Insight Health Systems released a statement expressing willingness to support long-term healthcare stability for Sturgis and the local area after the Sturgis Hospital announced its closure.
“Rural and community hospitals serve as lifelines for the patients and families who depend on them,” said Atif Bawahab, Chief Strategy Officer of Insight Health Systems said in a statement. “When a hospital faces significant operational or financial challenges, the impact extends far beyond the facility itself. It affects local families, employers, physicians, and the overall health of the community.”
Sturgis Hospital will stop seeing patients at noon June 19 pending its closure, the hospital announced Tuesday, June 16, citing ongoing financial challenges facing rural healthcare providers, including declining reimbursement rates, rising operational costs, and a sustained decrease in patient utilization.
“The residents of Sturgis and the surrounding communities deserve reliable access to healthcare close to home,” Bawahab continued. “Insight has demonstrated throughout Michigan that community hospitals can remain viable when the right operational support, clinical leadership, and community partnerships are in place. We stand ready to explore solutions that protect access to care, preserve local healthcare services, and provide long-term stability for the patients and families who rely on them.”
Insight has locations in Coldwater, Hillsdale, Chicago, Dearborn, Trumbull, Novi and Brighton, according to its website. The Flint-based hospital system bought the former Branch County-owned hospital in Coldwater from ProMedica on Dec. 5, 2024.
“If local leaders, regulators, hospital leadership, and community stakeholders determine that Insight can play a constructive role in supporting the future of healthcare services in Sturgis, we are prepared to participate in those conversations,” Bawahab said. “Our priority is ensuring that patients continue to receive the care they need in the communities where they live.”
No formal agreements have been reached, and any future discussions would be conducted in partnership with appropriate regulatory agencies, hospital leadership, physicians, and community representatives, according to Insight.
“We remain committed to working collaboratively with healthcare providers, government officials, community leaders, and other stakeholders to identify sustainable solutions that preserve access to care and strengthen healthcare delivery throughout the region,” Bawahab added.
This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Insight Health Systems offers help after Sturgis Hospital closure
Reporting by Liz Shepard, Port Huron Times Herald / Sturgis Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Liz Shepard, Port Huron Times Herald | USA TODAY Network
