[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 28463]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO CHEBOYGAN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

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                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 25, 2007

  Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor an important 
institution in my district that serves the health care needs of the 
people of northern Michigan. Next week, Cheboygan Memorial Hospital 
(CMH) will celebrate 65 years of service to northern Michigan 
residents.
  Cheboygan Memorial Hospital traces its history back to 1929, when a 
group of local citizens united in an effort to build the first 
community hospital in Cheboygan. This small, but committed, group of 
volunteers collaborated to raise funding for a hospital in Cheboygan. 
Their efforts ultimately paid off in 1942 when Community Memorial 
Hospital, as it was then called, opened its doors.
  Throughout its history, CMH has often had to overcome challenges that 
health care providers in major metropolitan areas do not face. Rural 
health care providers like CMH often have more difficulty recruiting 
staff. They also serve a larger geographical area than their 
counterparts in more urban areas. Despite these challenges, over the 
years CMH has developed into a first-class health care facility, 
offering excellent health care services to my constituents.
  Today, CMH is a 96-bed general hospital with 46 beds for medical and 
surgical patients, including a 4-bed intensive care unit and a 6-room 
Family Life Obstetric Center. CMH also offers emergency care, 24 hours 
a day and 7 days a week. The hospital's urgent care walk-in clinic is 
also open every day in the health center.
  CMH also offers both inpatient and outpatient services in surgery, 
laboratory, cardiopulmonary, X-ray, nuclear medicine diagnostic 
ultrasound, CT scanning, MRI, mammography, bone densitometry, and 
physical therapy. The hospital's medical staff includes specialists in 
the areas of anesthesiology, cardiology, emergency medicine, 
dermatology, family medicine, internal medicine, general surgery, 
obstetrics and gynecology, neurology, otolaryngology, pediatrics, 
oncology, urology, radiology, ophthalmology, orthopedic surgery, oral 
surgery and pathology.
  The hospital has also dedicated a great deal of effort and time 
towards educating members of the community about important health 
issues. CMH offers several free classes in smoking cessation and in 
diabetes education. Childbirth education classes have also been 
recently re-introduced, providing important education to expecting 
parents.
  CMH has registered pharmacists on staff at CMH and available around 
the clock. The hospital houses audiology and speech therapy services.
  Thanks to generous donations and support from the community, the 
hospital continues to improve, with several recent additions. The 
hospital recently updated their Intensive Care Unit Family Waiting 
Room. The hospital also enjoys a newly expanded Nurses' Station. 
Remodeling work and technology updates are also being made in the 
Radiology Department. Other projects to help grow and improve the 
hospital remain on the horizon, including plans for developing a 
Cardiac Wellness Center.
  CMH describes its own greatest asset as the dedicated men and women 
who work in the hospital to care for their friends and neighbors. The 
hospital is currently the largest employer in Cheboygan County with 
over 500 employees on the payroll.
  Throughout the years, the hospital's leadership has set the tone of 
excellence that defines CMH. Today, the hospital is led by President 
and CEO Barbara Cliff; Board of Trustees Chair Michael Konicki; and the 
President of their Medical Staff David Dram, M.D.
  In addition to the hospital's 500 employees, who make caring for 
their neighbors and friends their daily business, the hospital enjoys 
the support of many tireless volunteers and auxiliary members. Anyone 
who has spent any length of time in a hospital can attest that the 
quality of the experience can hinge on the attitude of the caregivers. 
Those receiving care at Cheboygan Memorial Hospital are treated by 
professionals with positive attitudes and warm, kindly demeanors.
  Madam Speaker, this year CMH is celebrating ``65 Years of Caring.'' 
As this institution celebrates 65 years of service to my constituents, 
I would salute its employees--past and present--the people who make the 
hospital the excellent caregiver that it is. I would ask, Madam 
Speaker, that you and the entire U.S. House of Representatives join me 
in recognizing the fine work of CMH and paying tribute to this 
important northern Michigan health care provider.

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