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Dr. Shuayto MI Neurology and Spine

Work Progressing on First Congregational Church Transformation Into Medical Center

Port Huron, MI — The transformation of the First Congregational Church into a state of the art neurology and spine clinic, open MRI center, and outpatient surgery center is well underway, and Dr. Marwan Shuayto, the president and founder of Michigan Neurology & Spine Center, is looking forward to moving his practice across the street to serve more patients.

During a recent tour of the progress, Dr. Shuayto eagerly shared his excitement for the project and his vision for future patient care.

The first phase of the renovation, the Blue Water Open MRI Center, will be ready for patients in a few days and offers a unique experience for those coming in for testing. Both the patient changing area and the MRI room have been designed to feel more like a Caribbean getaway than medical testing rooms. From floor to ceiling, patients will feel like they are stepping onto a beach and being immersed in a scene of sand, water, and sun.

When asked what his goal was with the MRI Center’s decor, Dr. Shuayto remarked, “I just want it to be a comfortable experience. Patients who seek an open MRI usually have claustrophobia or fear of tight spaces. Making the entire experience calming will help patients get over their anxiety.”

With much of the building under construction to make way for a clinic with seven providers, a physical therapy center, infusion center, and eventually a brand new surgery center, the building is undergoing remarkable changes. The new MRI Center currently occupies the previous choir practice room, and the patient changing area used to be inhabited by a giant fan that fueled the church’s pipe organ.

The church’s sanctuary will be the future main entrance for patients, and will keep its grand personality and high ceilings. It will feature the lobby and check in for patients visiting the center.

The middle of the building, which was once the fellowship hall and kitchen area, is being converted to the physical therapy department, and the educational wing will be part of the surgery center with the main floor functioning as pre-op and post-op patient areas, and the second floor housing the staff break rooms and locker rooms.

The operating room of the surgery center will be added as a new addition to the east side of the building in the current courtyard along 7th Street.

Dr. Shuayto expressed the importance of the operating room being new construction which is ideal for the sterile environment needed to protect patients. He also wants to accommodate those who will work in the future operating rooms by featuring high ceilings that will make everyone working in the space more comfortable.

“By doing an expansion and not just using the existing building, we are able to have a spacious, brand new, state of the art operating rooms and sterile corridors. I’m very excited about the surgery center because I believe Port Huron and the neighboring communities deserve the best.” said Dr. Shuayto.

The new medical center will be hiring a multitude of staff once it’s up and running. There will be openings for surgical techs, Registered Nurses, and administrative and management staff, and the priority will be to hire from within the community.

“I’m the type that likes to hire from within the community that I work in. With the surgery center, we could have applicants applying from all over the country for the position of CEO and CFO, but I will be looking to hire from within the community,” said Dr. Shuayto.

The transformation of a church with a long history in the community into a medical facility can be seen as a sign of the times. Churches in Southeast Michigan have been converted into residential homes, retail stores, and even breweries.

Dr. Shuayto’s investment in the building, and his desire to create something valuable for the community, will continue to make it a place of comfort for those who need to be cared for.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse Wins Grant

The Fort Gratiot Lighthouse will be getting some rehabilitation thanks to a Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program grant from the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office.

The lighthouse was built in 1814 and is the oldest lighthouse in Michigan. The $16,667 grant will go towards work to rehabilitate the watch and lantern rooms, repairs to the interior and exterior metalwork, painting, caulking, and installing new glass in window openings.

The Fort Gratiot Lighthouse is one of three lighthouses receiving grants. The others were Crisp Point Light and North Manitou Light.

Funding for the lighthouse projects comes from the sale of “Save Our Lights” license plates available through the Secretary of State.

Dave Lorenz, vice president of Travel Michigan, which is part of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation said, “Michigan’s iconic lighthouses offer something for every traveler – from lighthouse enthusiasts, to history buffs, to curious tourists looking to get out there and experience one of Pure Michigan’s hidden gems. Programs like the Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program are extremely important in supporting our tourism efforts across the state, and we’re pleased that these three one-of-a-kind coastal treasures will soon be restored for all to enjoy.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

How to Become a Volunteer Vaccinator in St. Clair County

Port Huron, MI — As vaccine eligibility and supply increases in St. Clair County, a new shortage is revealing itself: the vaccine effort needs volunteers.

