Media Releases

Update: See photos from the 2011 event, which was hosted on Thursday, Dec. 11, on our Facebook page. Below is a press release, for more information on the scholarship, click here.


HANCOCK – The Portage Hospital Auxiliary is hosting its annual Lights of Love ceremony on Thursday at 10 a.m. in the Portage Health lobby.

“It will be a lovely program,” said Fayth Wolfe, chair of the Lights of Love program. “We’ll read all the names of people the lights are dedicated to, the Hancock High School music ensemble will be playing Christmas music under the direction of Cheryl DeLong and afterwards we’ll have a charming reception in the Portage Health Conference Center.”

The ceremony marks the beginning of the Lights of Love program for the season, which features a beautifully lit Christmas tree in the lobby of the hospital. Each light on the tree is either in memory of someone who has passed, or honoring someone still alive.

The lights are $5 each, with proceeds going toward scholarships for local students. Lights are available at The Guilded Rose Gift Shop inside the hospital or by contacting Connie Greenleaf, at 483-1566.

There are four $1,000 scholarships available, but students must be in their second year of school in a health-related field. Eligible students must also originally be from the Keweenaw.

“We want to grow our own healthcare providers,” said Wolfe. “The hospital will match what we give to provide four scholarships to eligible students.”

Notices for the scholarships will be sent out soon and awarded in the spring, for more information on the scholarship, click here. The public is invited to attend the reception.

HANCOCK – The public spoke, and we listened.

Portage Health recently completed more than $70,000 in upgrades to its perioperative service department, which includes a private family waiting room and patient cubicles.

“This was all done because of patient comments in the post-visit survey,” said Nancy Archambeau, RN, perioperative services coordinator. “We take great pride in these improvements to our community’s largest healthcare facility.”

The sizable waiting room features stylish new furniture, a 46” high definition television, a pull-down bed, and free coffee and water to help make the wait more comfortable for families.

“Some of these families wait in here for several hours, and they’re now able to do it in a private, comfortable setting,” said Archambeau. “It’s warm, inviting and a more comfortable place for these families who are going through a difficult time.”

There is also a separate private counseling area where doctors can meet one-on-one with loved ones after a surgery.

“The changes have been received very well by patients so far,” Archambeau said.

The new patient cubicles are in the same area as they were before, but sliding glass doors have been installed in all 12 cubicles.

“Patient feedback told us it was too noisy,” Archambeau said. “These glass doors are convenient, easy to use and have already garnered many positive comments from recurring patients.”

Curtains are still available to create a completely private area, while the glass doors cut the noise to a minimum.

“It’s all about the patient’s and their family’s satisfaction with our services,” said Glenn Patrick, director of facilities. “Investments in our facility such as this are vital to our community’s health moving forward.”

HANCOCK – The Apothecary Health Mart pharmacies delivery area now includes Chassell and Painesdale.

The total delivery area ranges from Calumet and Lake Linden to Chassell and Painesdale.

 

“We’re committed to providing quality service for our customers,” said Jason Evans, pharmacy director. “Adding service to our neighbors south of Houghton is just another step forward for us.”

The next-day delivery service includes any medication available at the apothecaries, which are located in Houghton at the Portage Health–University Center and at Portage Health’s main campus in Hancock.

“This has always been a popular service we provide,” said Evans. “Not all of our customers are able to get out and drive on a daily basis, and in the winter many of them don’t want to leave their homes.”

The move became especially important with the construction at the University Center location temporarily closing the area’s only drive-through window.

“We needed to make sure patients were still going to get their medication in a comfortable way,” Evans said.

Portage Health has added an additional delivery vehicle as well as an additional driver to prepare for the additional routes.

For more information on our free delivery service or to order your prescription call Apothecary-Houghton at 483-1818 or Apothecary-Hancock, which is open seven days a week, at 483-1919.

HANCOCK – The Portage Health Family Birthing Center visiting hours are changing, effective Nov. 14.

The new hours are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. each day, giving family and friends eight hours of visiting time per day.

Along with the new hours, the Family Birthing Center is now allowing only two support people during labor, no additional visitors for an hour after delivery and no children under the age of 12 are admitted unless they are siblings of the newborn.

“These changes are designed to promote safety for our mothers and babies,” said Cheryl Frankovich, RN, BSN, unit manager.

This will allow for more individualized attention for the mother/newborn as well as vital assistance with breastfeeding.

“The first few days are critical to a newborn’s development,” Frankovich said. “These changes will help keep the level of care high and our community’s newest residents safe.”

To learn about the Family Birthing Center, visit portagehealth.org/familybirthingcenter.