UP Health System has large economic impact

Posted by Lake Superior Community Partnership on December 9, 2015

Part of what we do in economic development is “sell” our community. We package and sell the assets that we have in order to showcase that we are a great place to live, work and play.

For employers and their employees, access to healthcare is always a top priority when considering location. We can check that box as we are extremely fortunate to have an outstanding regional health system in our region. UP Health System offers a wide range of medical services right here at home. In addition to the benefits of having this magnitude of healthcare in our community, the economic impact of this company makes this economic developer giddy! The hospital locations in Marquette and Ishpeming employ our friends, families and neighbors and are a staple in the fabric of our community.

Last year, UPHS became part of the Duke Heart Network and Duke Cancer Network. These new affiliations bring quality measures and staff training opportunities like we’ve never seen in this area, again allowing care to be provided within your community. Marquette also saw the addition of the helicopter air ambulance service which not only saves lives in trauma situations, but has greatly reduced the ambulance time for heart attack and stroke victims in rural areas of the U.P. UPHS plans to continue to develop and expand their services throughout the region.

As I mentioned, UP Health Systems have a large economic impact on our county. UP Health Systems – Bell and Marquette – paid nearly $8.4 million in taxes last year. These dollars help maintain local schools, fund the development of roads, recruit business and industry and provide other similar services to support and sustain a thriving economy.

So what’s next for UPHS?  As you know, they have chosen to invest in a new state of the art facility in the City of Marquette. UPHS will invest more than $300 million dollars on the 37-acre project which is expected to be completed in early 2018.  Just think about the construction jobs, equipment and supplies necessary to build and operate the new structure. In the meantime, we have seen $10.2 million on capital improvements and equipment on the hospital in Marquette and $1.6 million on the hospital in Ishpeming in 2014. They want to ensure their existing facilities are well equipped to provide the best possible healthcare.

UP Health System has added more than a dozen physicians to their medical staff with specialists including anesthesiology, cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, emergency medicine, family practice, oncology, pediatrics and more. We love to see more families moving to our area! UPHS is the top employer in Marquette County. Between Bell and Marquette, their annual payroll is $186,041,211 with an average of nearly 3,000 employees. Their staff and family members attend schools here, eat at local restaurants, shop at local stores and volunteer at and donate to non-profit organizations.

Speaking of philanthropy, another way our local hospital contributes to the community is through donations of talent and treasure to non-profit organizations. They support many community events, activities and organizations that have strengthened our community as a whole. Sponsorships and donations made by UP Health System last year totaled more than $195,350. Some organizations that benefited in addition to the LSCP include Bay Cliff Health Camp, Great Lakes Center for Youth Development, Marquette Symphony Orchestra, Noquemanon Ski Events and the YMCA of Marquette County.

I think you get an idea of the type of impact a hospital has on the local economy and we are fortunate to have UP Health System in our community. Between the economic impact, healthcare amenities and contributions to so many non-profits, they truly are an asset to Marquette County and the U.P.! Visit www.uphealthsystem.com for more information on the hospital and to find out more about the new campus.

Amy Clickner, CEO, writes a bi-weekly column for the Mining Journal.