Gene Michalski, CEO of Beaumont Hospitals in Troy, Mich., has led his hospital system through several major initiatives over the last several years, including a $220 million expansion of its Troy location, an emergency center expansion and the development of a liver transplant program. In an interview with Oakland Business Review, he discussed the impending changes to the healthcare industry, including the increased focus on preventive care and the looming shortage of physicians.
Regarding the shortage of physicians, he said the problem will be exacerbated as the population ages and requires more healthcare services. "So far, our answers to this problem has been to forge partnerships with local universities for accelerated nursing programs, to offer loans and scholarships at local college and universities and to train students for healthcare technical positions through the Beaumont Schools of Allied Health," he said. He added the hospital system works to encourage young people to pursue medicine through summer camps and high school programs.
For southeast Michigan, the physician shortage may hit especially hard, Mr. Michalski said. As well as focusing efforts on physician recruitments, physicians and hospital administrators must find a way to provide care at a lower cost. This means more of a focus on preventive medicine. "As an employer, Beaumont has an employee wellness program that focuses on supporting our staff with smoking cessation, weight control, exercise and other healthy habits," he said. "People with healthy lifestyles generally need less health care, which reduces costs."
He added that hospitals can offer screening packages, free screening programs and health education classes to patients to increase the likelihood that diseases will be detected early. Encouraging patients to visit a primary care physician can also help, he said. "Beaumont has an outreach program to support young physicians just starting to establish a practice," he said.
Mr. Michalski is currently the fifth CEO in Beaumont's 55-year history. Prior to becoming CEO, he served as executive vice president and COO, senior vice president and hospital director, senior associate hospital director, associate hospital director, assistant hospital director and administrative assistant.
He is also president of the Michigan Healthcare Executives Group and Associates and a diplomate for the American College of Healthcare Executives. He has served as president of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce Board of Directions and the Oakland County Medical Control Authority. From 1992 to 1996, he served as executive vice president and COO of St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, Ill.
Mr. Michalski earned his master's degree in physiology and his MBA in finance from Wayne State University in Detroit.
Regarding the shortage of physicians, he said the problem will be exacerbated as the population ages and requires more healthcare services. "So far, our answers to this problem has been to forge partnerships with local universities for accelerated nursing programs, to offer loans and scholarships at local college and universities and to train students for healthcare technical positions through the Beaumont Schools of Allied Health," he said. He added the hospital system works to encourage young people to pursue medicine through summer camps and high school programs.
For southeast Michigan, the physician shortage may hit especially hard, Mr. Michalski said. As well as focusing efforts on physician recruitments, physicians and hospital administrators must find a way to provide care at a lower cost. This means more of a focus on preventive medicine. "As an employer, Beaumont has an employee wellness program that focuses on supporting our staff with smoking cessation, weight control, exercise and other healthy habits," he said. "People with healthy lifestyles generally need less health care, which reduces costs."
He added that hospitals can offer screening packages, free screening programs and health education classes to patients to increase the likelihood that diseases will be detected early. Encouraging patients to visit a primary care physician can also help, he said. "Beaumont has an outreach program to support young physicians just starting to establish a practice," he said.
Mr. Michalski is currently the fifth CEO in Beaumont's 55-year history. Prior to becoming CEO, he served as executive vice president and COO, senior vice president and hospital director, senior associate hospital director, associate hospital director, assistant hospital director and administrative assistant.
He is also president of the Michigan Healthcare Executives Group and Associates and a diplomate for the American College of Healthcare Executives. He has served as president of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce Board of Directions and the Oakland County Medical Control Authority. From 1992 to 1996, he served as executive vice president and COO of St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, Ill.
Mr. Michalski earned his master's degree in physiology and his MBA in finance from Wayne State University in Detroit.