April 2026

Advancing Cancer Prevention and Early Detection
Thanks to early detection, more Americans are surviving cancer each year. Prevention and timely screening play a critical role in improving outcomes. Regular screenings help detect cancer at earlier stages, when treatment is most effective.

Cancer Screenings
Munson Healthcare offers a full range of guideline-driven screening services in multiple locations across the region to support early detection:

• Colonoscopy for colorectal cancer detection
• 3D Mammography starting at age 40, or earlier for high‑risk patients
• Low‑Dose CT Lung Screening for eligible adults
• Prostate cancer screening (PSA)
• Cervical cancer screening with HPV and Pap testing
• Annual wellness visits, skin checks, and lab tests to assess risk and reinforce appropriate screenings

Breast Cancer Risk Evaluation
Munson provides enhanced tools to support early identification of elevated breast cancer risk:

• Lifetime Risk Scoring: Calculated for all mammography patients and included on the mammography report to support timely referral decisions.

• High‑Risk Breast Cancer Clinic: For patients with a ≥ 20% lifetime risk, offering personalized surveillance, imaging, and risk‑reduction counseling.

• Breast Cancer Genetics: Available for patients with significant personal or family histories or referral by high-risk breast cancer clinic to see if they have hereditary cancer syndrome.

Lung Cancer Risk Evaluation
Our multidisciplinary Lung Cancer Referral Program and Clinic provides expedited risk assessment, diagnostic work-up, and coordinated treatment planning supported by a patient navigator.

Genetics Clinic
Munson’s Genetics Clinic evaluates patients with possible hereditary cancer syndromes — including breast, colorectal, endometrial, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancers — to guide personalized screening and prevention strategies.

A Collaborative Approach to Prevention
While decisions about risk‑reducing surgeries — such as mastectomy or hysterectomy — are highly individualized, early identification through screening and genetics testing remains the cornerstone of cancer prevention. Munson Healthcare partners with referring providers to deliver seamless cancer care — from prevention and early detection through treatment and survivorship.

Learn More and Refer
To learn more about Munson’s Cancer Services or their diagnosis, patients can visit our website or read one of our blogs.

To refer a patient for cancer services, please complete a referral form or call 231-392-8400. 

Meet Some of Our Expert Cancer Specialists
Click here to meet the rest of our dedicated Cancer Team.

Zachary Hector-Word, MD
Cadillac • Traverse City

Melanie Holtrop, MD
Traverse City

Joseph Howells, DO
Cadillac • Charlevoix
Traverse City

Kaitlyn Kivi, MS, RD
Traverse City

Kristian Koller, DO
Manistee • Traverse City

Jennifer Lawhorn, DO
Gaylord

William Reichardt, DO
Cadillac • Traverse City

Nathan Rousse, NP
Cadillac • Grayling
Kalkaska

Kendra Worden, NP
Cadillac • Traverse City

Healthcare Team

As a Senior Data Analyst on Munson Healthcare’s Provider Services Data Team, Colleen Morrow partners with independent practices to make scheduling diagnostic testing online easier and more efficient — so patients can get timely care close to home.

One of Colleen’s key focuses is Oracle Procedure Scheduling, Munson’s online platform that replaced Physician Web Scheduling (PWS). Since its launch last year, Oracle Scheduling has made it easier for practices to see available appointments, avoid scheduling conflicts, and reduce callbacks and rescheduling. Instead of calling or faxing orders, offices can quickly schedule a wide range of patient testing, including CT, EEG, fluoroscopy, mammography, MRI, PFT, and ultrasound.

Contact
PhysicianLiaison@mhc.net
(responds within
24 business hours)

Colleen partners with independent ambulatory offices to support their success with Oracle Scheduling, sharing important updates, available tests, and system enhancements, along with offering ongoing education and training.

“Our role is to work alongside practices through training and support,” Colleen explains. “Whether virtual or in person, we make sure staff feel confident using Oracle Scheduling.”

“Online scheduling is becoming the norm,” Colleen adds. “Oracle Scheduling is a powerful tool for patient and staff satisfaction, and we appreciate the practices that helped pilot and strengthen it.”

Interested in implementing Oracle Procedure Scheduling in your office? Watch a short tutorial, then reach out to Colleen to learn more.

 Reports and Referrals

Enhancing Mammography Reporting and Ordering
We’ve heard concerns from clinicians about how mammography reports display and print in some ambulatory EMRs and are working closely with our IT team and reporting vendor to improve readability.

