April 22 Community Open House Features Tours, Naming of New Robot

MyMichigan Medical Center Alma officially broke ground on the 51,200 square-foot surgical suite renovation and expansion project in the summer of 2022. With construction now complete, community members are invited to tour the new areas in an Open House on Tuesday, April 22, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Attendees are asked to enter the Medical Center’s new Main Entrance.

“We are excited to showcase the finished project with community members. The expansion combines the newest, state-of-the-art surgical technology with increased comfort and privacy for our patients and their families,” said Marita Hattem-Schiffman, F.A.C.H.E., C.P.M.S.M., president, MyMichigan Medical Centers in Alma, Clare and Mt. Pleasant. “In fact, as part of our construction project and investment, we now have a da Vinci^® Xi surgical robotic platform at the Medical Center. This equipment enhances our ability to continue to deliver the most advanced surgical services to our rural communities across the central Michigan region.”

Construction and renovations for the projected include four new operating rooms that are larger than traditional operating rooms to accommodate the latest innovative technology. Also added is a new Sterile Processing Department that places staff within close proximity to the operating rooms allowing for a more efficient workflow. In addition, in May 2024, the Medical Center opened the hospital’s new main entrance for better access to outpatient services and testing, and for those who will be having surgery or a procedure. The final project phase includes renovations that has added 18 private pre-operative and recovery rooms, a seven-bed Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) with advanced monitoring systems, and a day surgery area.

“We are excited to bring to a close to this construction project and allow community members to see firsthand the beautiful areas that have been created for their comfort and privacy,” said Hattem-Schiffman. “We know this Medical Center is your regional go-to place for health care because we offer high-quality care close to home and provide access to the greatest breadth, depth, diversity and volume of health care in central Michigan.”

In addition to tours, at the open house, community members will have the chance to interact with the Alma surgical team, experience live demonstrations and gain insights into the future of minimally invasive surgery. What’s more, the Medical Center, which held a “Name Our Robot” contest with elementary schools in Clare, Gratiot and Isabella counties, will reveal the name of the robot at the Open House.

Over the past few years, the Medical Center has recruited new surgeons who offer new services with the addition of the da Vinci robot. Robotic surgery is becoming the standard in surgeon training and is essential to ensuring central Michigan communities can receive excellent surgical care well into the future.

“The $34.5 million, 51,200 square foot project represents our purpose as a health system to Create Healthy Communities – Together,” said Hattem-Schiffman. “For decades to come, our Medical Center will serve the needs of the central Michigan community by providing excellent health care and enable patients to stay close to home for the majority of the care they need for a lifetime.”
 

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MyMichigan Medical Center in Alma
now offers state-of-the-art robotic surgery.

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