Strengthening Community Care: Sault Medical Center to Adopt Critical Access Status
As part of its commitment to providing excellent and sustainable health care services to its communities, the Midland-based non-profit health system MyMichigan Health has announced a transition for MyMichigan Medical Center Sault. Over the next year, the Medical Center will complete the necessary steps to become designated as a Critical Access Hospital (CAH). This transition is driven by the shift in health care in the United States of inpatient services being offered as outpatient, which now aligns with the requirements for CAH status. As a result, MyMichigan Medical Center Sault will gain a multitude of benefits, including securing its 340B status. MyMichigan’s Medical Center in Tawas will also transition to a CAH over the next year, as well.
“It’s important our community knows that our services will remain the same – obstetrics, dialysis, behavioral health. Our established programs are not going away. The transition to a Critical Access Hospital designation is an important advantage for our Medical Center as it will strengthen the community by safeguarding and supporting the continuum of care already in place,” said Mark Savoie, board chair, MyMichigan Medical Center Sault. “In fact, the status helps to ensure that essential health care services remain accessible, allowing patients and their families to receive timely care close to home, especially crucial during emergencies.”
The CAH program was established in 1997 by the federal government to provide additional support to hospitals in rural areas. Hospitals with this designation benefit in many ways that help sustain services in areas where resources are often limited. When the transition is complete in the Sault and Tawas, the two Medical Centers will join MyMichigan Medical Centers in Gladwin and Standish that are already designated as CAH.
“The designation of Critical Access does not equal reducing services, such as obstetrics. All our services will remain the same. The designation is a great advantage for us as it helps us to protect the services that we currently offer,” confirmed Sarah Amo, M.D., medical staff chief, MyMichigan Medical Center Sault. “The status change actually helps make us stronger by giving us the ability to expand our outpatient offerings, increase revenue and it will give us the flexibility and resources needed to continue meeting the needs of our community. This commitment to quality care means we can continue to invest in advanced technology, improving patient experiences and overall health outcomes. This is important for our communities.”
Over the past year, MyMichigan Medical Center Sault has achieved several milestones such as celebrating the first anniversary of the EMS Service Team Sault in April 2025. By the end of its first year, the EMS team had traveled nearly 100,000 miles, providing vital medical transportation to 463 patients across Michigan and Wisconsin, highlighting their crucial role in regional health care. In addition, the Medical Center continues to enhance the quality of care available to the community with the expansion of its health care team by welcoming three new family practitioners Alia Bapary, M.D., who begins Aug. 4, 2025; Sarah Knust, M.D., on Aug. 18, 2025; and Matt Fabbro, M.D., on Oct. 27, 2025. Finally, capital projects underway at the Medical Center, also reaffirm MyMichigan Medical Center’s position to provide excellent care to the community for years to come.
