Community Tours New Surgical Suites and Learns Firsthand About New Robot

Future surgeons test drive the da Vinci surgical robot during the recent Community Open House at MyMichigan Medical Center Alma.

More than 85 people toured the new main entrance and surgical suites at MyMichigan Medical Center Alma during the Community Open House on Tuesday, April 22.

“It was a beautiful evening and we were happy to see the community come out to see the finished project first-hand, as well as test drive the demo da Vinci surgical robot,” said Marita Hattem-Schiffman, F.A.C.H.E., C.P.M.S.M., president, MyMichigan Medical Centers in Alma, Clare and Mt. Pleasant. “Rural health care is often unfairly viewed as ‘less than’ when compared to urban care, but our Medical Center proves otherwise. We deliver exceptional, high-quality care close to home, offering the most comprehensive range of health services across central and mid-Michigan.”

The Medical Center in Alma broke ground on the 51,200 square-foot surgical suite renovation and expansion project in the summer of 2022. The project includes four state-of-the-art, expanded operating rooms, a new Sterile Processing Department for improved efficiency, and a redesigned main entrance, which opened in May 2024 for easier access to outpatient services and surgical care. Final renovations also added 18 private pre-op and recovery rooms, a seven-bed PACU with advanced monitoring, and a dedicated day surgery area.

“We are excited to bring this construction project to a close and allow community members to personally see the beautiful areas that have been created for their comfort and privacy,” added Hattem-Schiffman. “We are grateful to MyMichigan Health’s vision and investment in not just the Medical Center but to the health and economic sustainability of the communities we serve.”

During the construction an addition decision was made to purchase da Vinci robotic surgery platform. Robotic surgery is becoming the standard in surgeon training and is essential to ensuring central Michigan communities can receive excellent surgical care well into the future. With several surgeons on staff who are robotically trained, the unit has been in use every day for elective surgery since it arrived.

“We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who was part of the $1.2 million raised toward this $26 million expansion and renovation project,” said Becky Church, director, MyMichigan Health Foundation. “A special thank you to our top donors including our Founder level donors The Morey Foundation and Garr Tools, and our Platinum level donors Aircraft Precision Products, Inc., Avalon & Tahoe Manufacturing, Commercial Bank, Tincy and William Goggin, Gratiot County Community Foundation, Marita Hattem-Schiffman and Randy Schiffman, Howard & Ivah Hoffmeyer Trust, Isabella Bank, Al and Debra Kommel, Jeff and Stephanie Leppien, Mercantile Bank of Michigan, MyMichigan Medical Center Alma Volunteers, and Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Smith.”

“For decades to come, our Medical Center here in Alma will serve the needs of the central Michigan community by providing excellent health care and enabling patients to stay close to home for the majority of the care they need for a lifetime,” said Hattem-Schiffman.