Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1311112
19 WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP 19 CEO / STRATEGY Trinity Health Michigan raises minimum wage for 2,100 workers to $15 per hour By Kelly Gooch T rinity Health Michigan is raising its minimum wage to $15 per hour for hospital and medical group employees, the organization announced in an Oct. 19 news release. e wage increase will affect 2,100 full- and part-time employees at Norton Shores-based Mercy Health and Canton-based Saint Jo- seph Mercy Health System, and their medi- cal groups, IHA, St. Joe's Medical Group and Mercy Health Physician Partners. Employees affected by the wage increase in- clude non-union environmental services workers, medical assistants, patient compan- ions, food and retail services, and transporters. Trinity Health Michigan officials said an ad- ditional 6,000 employees making between $15 and $19 an hour will also "have their wage adjusted in order to maintain meaning- ful distinctions in pay." ey said the addi- tional wage increases are to improve pay for a large number of employees, and help retain and attract talented workers. "Our dedicated and compassionate employ- ees are at the heart of what makes our health ministry remarkable," Rob Casalou, pres- ident and CEO of Trinity Health Michigan, said in a statement. "As we continue to face the COVID pandemic and work together to address economic challenges, we want to recognize our employees whose commitment and talent have enabled us to care for our communities during this challenging time. ese investments in our people are part of an overall philosophy to offer equitable and market-competitive pay and benefits for our staff, as together we build a strong future." Trinity Health Michigan officials said eligi- ble employees are still slated to receive their annual wage increases for 2020-21, and no increases are planned in medical health plan premium contributions for employees for 2021. Additionally, they said the base minimum of the employer's core contribu- tions will climb from $1,200 to $1,400 for calendar year 2021. Mercy Health and Saint Joseph Mercy Health System are part of Livonia, Mich.- based Trinity Health's Michigan region. Mercy Health serves the Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Shelby and Lakeshore communi- ties, and Saint Joseph Mercy Health System has hospitals in Ann Arbor, Chelsea, How- ell, Livonia and Pontiac, according to Trinity Health's website. n University Medical Center CEO saves man's life at Las Vegas casino By Kelly Gooch T he CEO of a Las Vegas hospital helped save a man who went into cardiac arrest on the floor of a casino, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Mason Van Houweling, CEO of University Medical Center, told the publication he was out to dinner with his wife Sept. 23 when he saw Pablo Bernabe sweat- ing and without a pulse on the floor of the Golden Nugget casino. Mr. Van Houweling said he began chest compres- sions on Mr. Bernabe, who was in full cardiac arrest, and an automated external defibrillator was used to shock him. Mr. Van Houweling continued chest com- pressions. Mr. Bernabe eventually opened his right eye and was taken to University Medical Center, the anchor hospital of the Las Vegas Medical District, Mr. Van Houweling told the Review-Journal. Mr. Bernabe was discharged Oct. 6 after undergoing open-heart surgery. n Franciscan Health CEO: New $200M Indiana hospital part of regional strategy By Morgan Haefner M ishawaka, Ind.-based Franciscan Health broke ground on a $200 million hospital that a system CEO said puts a greater focus on regional medical centers, according to Inside Indiana Business. Franciscan Health broke ground on the hospital in Crown Point, Ind., Sept. 24. The hospital will replace the aging Franciscan Health Crown Point when it opens in late 2023. In an interview with Inside Indiana Business, Franciscan Health Crown Point CEO Daniel McCormick, MD, said the hospital is "a big step up for performance both of the hospital and to the community. The expectations will be and should be that we will be able to provide services if you come to the facility. Right now, I think that that's sometimes a challenge in our market and we see a lot of patients having to be moved around either north- west Indiana or into Chicago or down to Indianapolis. We hope to be able to minimize that." While many hospital services are moving to the outpatient set- ting, Dr. McCormick said the Crown Point hospital will make higher-acuity services for stroke, heart attacks and trauma more locally accessible. n