Aspirus Together

FAQ

Below are some of the questions that we have recently received from employees and members of the community. If you have a question that we haven’t addressed here, please submit it to questions@aspirus.com and we’ll add to this list.

Why did Aspirus decide to change our OB model in Ironwood?

The decision to discontinue delivery services in Ironwood at the end of the year was made only after careful evaluation and consideration. We always keep the overall needs of our organization and the communities we serve as our guides. There is a steadily declining and aging population in Ironwood, a small number of households with children, and overall low birth rates. Additionally, Aspirus Ironwood has averaged fewer than 90 births per year for the past five years, making it difficult to sustain and staff high-quality delivery services.

What were some of the specific factors that contributed to the decision to change the OB model in Ironwood?

Historically, we have three-year contracts with our nurses. The current contract expires on June 30, 2025.

Here are some of the direct contributing factors that were considered in the decision-making process:

Deliveries at Aspirus Ironwood Hospital over the past 5 years have declined to 90 or fewer births per year.

There is a direct connection between the volume of births – averaging fewer than two deliveries per week – and staffing, quality and safety challenges.

Recruiting and maintaining competency of OB nursing staff has been difficult, resulting in reliance on agency staff to maintain the service.

There is an ongoing issue of recruiting OB and Pediatric physicians to support delivery.

OB delivery “diversion” (temporarily suspending services) has increasingly been necessary because of lack of care team availability.

Instead of changing the OB model in Ironwood, why didn’t Aspirus accept the $1.2M state budget allotment meant to bolster those services?

The decision to decline $1.2 million from the state was based on the issue being much deeper and more complex than money. Our medical staff and leadership assessed the infrastructure needed to sustain high-quality OB services, given staffing challenges and lower birth rates in the community. We concluded that these factors would prevent us from sustaining high-quality delivery services. We need to balance our threefold commitment – to our patients, to all our team members, and to the communities we serve – and this decision will allow us to focus on other key services.

Are greater factors in rural health care affecting Aspirus’ decision-making in the U.P.?

Yes. Like most similar systems, Aspirus faces shrinking local economies and populations in the geographies we serve. We face hurdles in attracting key talent. There is a declining workforce in the U.P., including in specialties like OB nurses and physicians. We also face a challenging regulatory and reimbursement environment. These and many other factors combine to create significant operational issues, which are prevalent among rural health care systems and hospitals across the country. We remain dedicated to navigating these issues so we can continue to provide reliable, high-quality care to the U.P.

What is the latest on contract negotiations with the Michigan Nurses Association in Ironwood?

Our aim is to achieve an agreement that meets our threefold commitment – to our patients, to all our team members, and to the communities we serve. We have and always will negotiate in good faith across the bargaining table. We will continue to provide updates after bargaining sessions.

Aspirus Provides High-Quality Care in the U.P.

The ability to provide and access quality health care in the U.P. and many other rural and regional economies is a privilege, not something Aspirus takes for granted. We continue to invest in and further our commitment to our U.P. communities, when other health care organizations wouldn’t.

For more information on how Aspirus is adapting care in the U.P. please see the links below, as well as news and updates.

Updates

Media Statement from Aspirus Health on negotiations with the MNA in Iron River and Friday rally

Aspirus Ironwood Hospital statement in response to MNA vote on contract proposal

Media Statement from Aspirus Health on Iron River Services

Aspirus Health Makes Strong, Fair Contract Proposal to Nurses’ Union at Ironwood Hospita

Statement on MNA's Federal Labor Charge at Ironwood

FAQ

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