Without such affiliations, many people wouldn’t have the radiation therapy or chemotherapy without traveling daily to Marquette or Green Bay. In Dickinson County, we have affiliations with Marquette General as well as Bellin Health in Green Bay. No one is forced to use any of these services, and certainly it hasn’t taken away from the small-town feel of healthcare… instead it has enhanced it by allowing people to get services close to home.

I'm sorry if anyone mistook my original post as an indictment of Marquette General.

I understand many of the reasons behind these affiliations, and why smaller hospitals have to do it. My point was that it's lousy that the reimbursements, etc. aren't there so that they can stand on their own, and continue to provide community medicine. It just seems like patients of smaller, community hospitals feel more comfortable. More like home. MGH is so large that at times one can, maybe, feel like a number. It's nobody's fault, just the sheer scope of the operation is so big that it can't be helped.

I grew up in a small town, with a small town hospital. Even though I haven't lived in Ishpeming in over 14 years, I still feel like Bell is MY hospital. Bell was (and still is) an integral part of the community's fabric, as are other small local hospitals.

Long story short, I hate to see those smaller hospitals lose their community "feel." No indictment of MGH here. I'm proud of the type of facility THAT has grown to become, and thankful that it's available to us!

This could be a good thing for women having babies in Manistique. They either have to go to Escanaba or Marquette. How bad is that for these women in winter conditions. I believe we are down to 4 doctors! We finally have a surgeon who can do bones/surgeries. Hopefully he can pack a nose if needed so no more trips to Marquette. We need more specialists.

JF:

sorry. i'm one of those crazy bell babies, i grew up in ishpeming, near the old hospital, and am a die hard loyalist.

Plus, all that i said is true.

MGH is becoming affliates with other UP hospitals because they want all UP residents to have good healthcare! MGH doesn't view the other UP hospitals as their competition, and they certainly don't want to take over the other UP hospitals. (If they had, don't you think they would of done so long ago?)

The affilations allow the hospitals to work together, not for money, but for the UP residents & others that visit the UP for the use any of the UP hospitals for their healthcare services.

It gets old hearing people say that MGH is taking over the UP. I've been hearing that for 30-plus years. And MGH still doesn't own other hospitals besides just the one. But yet MGH continues to spend money to put clinics/health services in areas that have little or none.

And MGH cannot do it all - they will fly patients out to other affliated downstate hospitals to better service the patient. Yes, not MGH, but the PATIENT!

It is a great benefit to have MGH step in and help out smaller community hospitals so that those who live in small towns don't lose their hospital completely. MGH is a business, and they have chosen to provide care to those who can't pay wherever necessary, which affects the ability to give big raises to their employees and to expand and provide more services. Also, MGH needs those small hospitals as well. Those small communities find them valuable when they are ill! It says "Partnership" Dave, not "takeover". All those hospital Boards made a decision to partner in their own best interest. Those who wish there was more "competition" haven't thought about the flip side - no healthcare at all, and we'll all be driving to Green Bay and Traverse for our care. We're fortunate to have a business-savvy hospital locally that is doing what it needs to do to remain solvent in this economy - and give us healthcare when we need it. Those who disagree are always in the United States free to go to other hospitals - and can always move to a less rural area where there are more healthcare choices, restaurants, hotels, gas stations, etc.

We CHOOSE to live here and are lucky that local hospitals are doing what they need to do to keep their doors open. It's not as much about competition as you think. There will always be people needing healthcare. It's about balancing employees, costs, patients who can pay, and patients who can't pay. Profit is rarely, if ever, an option for hospitals. Google what's going on in the rest of the country for goodness sake.

MGH is banding together all the other smaller health care providers so they can dictate what health care costs . Then they'll be deciding what kind of health care is available where and to whom. It's socialism I tells ya !

I'm confused by some of the strong negativity expressed in some of the comments regarding the recent affiliation agreements involving three U.P. hospitals, and Marquette General Health Systems. These agreements can only enhance the operations of those facilities, which in turn will improve the care to their patients.

As we are all aware, the Upper Peninsula is located in a fairly isolated portion of the state, and working together for our common good is central to our philosophy. That's what makes the U.P. a great place to call home.

Sharing clinical and administrative resources is in no way a threatening proposition. Accepting this assistance is not "buckling" nor "bowing" to those offering their assistance. As has been indicated, these healthcare facilities can continue to develop their potential with other agencies, while continuing to maintain their own identities and operations.

Difficult economic times require responsible decisions for everyone concerned. That's what creates the ability to expand and improve. And by doing so, you continue to provide improved healthcare to your community.

This is about people, and their healthcare concerns. It's not a contest to see who can sell the most cars, or who can be the best DJ. It's not about being "number one." It's about taking care of people in the most responsible and compassionate manner possible.

Yes, by all means, these affiliations will be a positive step forward for all communities involved.

I don't share the same negative comments as several other people. In this day, in this economy, it is only right to share resources. I wish people would stop bashing Marquette in general. Without Marquette the rest of the region would suffer not only in regards to medical care, but many other services we take for granted. Bell is a fine facility, yes, but they do not have nearly the resources and capabilities of MGH. Bell has it's own specialties and they serve as an important part of the medical community. The mines, the hospital....it's always something to complain about for some people. Here's to the positive thinkers!

gee dave, I took it as a good thing for these smaller hospitals. It will help them save money and sty in business. Better they get local help/partner than from somewhere else like Munson in TC etc..

It seems like MGH is taking over all the health care in the upper penninsula. What a shame! People in the U.P. really do not have much of a choice as to where they can go for medical care. Many medical procedures and services are simply not offered by the other hospitals in the area! I wish that places such as Bell Hospital would expand their medical procedures to provide the much needed healthy competition in this MGH monopoly. They seem to remember that state of the art technology cannot replace state of the art care and human compassion.

With all of these resources and alleged technology why do they still fly so many people out of state to other hospitals for treatment?

I was disgusted to read this story. It's sad that the small, local, community hospitals are unable to stand on their own, and now have to buckle and bow to the ivory tower on the hill in Marquette.

Thank God for Bell Hospital in Ishpeming. They wised up, and won't put up! While other small U.P. hospitals are shrinking, Bell has continued to grow and expand, keeping community medicine in West Marquette County strong. Bell's reputation is rapidly growing along with its size, and is quickly becoming known for providing an extremely high quality of care!

The folks at Bell Hospital have got the right idea. Don't grow by using dirty, underhanded tactics, or by bullying people around. Bell's grown the right way. Providing excellent care in a caring manner. That's it. Simple formula. That kind of attitude makes customers very loyal. Keep it up, Bell. You'll be number one soon!