August 2025
From left: Glen Ackerman, MD, and Kersti Bruining, MD.

Munson’s Neurohospitalists: Advancing Inpatient Neurological Care
Munson Medical Center’s Neurohospitalist Program is transforming how neurological care is delivered to hospitalized patients throughout Northern Michigan. With more than 30 years of experience each, dedicated Neurohospitalists Glen Ackerman, MD, and Kersti Bruining, MD, bring extensive expertise to Munson’s Neurohospitalist Program. They ensure patients with complex neurological conditions receive timely, coordinated, and expert care, whether they arrive through the Emergency Department or are admitted to the hospital. See below for how to request a consult.

Around-the-Clock Expertise
Neurohospitalists are board-certified neurologists who focus exclusively on inpatient care. This specialization allows for:

  • Rapid response to neurological emergencies
  • Consistent management throughout hospitalization
  • Seamless collaboration with hospital teams

Available 24/7, Munson’s Neurohospitalists provide consultations at Munson Medical Center and support providers across the Munson Healthcare system. Their expertise ensures timely evaluation and treatment of acute neurological events, including:

  • Epilepsy and seizures
  • Confusion
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Weakness and walking disturbances
  • Headaches and migraines

Collaborative, Patient-Centered Care
MMC’s Neurohospitalist team works closely with primary care providers, neurosurgeons, rehabilitation specialists, outpatient neurologists, and other members of the care team to develop individualized treatment plans. Upon discharge, our team coordinates referrals to outpatient neurology offices — supporting continuity of care.

Munson’s Neurohospitalist Program reflects our commitment to delivering advanced, accessible neurological care. Whether assisting with a challenging neurological diagnosis or helping manage a complex case, MMC’s Neurohospitalists are a trusted resource for both patients and referring clinicians.

Request a Consult
If your patient is experiencing symptoms of an acute neurological event and needs urgent evaluation:

  • Send the patient to the MMC Emergency Department
  • Or page “MMC Neurology On Call” via PerfectServe

Meet Our Expert Neurohospitalist Team


Glen Ackerman, MD
Neurohospitalist


Kersti Bruining, MD
Neurohospitalist

Healthcare Team

Getting to Know: Anna Booher, MD
Cardiology

Dr. Anna Booher is a cardiologist with expertise in cardiovascular imaging. She is board certified in cardiovascular disease and adult echocardiography and enjoys taking care of all aspects of general cardiology care. She is active in the Structural Heart Program and participates in imaging for these procedures. She is the Medical Director of Non-Invasive Cardiac Diagnostics for Munson Healthcare, which includes imaging, stress testing, and Holter/Mobile Cardiac Telemetry monitoring.

Referrals

Practices at:
Traverse Heart & Vascular

Phone:
231-935-5800

Fax:
231-935-5744

Direct Trust
abooher2@direct.mhc.net

MHC.TraverseHeartand
Vascular@direct.mhc.net

“Living and working in Northern Michigan and for Munson has been a blessing for me and my family. I love working with all the providers in this system and being engaged with the community. I am proud of the level of care we can provide here, and I believe our quality of care is unparalleled.”

Dr. Booher has been at Traverse Heart & Vascular for 11 years. She enjoys spending time in the outdoors with her husband and two kids. She has a chocolate lab named Sammy that she adores.

What would you want referring providers to know about Munson Healthcare Heart Services/Traverse Heart & Vascular and the services provided?
Traverse Heart & Vascular provides comprehensive cardiovascular care to patients in Northern Michigan. We provide access to general cardiac care and advanced procedures to allow patients state-of-the-art services close to home. Our team is made up of highly-trained physicians and advanced practice providers who focus on the highest level of care. 

When should they refer patients to you?
Refer patients to us when they have concerning symptoms or test results that require additional expertise.

In Brief

Primary Hospital:
Munson Medical Center

Medical Education:
University of Michigan
Medical School

Residency:
Internal Medicine,
University of Michigan
Medical School

Fellowship:
Cardiovascular Disease,
University of Michigan
Medical School

Favorite Pastimes:
Boating, running, lifting weights, long walks with friends, watching college football, and the LIONS!

