Munson Healthcare Shares New Community Health Needs Assessment Priorities from Triennial Assessment
Munson Healthcare Shares New Community Health Needs Assessment Priorities from Triennial Assessment
Access to care, economic security, and mental health identified as top focus areas – system to build on momentum of last three years.
Traverse City, Mich. - After 18 months of data research and gathering input from communities across 31 Northern Michigan counties, Munson Healthcare, in partnership with MiThrive, is announcing new priorities identified through the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment. The Community Health Needs Assessment is conducted every three years.
As part of its role as a non-profit health system, Munson collaborates with health departments, community organizations, and residents in this triennial study with the most recent citing three key areas of focus: Access to Care, Mental Health, and Economic Security, which includes supporting access to basic needs such as transportation, health insurance, housing, and food.
“What this data tells us is that meeting basic human needs as well as access to healthcare and mental healthcare services is impacting our neighbors and our community’s health every day in Northern Michigan,” said Dr. Joe Santangelo, Chief Medical Officer for Munson Healthcare. “Munson Healthcare looks forward to working with our community partners and internal stakeholders to now build a plan that meets these needs and improves our communities’ collective wellbeing.”
The priorities in the past three years have been: Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders; Access to Healthcare; Safe, Accessible and Affordable Housing; and Chronic Disease. This focus has been illustrated through Munson Healthcare’s Regional Care Transformation Plan; Support for the Street Medicine Program; the establishment of the Grand Traverse Mental Health Crisis and Access Center; and $171 million of reinvestment in community benefit programs and initiatives.
Launched in 2023, the goal of the Regional Care Transformation Plan is to expand access to primary care, specialty care, and outpatient services across the region. In Traverse City, specialty care has been elevated significantly with the launch of The Witham Family Comprehensive Stroke Center (CSC), Northern Michigan’s first and only CSC, and Munson Neurosciences. Cowell Family Cancer Center is keeping more patients closer to home with the addition of treatments like Bi-specific T-cell Engager Therapy, Theranostics, and investment in an ION Surgical Robot that helps in the early detection and treatment of lung cancer.
Munson has been actively engaged in supporting the unhoused through its Street Medicine partnership with Traverse Health Clinic and Goodwill. The American Hospital Association recognized this collaboration with the 2024 NOVA Award for the thousands of people who have received care through the outreach via a mobile health unit. In addition, Munson provided a $100,000 commitment to Safe Harbor over two years. Over the last two years, Munson Healthcare has invested $400,000 in programs supporting those experiencing homelessness.
The Grand Traverse Mental Health Crisis and Access Center opened this past January, bringing a long needed mental health resource to the region. The project is the result of a community-wide collaboration between Munson, Northern Lakes Community Mental Health, Grand Traverse County, and an engaged community advisory group. The Center currently operates Sunday-Thursday, 8:00am to 5:00pm and in July, will move to 24/7 with psychiatric urgent care services available five days a week. Adult and pediatric crisis residential units will open as licensing, staffing, and funding is completed.
“What we see in these findings is how the needs of our community continue to evolve based on many factors including the meaningful work that has been done since the last assessment in 2022,” added Santangelo. “We are carrying tremendous momentum into these into these three priorities which is encouraging because it means our focus has been in the right place.”
Taking a regional approach to this assessment maximizes resources, helps Munson Healthcare understand local and regional patterns, assists in strengthening partnerships, and aligns priorities for a greater impact on community health.
Munson Healthcare will now develop a plan by November 2025 to address these new priorities. Then, the process to implement strategies and initiatives to address CHNA priorities will continue over the next three years.
“Although we’ve created a stable base for many of these initiatives, we have more work to do, and we are committed to our communities through our dedicated healthcare team and community partners.”
Learn more about the Community Health Needs Assessment.
