women and better respond to a long-term pandemic if insurance companies would cover home deliveries.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
As Michigan fights coronavirus, hospitals gush money and workers lose jobs
From metropolitan health systems to independent rural hospitals, hospital budgets are taking big financial hits as surgeries and other money making medical procedures are put on hold.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Detroit Medical Center to furlough 480 employees during coronavirus crisis
The eight-hospital system, like others, blames the cancellation of more lucrative non-emergency procedures during the COVID-19 surge for its cash-flow problems. It did not say what workers are affected.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Beaumont sidelines one hospital site as coronavirus surge stalls
That slowing of coronavirus cases has prompted the state’s largest hospital system to reassess staffing and space.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan Medicine: 22,000 coronavirus surgical masks from feds don’t work
The Ann Arbor-based health system said 2,000 of the masks were distributed to health workers but were found to be unusable, so they are not using any of them. This follows similar mask complaints from Alabama and Oregon.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Testing immunity to coronavirus may help Michigan open for business sooner
Serologic studies are being launched in at least three hospital systems to identify those with immunity to COVID-19 after surviving the virus. Such data can inform business openings and patient treatment.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Coronavirus moves Michigan doctor visits online, for good and bad
Insurers have loosened restrictions and boosted benefits to extend telemedicine as never before.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Detroit Medical Center laying off 60 amid coronavirus; McLaren eyes furloughs
As the coronavirus decimates hospital revenues, the Detroit Medical Center notifies 60 lab assistants and more they are being laid off, while McLaren is exploring cost-cutting measures and furloughs.