Meet Munson’s Newest Providers!
In addition to announcing new providers when they join as part of Provider Moves (see below), we invite you to learn more about some of the recent additions to our Healthcare Team by clicking here.

Please join us in welcoming...

Provider Moves
Munson Healthcare’s Provider Moves webpage has been updated for July, including new providers, practice changes, retirees, providers no longer on staff (or practicing), and other updates (e.g., name changes, practice moves, new phone and fax numbers).

For a directory of Munson-privileged providers who accept referrals, go to Find A Doctor.

The following Munson-employed providers have joined Munson Healthcare:

The following Munson-employed providers are new to the following MHC practices:

Hospital Medicine Transition
Effective July 1, 2025, Hospital Medicine is now provided by SCP Health at all Munson Healthcare hospitals. For a list of new SCP providers as well as former Sound providers who are no longer on our medical staff, click here. This list is being updated periodically, so please check regularly for updates.

Here to Help: Dillon Brown, MBA
Manager, Provider Relations and Physician Services
In his role as provider liaison, Dillon Brown serves as a vital bridge between providers, their practices, and Munson Healthcare. His day-to-day focus? Advocating for providers and helping solve challenges to ultimately support exceptional patient care.

Dillon works closely with ambulatory practices to ensure they feel heard and supported. He’s especially excited about the relaunch of Munson’s Provider Liaison Program, which includes offering a more structured, proactive outreach. “We’re laying the groundwork to build stronger partnerships and provide the support that providers and practices are looking for,” he says.

Dillon is committed to building strong, collaborative relationships that positively impact providers and patients. “When providers can focus on what they love — delivering care — everyone benefits.”

Contact

231-463-8648
PhysicianLiaison@mhc.net

On a personal note, “I grew up in this community — my roots here run deep. I want my family to receive excellent care, which starts with supporting you. Your work is deeply valued, and I’m committed to helping improve the system we all rely on.”

His advice for ambulatory offices? “Your feedback and perspective are valued and heard. Please keep communicating. Even if change feels slow, we’re listening and working behind the scenes to move things forward.” 

Dillon is always happy to schedule an in-person visit to your office, so please reach out to him!

Referrals and Reports

Radiology Dictation Turnaround Times
As is typical during the summer months, imaging volumes across the MHC system are elevated. To keep you informed, we will report radiology dictation turnaround times in Practice Pro until volumes return to normal, which is anticipated around mid-September.

Outpatient Radiology Dictation Turnaround Times:

  • Routine: 7-10 days
  • STAT: 30 minutes on average

Thank you for your continued patience and understanding.

Lifetime Breast Cancer Risk Scores Now on Mammography Reports
Lifetime Breast Cancer Risk Score: We’re excited to announce that radiology reports now include a personalized lifetime breast cancer risk score for every patient following a screening mammogram.

High-Risk Breast Cancer Clinic: To better support patients at elevated risk for developing breast cancer, MHC recently opened a dedicated High-Risk Breast Cancer Clinic at the Cowell Family Cancer Center in Traverse City. This new clinic offers patients proactive care and personalized guidance for individuals with a higher lifetime risk of developing breast cancer.

To learn more about Munson’s new High-Risk Breast Cancer Clinic, including services and how to refer, bookmark munsonhealthcare.org/breastcancerclinic. A letter announcing the clinic was mailed to primary care offices this week. If you have any questions, please contact the clinic at 231-935-4305.

Standing Conditional Orders: The High-Risk Breast Cancer Clinic will soon be added to standing conditional orders for mammograms to simplify the referral process.
Now Available: High-Risk Breast Cancer Clinic Rack Cards
To order packs of the High-Risk Breast Cancer Clinic rack card for your office, either order in Allscripts or email request with details below and number of packs wanted to MHC-Document-Services@mhc.net.

