News

Before your blood gets pumped out of your heart to circulate through the body, it must pass through the aortic valve . If the aortic valve becomes narrowed or hardened, the condition known as aortic stenosis occurs, resulting in symptoms such as chest pain, fatigue, fainting, and shortness of breath. Aortic stenosis is a common heart valve disease and typically affects people over the age of 65. As symptoms progress, your cardiologist may suggest getting your aortic valve replaced. The good news is ther...

Women’s health is something that affects every part of our lives, from the physical to the emotional. Throughout life, women face unique health challenges, from menstruation to pregnancy, and later menopause. It’s important for women to understand their bodies, take care of themselves, and make time for regular check-ups. Preventative care, a healthy lifestyle, and a little self-care go a long way in maintaining overall well-being. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists , w...

Kristen Moerchen, RN, a dedicated Karmanos nurse since 2022, was recently honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. This program recognizes and celebrates nurses who go above and beyond for their patients and their loved ones. “I was so honored to have received this award,” said Moerchen. “I feel so grateful to have been recognized and noticed for my dedication and consistent efforts to provide the best care possible for each and every patient. Patients are in their most vulnerable states w...

Imagine you’re training for a marathon, and suddenly you develop a pain in your hip. It may hurt when you run, during daily activities, or when you sleep, and sometimes it also aches or throbs. One reason for this pain may be a hip labral tear . These can happen to anyone, but they are most common in athletes who participate in high-impact sports.  There are a couple of ways to treat a labral tear, but if surgery is needed, a hip arthroscopy is a minimally invasive option.  “Hip arthroscopy is...

Three hospitals part of statewide McLaren Health Care have earned an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national distinction that recognizes the hospital’s achievements in protecting patients from harm while providing safe, compassionate health care. McLaren Port Huron, McLaren Central Michigan in Mount Pleasant, and McLaren Northern Michigan in Petoskey have all earned ‘A’ grades. The highest achievable recognition, grades are assigned based on a hospital’s performance in preventing m...

May is National Stroke Awareness Month, a time dedicated to educating people about the critical importance of recognizing the signs, symptoms, and risks of a stroke. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and a major cause of disability, according to the American Stroke Association . While we often think of strokes affecting older adults, recent trends show an alarming rise in strokes among younger people, especially those in their thirties and forties. This means it’s more impo...

Lions Club members Diane Fleming and Gerard Desormes, McLaren Central Michigan ER manager Sam Franklin, RN, Lions Club members Dana Rudoni, Jenny Justis, and Roger Gilbert. Leadership at McLaren Central Michigan is humbled by the generosity of the Mt. Pleasant Lions Club, whose members generously organized and donated almost 200 backpacks—filled with stickers, colored pencils, a coloring book, and a stuffed animal—for children visiting the hospital’s emergency department. “We are incredible grateful for...

If you were in a serious accident or suffered a stroke, would the people closest to you know how you would want them to handle your health care decisions?  Getting this conversation started is exactly why Health Care Decisions Day is observed every April 16.  The idea is to educate everyone, including health providers about the importance of advance care planning. An advance directive is a legally recognized document that outlines how you want your medical care to move forward in the event you...

A Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and Wayne State University (WSU) research scientist and assistant professor, Husain Yar Khan, Ph.D., presented an abstract on “Targeting XPO1 to Enhance Durability of Response of MRTX1133 in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma” at this year’s American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in Chicago. The study investigates how to improve the durability of response to KRAS inhibitors by combining them with the XPO1 inhibitor. In addition, Dr. Khan was ...

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit is partnering with Wayne State University (WSU) School of Medicine and CrossFit Petoskey to offer cancer survivors 12 weeks of exercise training for free. These classes are provided as part of Cross-Training and Physical Activity: A Better Life Experience (CAPABLE) , an exercise program introducing the sport of CrossFit to cancer survivors. Classes in Petoskey begin Tuesday, May 13. Previous exercise experience is not necessary to participate. “The CA...