UPHS-Portage Cited

UP Health System-Portage is one of 27 hospitals in Michigan and 769 across the nation that will be penalized by the government because of a high rate of avoidable patient complications. Such complications can include infections contracted in the hospital, blood clots and bedsores. Kaiser Health News reports that investigators focused this year on reducing antibiotic-resistant infections. UPHS-Portage is the only hospital in the Upper Peninsula to be cited. There are some surprising names on the list from downstate, including the Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit, Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, and the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor. Penalties generally consist of a one percent reduction in Medicare reimbursements.