Item #

Description

Pack Size

91165

High-Risk Breast Cancer Clinic Rack Card FORM 12899

50/PACK
(1 pack = 50)

LabMed Report: Your Resource for MHC Lab Updates
Stay informed on laboratory updates that impact clinical decision-making with LabMed Report. Published as needed, this resource delivers concise, essential information to support your practice.

2025 LabMed Reports

To access current and archived issues of LabMed Reports, bookmark munsonhealthcare.org/labmed.

 Services

Expanded Hours: Radiology Scheduling
Radiology Scheduling has expanded its hours. Appointments can be scheduled Mon. – Thurs., 8 am – 5 pm, and Fri., 8 am – 4:30 pm.

Note, the hours to schedule breast imaging (e.g., diagnostic mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies, MRIs) remain the same: Mon. – Fri., 8 am – 4:30 pm.

For an outpatient radiology scheduling guide, please bookmark munsonhealthcare.org/radiologyscheduling.

Self-Scheduling Available at Many Munson Outpatient Labs
Munson Healthcare offers patients the opportunity to self-schedule appointments at several of our outpatient labs throughout Northern Michigan. Online self-scheduling allows patients to book appointments at their convenience. This option also helps our laboratory staff prepare in advance for their visit and reduce wait times.

Patients can also call 231-392-7891 to schedule their lab appointment Mon. – Fri., 8 am – 4 pm.

For best availability, it is recommended patients schedule 1-2 weeks in advance. For a list of outpatient lab locations offering self-scheduling and to schedule a lab appointment online, click here.

How to Order Lab Brochures
The following patient-facing brochures are available to order through Allscripts or by emailing a request with details below and number of packs wanted to MHC-Document-Services@mhc.net.

Item #

Description

Pack Size

79209

MHC Outpatient Lab Appointment
Self-Scheduling Brochure FORM 12395

50/PACK
(1 pack = 50)

52575

MHC Lab Scheduling Wallet Card FORM 10321

100/PACK
(1 pack = 100)
Now Available: GT Mental Health Crisis and Access Center Rack Cards
The Grand Traverse Mental Health Crisis and Access Center (GTMHCAC) is now operating 24/7. Click here to learn more.
 
To order packs of the new Grand Traverse Mental Health Crisis and Access Center rack card for your office, either order in Allscripts or email request with details below and number of packs wanted to MHC-Document-Services@mhc.net.

Item #

Description

Pack Size

91282

Grand Traverse Mental Health Crisis
and Access Center Rack Card FORM 12902

50/PACK
(1 pack = 50)

 

Labor Day Holiday Closures
Several Munson entities will be observing adjusted hours for the Labor Day holiday on Mon., Sept. 1. Please remind all patients and their families to call ahead to verify hours or visit Munson’s Closures webpage, which is easily accessible at the top of any munsonhealthcare.org webpage.

MHC-Employed Offices:
If your office has changes in hours to report, please submit any closures or modified hours via the MHC Holiday Hours and Closures Form.

To help ambulatory clinics communicate hours information to visiting patients, please keep the following templates handy:

 Patient Care

Child Psychiatry Consults Available in MHC Emergency Departments
In collaboration with Michigan Medicine, Munson Healthcare offers child psychiatry consultations at all 8 MHC Emergency Departments through the MC3 Program.

For patients under 21 years of age, MC3 psychiatrists are available by phone to support MHC ED providers with:

  • Diagnostic evaluations
  • Appropriate behavioral interventions
  • Medication recommendations
  • Communication strategies
  • Community resources
  • Suicide risk assessments and safety planning

How It Works

  • ED provider requests a consult using a secure online form.
  • MC3 psychiatrist calls the treating ED provider.
  • A Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) sends a summary of care recommendations and offers follow-up support. Note, MC3 psychiatrists will not assume care or follow the patient.

Consults are returned Mon. – Fri., 9 am – 5 pm. Requests made after 4 pm or on weekends/holidays are addressed the next business day.

