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Richard Helppie's Common BridgeAuthor: Richard Helppie
The problems we have in the country are solvable, but not solvable the way were approaching them today, because of partisan politics. Richard Helppie, a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist seeks to find a place in the middle where common sense discussions can bridge the current great divide. Language: en-us Genres: News, News Commentary, Politics Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Episode 343- Rural Care On The Edge. with Tonya Darner
Episode 343
Thursday, 24 September, 2026
If you’ve ever wondered what “access to care” really means, picture a region that holds 30% of Michigan’s land mass and just 3% of its population. From the Mackinac Policy Conference, we sit down with Tanya Darner, Market Chief Executive Officer at UP Health System, to unpack how a single regional hub in Marquette delivers Level II trauma services and specialty care for communities spread across the Upper Peninsula.We talk about the quiet backbone of rural healthcare in Michigan: critical access hospitals. Tanya explains why keeping those small hospitals open is essential, how collaboration across CEOs and presidents becomes a survival strategy, and where gaps appear when staffing, supply chains, and aging infrastructure collide. We also get practical about telemedicine and telehealth, because “just go virtual” breaks down fast when broadband and IT capacity are inconsistent across remote towns.Policy and logistics come into sharp focus as we discuss Medicare and Medicaid cuts, the downstream impact on skilled nursing placement, and the real-world barriers created by weather, bridge closures, and long-distance transport. EMS access, subsidized services, and transfer timing are not abstract topics here, they are the difference between waiting hours and getting the right level of care.If you care about rural hospitals, healthcare affordability, and Michigan health policy, listen now, then subscribe, share the episode, and leave us a review so more people can find these conversations. What should decision-makers understand first about healthcare in the UP?Support the showEngage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!
