The last decade under President Mary Sue Coleman’s leadership saw tremendous growth at the U-M Health System, which includes the Hospitals & Health Centers, the Medical School and other units.
Today, UMHS includes nearly half of faculty and staff, accounts for nearly half of the Ann Arbor campus budget and more than 40 percent of its research dollars.
Key areas of growth:
• Patient care: Other health systems are struggling, but UMHS clinical activity keeps growing, with patients traveling here from every county in Michigan and other states and nations. Since fiscal year 2003, UMHS has seen an 11 percent increase in hospital discharges, a 29 percent increase in outpatient visits, a 12 percent increase in births, and a 42 percent increase in emergency visits — plus sizable increases in medical imaging, operations, home care and observation cases. Hundreds of new Medical School faculty and additional staff have helped keep pace with rising demand.
• Biomedical research: The Medical School has maintained its position in the top tier of biomedical research, despite national research funding challenges. Strategic Research Initiative investments in research infrastructure and support, including core laboratories and clinical research services, have enhanced this position and recruitment of faculty and graduate students.
• New facilities: Since 2003, UMHS has opened the A. Alfred Taubman Biomedical Research Building, the East Ann Arbor Ambulatory Surgery and Medical Procedures Center, the Rachel Upjohn Building for mental health, the Brehm Tower at the Kellogg Eye Center, the Cardiovascular Center, a new home for C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital, expanded emergency facilities, and planned a large Northville Health Center, opening soon.
• Statewide affiliations: In anticipation of health care reform, the Health System has forged relationships with providers across Michigan, working together to get the right care to the right patient at the right time, and contain health care cost growth.
• Training for the future: Since 2003, the number and quality of Medical School applicants has risen steadily, and incoming classes have become more diverse.