MC3 is a free service funded by MDHHS. To learn more about MC3, click here or read the flyer. This information is also available on Munson’s For Providers website.

Questions? Contact Dr. Jacques Burgess or Dr. Rebecca Hess (Otten).

2025-26 Northern Michigan Antimicrobial Guidelines
Munson has released its 2025-2026 Antimicrobial Guidelines, which are available here:

Note, we identified an error in the recently published Adult Antimicrobial Guidelines. While the online PDF has been updated with the correction, the printed pocket card still contains the original misprint. If you received a pocket card, please update with the corrected guidance below.

For Odontogenic Infection, the dosing for Amoxicillin-Clavulanate should be listed as BID (twice daily), not TID (three times daily).


Protect Michigan’s Kids by Promoting Childhood Immunizations
As we observe National Immunization Awareness Month, it’s a timely reminder of the critical role vaccinations play in protecting our communities — especially our youngest patients as they head back to school this fall. Unfortunately, Michigan has seen a decline in childhood vaccination rates in recent years, putting more children at risk for preventable diseases.

We need your help to reverse this trend. Please take a moment during every patient visit to talk with families about the importance of staying up to date on childhood immunizations. Your trusted voice can make a powerful difference in helping parents make informed decisions that protect their children and others.

To support these conversations, the I Vaccinate initiative (supported by MHA) offers a comprehensive provider toolkit. This resource is designed to help you confidently address common questions and concerns about vaccine safety and effectiveness.

 Resources and Reminders

Be Aware: DME Scams Targeting Medicare Patients
Local patients, particularly seniors and Medicare recipients, are being targeted by Durable Medical Equipment (DME) scams. Fraudsters offer “free” items like catheters or hearing aids, then misuse patients’ protected health information (PHI) to submit false Medicare claims. This can result in patients receiving unnecessary equipment, being billed for items they didn’t request, or losing future Medicare eligibility.

Action Requested:

More information: Click here for an overview of DME scams.

Questions? Contact informationsecurityofficer@mhc.net.

Reminder: Legitimate Bill Payment Messages from MHC
Patients may be wary of texts or emails about payments due to online scams. However, Munson Healthcare Payment Services does send legitimate reminders via text and email to patients who have opted in.

What patients need to know: 

  • Messages come from 847-984-3067. Although this is an out-of-state number, they are safe and from MHC.

  • Patients can always use our Payment Portal to view statements, pay bills online, set up flexible payment plans, set their communication preferences, and receive reminders about payments.

  • Although Charlevoix, Manistee, and Otsego Memorial hospital patients are new to these messages, please know that other MHC locations have used them successfully for patient outreach.

Questions? Please refer patients  to the phone number listed on the back of their statement so the Customer Service team can assist.  

Munson Donates $120K to Support Community Connections
Munson Healthcare has committed $120,000 over the next two years to Community Connections, a free program helping to ensure families across the region have access to basic necessities. The program provides one-on-one support to help connect families to community resources that address essential needs including:  

  • Medical, dental, and behavioral health care
  • Healthy food and lifestyle resources
  • Housing and support to pay utilities
  • Education and childcare
  • Transportation and other services

To learn more, read the news release.

Stay Updated with the Latest Payer Information 
For a curated list of payer news impacting you, including the latest payer changes and guidelines, bookmark: munsonhealthcare.org/PayerUpdates

Employed Provider Onboarding and Offboarding Resources
Have a MHC-employed provider joining or leaving Munson Healthcare’s medical staff? We have a helpful list of onboarding and offboarding resources available on our website.

Practice Resources Available Online
Did you know Munson’s For Providers website features helpful practice resources to support practice managers and staff? Resources include:

Bookmark now for quick access: munsonhealthcare.org/practiceresources

To easily identify resources available on the For Providers website in Practice Pro, look for the following icon:

Enhancements to Munson’s Emergency Alert System
We made changes to our weather alerts based on feedback from providers. In continuation of those efforts, we have also made enhancements to our emergency alert system to reduce unnecessary notifications:

Code Triage Standby:

  • Defined as a potential disaster situation, stand by for information.
  • The Switchboard will issue an overhead page to the affected facility. No other alerts will be sent.