We’ve also updated our mammography ordering guidelines and, based on initial clinician feedback, are developing a simplified ordering flowchart to better support everyday clinical workflow.

Thank you for sharing your feedback as they directly drive these improvements!

For questions, please contact Dr. Ryan Holmes or PhysicianLiaison@mhc.net.

 Services

Cowell Family Cancer Center Earns Accreditation for Rectal Cancer
Munson’s Cowell Family Cancer Center has earned accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC) — a designation held by only a select group of hospitals across the country. March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. To learn more about colorectal cancer screening, read Munson’s news release.

From left: Colorectal surgeons Dr. Ed Hagen, Dr. Richard Tooley, and Dr. Shruti Sevak.

 Patient Care

LabMed Reports: Urobilinogen Report
MHC Laboratories now result Urobilinogen (as part of a urinalysis) uniformly as Normal or Increased.

• Increased: quantitative result of > 2 mg/dL.
• Normal: quantitative result of < 2 mg/dL.

An archive of LabMed Reports is available at munsonhealthcare.org/labmed.

New Partnership to Expand Prenatal Care Access
Munson Healthcare is partnering with Thunder Bay Community Health Service (TBCHS) to expand prenatal care across Northern Michigan. Expecting mothers will receive routine prenatal visits at the TBCHS Atlanta Clinic and transition to Munson at 36 weeks to prepare for delivery — at Grayling Hospital until Fall 2026, then at Otsego Memorial Hospital’s new birthing center.

 Resources and Reminders

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

 Education

MHC Virtual MI Licensure Sessions Now Available as On-Demand CME
The following MHC Virtual Michigan Licensure sessions have been reaccredited for on-demand CME.

• An Ounce of Prevention: Responsible Treatment of Acute and Chronic Pain in the Outpatient Setting | Jill Covyeou, PharmD
• Unintentional Harm: How Patient and Clinician Race-Based Attitudes Influence Clinical Communication | Lauren Hamel, PhD
• Who Decides, and to What Extent? Applying Ethical Frameworks to Decision Making | Stephanie Van Slyke, MS-Bioethics, RN, HEC-C

MHC’s On-Demand courses can be viewed via:

• Computer browser: Visit our On-Demand CME portal. Look for: 2026 MHC MI Licensure Sessions.

• Mobile app: Once logged into your account in the eeds™ app:
  • select “Earn credits with Enduring Materials”
  • select Munson Healthcare
  • Select 2026 MHC MI Licensure Sessions

These activities have been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

Munson Stroke Symposium
To celebrate Stroke Awareness Month in May, Munson will host its first annual Stroke Symposium.

• Target Audience: Primary care providers, hospitalists, nurses
• Topic: Update on Management of Cerebral Vascular Disease
• Speakers:
  • Gary Rajah, MD; Endovascular/Cerebrovascular Neurosurgeon
  • Ramiro Gabriel Castro Apolo, MD; Neurocritical Care
  • Brent Flusty, DO; Vascular and Interventional Neurologist
• When: Wed., May 6, 2 – 5 pm
• Attend Virtually: Click here to join via Teams
• Learn More: For details, including learning objectives and CME, read the flyer
• On-Demand: This CME activity will also be recorded for viewing on-demand
  
  

Harm Reduction Conference
In partnership with District Health Department #10 and Catholic Human Services, Munson Healthcare is proud to co-host the 3^rd Annual Harm Reduction Conference.

• When: Tues., May 19, 8 am – 4 pm 
• Where: Revival Center of Cadillac
• Topics:
  • Understanding the Evidence
  • What is Perinatal Harm Reduction 
• Cost: Free; meals provided  
• CE: CE credits available for Michigan Certification Board for Addiction Professionals (MCBAP)
• Register by May 8: Space is limited; register here or by scanning the QR code.
  
  

Save the Date: Healthy Babies Family and Community Town Hall
Please save the date to join us for an engaging conversation about birth, families, and community. Hosted by Munson Healthcare and Regions 2 & 3 Perinatal Quality Collaborative.

• When: Tues., May 19, 5 – 7 pm
• Where: A-Plex, Alpena
• Cost: Free; light dinner and children’s activities will be provided
• Register: Look for a registration link in Medical Staff News and the May Practice Pro!
  
  

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 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:

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.