News Redirect

Chest pain is always a cause for concern. There are so many things it could be- a heart attack, angina, pulmonary embolism, gallstones, stomach ulcers, panic attacks- all potentially serious issues- or it could just be heartburn. “Heartburn pain can be severe, and can be frightening, especially if you have never experienced it before.” said McLaren Flint gastroenterologist Dr. Ghanem Almounajed . “Getting down to the root cause of chest pain often means taking a closer look at the accompanying symptoms....

Ken Kitner doesn’t hold back when asked to compare his 2021 treatment for an abnormal heartbeat, commonly known as AFib, with his second in the fall of 2025. “Amazing, is all I can say,” said Ken. “The first time was horrible. I really thought I was dying that first night after my procedure. I was bloated with water, miserable, and after recovering, afraid to ever have to go through that again.” When medications cannot keep AFib under control, for decades, the second traditional method of treatment has ...

Mrs. Kelly Pletzke's 6th – through 8th -grade science students at Bay City Academy created 125 care packs for McLaren nurses and 6th grade delivered them today. This delivery marks their 5th year, which started after the COVID-19 outbreak. The project began after their superintendent was admitted to McLaren with complications from COVID in 2021, nearly taking her life. After recovery, she expressed her gratitude to the nurses who provided care. Mrs. Pletzke said, “She and the students could never fully ...

As you consider your end-of-year giving plans, below are several ideas for supporting the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute . Qualified Charitable Distribution A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) allows individuals aged 70½ years or older to support our mission in a simple and tax-advantaged way. You can give any amount up to $108,000 annually from your IRA directly Karmanos without paying income taxes on the distribution. This popular gift option is also commonly referred to as the IRA charit...

A year ago, McLaren Greater Lansing invested $700,000 to purchase an Ion Robotic Bronchoscopy , a platform for minimally invasive peripheral lung biopsy. “Ion provides us with the ability to biopsy any nodule anywhere in the lung, and it allows us to also stage the patient at the same time with an endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) procedure,” Dr. Daniel Kurtz , MD, FCCP, a pulmonologist who works at McLaren Greater Lansing. The new system allows the doctor to do a biopsy of hard-to-reach lung nodules that...

Imagine a doctor’s office that drives right into your neighborhood—that’s the McLaren Greater Lansing Mobile Clinic. This large RV is fully equipped to be a complete primary care doctor’s office. “The McLaren Greater Lansing Mobile Clinic is a celebration of access to care for our community. For many people in our community, traveling to the doctor is challenging,” said Deb Slezak, operations director – academic centers for Medicine/GME at McLaren Health Care. “The McLaren Greater Lansing Mobile Clinic ...

When most people think of diabetes, blood sugar is usually the first thing that comes to mind. But diabetes is much more than controlling blood sugar levels. It can affect the entire body. “Diabetes can cause multiple problems as it affects both the body's vascular system and nervous system,” said Dr. Robert Molnar , a board-certified vascular surgeon and chief of surgery at McLaren Flint. “The real issue is the complications that diabetes brings to several of the body's organ systems. Diabetes signific...

The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy, but for many people, they can also bring a heavy dose of stress. Between work deadlines, family obligations, travel plans, and financial pressure, it’s no wonder that stress levels tend to spike this time of year. In fact, the American Psychological Association now classifies stress as a public health concern — and for good reason. When stress builds up, it doesn’t just affect your mood. It impacts your body, too. Your heart rate increases, blood vessels ti...

Ashley Miller, unit assistant at McLaren Greater Lansing , was honored with the BEE Award. The BEE award , which stands for “Be Extraordinary Every day,” recognizes health care team members who made an extraordinary difference in a patient's care or overall experience. The nomination, submitted by a coworker, read as follows: “Ashley is the best unit assistant I have ever worked with throughout my many years as a nurse. Ashley is a hard worker (I am shocked if I ever see her sitting down during her shif...

Every year, more than 800,000 people in the United States experience a stroke. While strokes can happen any time of year, studies presented by the  American Heart Association have shown they occur more often during the winter months. Physicians at McLaren Health Care remind patients that cold weather can influence several factors that contribute to stroke risk. Why Strokes Are More Common in Winter When temperatures drop, the body reacts by tightening or constricting its blood vessels to ...