Facility Alert System Down:

  • Called for situations such as a power outage; phone, computer, or other infrastructure outage; a system breach. Potential disruption to operations.
  • One PerfectServe page will be sent, with no follow-up SMS text.
  • Should a system downtime become significant, additional Medical Staff News and Compass communications may follow.

Secure Mode:

  • Defined as a precautionary measure for a situation that is near or possibly coming to a hospital/facility. Ingress and egress limited.
  • One PerfectServe page will be sent, with no follow-up SMS text.

To silence PerfectServe pages when off work, simply log out of PerfectServe Clinical Collaboration.

Questions? Call the Help Desk at 231-935-6053.

MHC Security Alert Reminder: What to Do in a Full Facility Lockdown
A “Security Alert: Full Facility Lockdown” code is called when there is an imminent or active threat, internally or on campus. Situations that may warrant a Full Facility Lockdown include an active shooter, armed assailant, or mass casualty incident.  

During a Full Facility Lockdown, Healthcare Team should follow specific instructions given for the situation, such as staying away from windows and doors and directing others to do the same.

If an active shooter or armed assailant situation occurs it is critically important that our Healthcare Team know what to do to keep themselves and our patients safe. The Four A’s can help guide our response as each situation is different:

  • Accept that the situation is happening, resist the tendency to freeze or slip into denial.
  • Assess the situation and quickly determine the safest course of action.
  • Act: Take immediate action to keep yourself and others safe.
  • Alert: Calling 911 or activating panic alarms where available. Inside an MHC hospital, call the Emergency Code Line 55555 and request a Security Alert. Ambulatory sites should immediately call 911.

Also, remember “Run, Hide with a Plan, Fight” in active shooter situations.

 Education

Healthcare professionals and members of the public are invited to attend the 2025 Northern Michigan HIV Summit hosted by MHC’s Thomas Judd Care Center. This free event will feature educational sessions related to HIV/AIDS issues and the presentation of this year’s Community Collaborations Award. Keynote speaker will be Karen Daley, PhD, RN, FAAN. Stay tuned for a complete list of topics and speakers.

  • When: Fri., Sept. 26, 9:30 am – 3 pm.
  • Where: Attend in person — The Hagerty Center, Traverse City — or virtually.
  • CME: This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
  • Register: Register soon as limited tickets for in-person attendance! Lunch will be provided.

Buprenorphine in Primary Care: Key Considerations for Pain Management
Please share with your providers

This virtual training, hosted by OPEN, will review the fundamentals of buprenorphine, evaluate the latest evidence supporting its use, and delve into the complex overlap between chronic pain and substance use disorders.

  • When: Tues., Oct. 14, 12 – 1 pm
  • CME:
    • This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
    • Meets DEA training requirements.
  • Register: Click here to register.

You’re Invited! Quarterly Munson Healthcare Surgical Services Meeting
Practice managers and schedulers are invited to join us for our next quarterly Surgical Services meeting for primary care and surgical offices:

  • When: Wed, Oct. 29, 11:45 am – 1 pm.
  • Where: Can attend in-person at Cowell Family Cancer Center (lunch provided) or virtually.
  • Register: To register, contact Andrea Darling.

Upcoming CME Opportunities
For a list of upcoming events, visit munsonhealthcare.org/providerevents.

Online Resources
Munson's For Providers website features clinical resources and education to support providers as well as practice resources for managers and office staff. Bookmark now for quick access: munsonhealthcare.org/forproviders

To easily identify resources available on the For Providers website in Practice Pro, look for the following icon:

To read past issues of Practice Pro, visit munsonhealthcare.org/PracticePro. 

Have staff who would benefit from receiving Practice Pro? Please have them subscribe by completing this form.
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