McLaren Macomb Health Care Blog

We are excited to announce that we launched our new ER Virtual Care Pilot Program , Monday, June 2, 2025. This innovative service is designed to significantly improve patient flow, reduce wait times for non-urgent cases, and enhance the overall patient experience in our Emergency Department. We plan to offer the ER Virtual Care Pilot Program to patients on Mondays and Tuesdays from 2 to 6 p.m., with the goal of offering this program during high ER census times. Because of this, the dates and times may f...

The Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) is pleased to announce the newly elected officers chosen during the House of Delegates meeting held on Saturday, May 3, 2025. These distinguished leaders will play a vital role in guiding MSMS’s mission to support physicians and advocate for the health of Michigan’s patients and communities. Immediate Past President Mark C. Komorowski, MD, formally passed the torch of leadership to Amit Ghose, MD, the newly installed President of the Michigan State Medical Socie...

Your patients can now take advantage of telehealth Diabetes management/education with McLaren Flint. The program at Flint is offered both virtually and in person. The McLaren Flint Diabetes Education Program is accredited by the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists. Classes are offered for patients who have been diagnosed with Type 1, Type 2, or Gestational Diabetes. Your patient's first visit will be a 1:1 appointment with a registered dietitian. This visit includes going over your pa...

Know your stroke risk factors and start addressing them to lower your chances now. When determining one’s risk for stroke, there are many factors that physicians will consider. There are two kinds of stroke, both equally serious. An ischemic stroke is caused by a blood clot blocking the flow of blood in the brain. And a hemorrhagic stroke results from a break or bleed in a blood vessel in the brain. Some risk factors are pre-determined with the patient not able to do anything about them, such as gender,...

While it’s the study and treatment of obesity, bariatrics is not simply for patients who are “extremely overweight.” When considering height and gender, patients can be 100 pounds overweight–not considered “extreme”–with a body mass index of 35 to 39 and present with a range of weight-related conditions and be considered a candidate for a bariatric procedure. (Patients can also present with a BMI of 40 or more and qualify.) These conditions can include high blood pressure, diabetes, obstructive sleep ap...

A large study concludes that a full night’s sleep can contribute to good heart health. Anyone who rises out of bed in the morning and doesn’t walk to the kitchen – still half asleep – to groggily wait for their first strong cup of coffee can attest to the importance and positive effect a solid night’s sleep can have. Now, though, researchers have confirmed the impact and extent it can have on one’s health. Researchers at Tulane University in New Orleans analyzed data collected from more than 400,000 men...

A misconception about vaping is that it’s a “safer” alternative to smoking. The perception of e-cigarette use – or vaping – is that it is a safer alternative to smoking, one that saves the users from the nasty consequences that come with tobacco use. Companies even promote e-cigarettes as a way to help smokers quit. In the largest study ever conducted on the health effects of e-cigarettes, the American Heart Association has concluded this is overwhelmingly not the case. When compared to non-users, e-cig...

The only way to catch lung cancer in its earliest, most treatable form. Of the many forms of cancer and the endless devastation they cause, lung cancer could be considered the most devastating, accounting for approximately one out of every four cancer deaths. And yet, according to the American Lung Association, just 16 percent of lung cancer cases are diagnosed in an early, more treatable stage. Early signs of lung cancer can appear as common, innocuous symptoms often written off as a passing inconvenie...

Clearing up some misconceptions about lung cancer. Only life-long smokers are at risk for lung cancer, right? Wrong. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Every year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast and prostate cancers combined. According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women, making up almost 25 percent of all cancer deaths. About 80 percent of lung cancer deaths are thought to resul...

The end of the summer is a great time to self-check for signs of skin cancer. There was plenty of sun over this Michigan summer. Spending time in that sun exposes everyone — and their skin — to a potentially harmful amount of UV (ultraviolet) rays. Even though skin may be layered with sunscreen, there’s still a chance for skin damage. Self-exams Knowing the signs and symptoms of skin cancer is critical to catching the disease early and receiving treatment while it’s in its earliest stage. When performin...