Jim Kaski, President of the St. Clair County Pharmacists Association and head of the Blue Water Immunization Partnership, said his main focus right now is encouraging the community to volunteer to help with COVID-19 vaccine clinics.

The county is particularly in need of vaccinators which could be active or retired RNs, LPNs, Medical Assistants, Phlebotomist, Pharmacists, EMTs, and doctors, but Kaski also said non-skilled individuals are needed as well.

“Anyone that feels they can dedicate some time to do temperature checks, help direct people at the holding areas, that would be fantastic!” said Kaski.

Volunteers will be trained, and even those who have been credentialed to vaccinate in the past but haven’t used their skills in awhile will receive a refresher before working with patients.

For those concerned about their skills, Kasksi said, vaccinating isn’t a skill you typically lose. “Freshen up on the basic things like CPR, first aid, and blood born pathogens, and then we’ll give you tutorials and make you feel comfortable before you actually do some vaccinating.”

Potential volunteers can start by registering with the MI Volunteer Registry at mivolunteerregistry.org. This state of Michigan portal serves to register, notify, and inform individuals who are interested in volunteering in the event of a natural or public health emergency.

When registering, select St. Clair County as the organization, create a username and password for the site, and fill out your personal and contact information. Once registration is complete, you will need to complete your profile on the site to become eligible for potential deployments. The entire process takes around 20 minutes, and it doesn’t obligate you to volunteer.

Once you’ve registered and completed your profile with the MI Volunteer Registry, a health department official will retrieve your information from that site and contact you with further instructions.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

Port Huron Police Youth Academy is Looking for Applicants

The Port Huron Police Youth Academy is accepting applications for the 2021 session. The Academy is a great way for high school students to get a taste of a career in criminal justice and public service.

The Academy will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 pm. from June 28th through July 2nd at Port Huron High School. It is open to current 8th-12th graders who attend schools in St. Clair County.

Participants need to be in good physical condition and pass a health physical. Attendance is mandatory for the entire Academy and a graduation will be held on the last day of the session.

Tuition for the Academy is $50 with meals, uniforms, and equipment provided. Tuition assistance is available.

Participants in the academy will get hands-on training in the daily operations of a police department along with participation in physical training. They will build search scenarios, learn defensive tactics, and study traffic stop scenarios.

There will also be time to check out the K-9 operations and the Special Response Team as well as learning how evidence is processed.

Link to the application: https://tinyurl.com/ymkthjmk

Officer Dennis Huisman: 810-984-2671, phpdya@gmail.com

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Op-Ed from Dr. Mercatante – Let’s Get to Work

St. Clair County, MI — With the alarming surge in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, we are left with only a few options in how we can respond: (a) ignore it and take your chances (not advisable), (b) panic and make up our own rules, or (c) follow evidence-based guidance. I hope you are all in line with option “c”. I understand how difficult it is to keep up with the latest science and recommendations so here is what we know at this point:

  • Masks: They work …they really do. Wear one all the time in public and at home if you are with vulnerable people who are unvaccinated.
  • Physical Distance: The virus cannot fly or move on its own…it hitches a ride on respiratory droplets that can only go so far to water droplets that can only go so far. Distance is your friend.
  • Handwashing/Sanitation: This germ dies with soap and water.
  • Stay Home if Sick: Isolate for 10 days if you know, or think, you have COVID19. Before you go out again, make sure 10 days has passed AND you are feeling better. The SARSCov2 virus can be transmitted up to 48 hours before you get sick and even if you are not having symptoms (tested positive only).
  • Testing: Regular testing helps everyone. By no means is it perfect, but frequent testing can reduce the time people go out while infected and help us at the Health Department identify where the outbreaks are. Choosing NOT to test does not eliminate the risk…it just prevents people from knowing.
  • Quarantine: A basic tenet of public health that has been used for centuries to control the spread of infectious disease. Quarantine means staying away from other people after an exposure to someone who is sick or has tested positive for COVID-19, which ensures you do not unwittingly pass it on. The SCCHD is advising those exposed to complete a full 14-day quarantine period due to high rates of transmission and a growing number of variant cases. Remember, testing at any time does not alter your quarantine time. The 7-day option (with testing) has NOT been adopted by MDHHS nor SCCHD and should not be considered at this time of elevated risk.

And finally, vaccines. Those that are currently available are safe and effective. Get the first one that is available to you. The sooner we disrupt the transmission of this virus, the sooner we can spend more time with the people we love and do the things we want to do. Vaccines protect the community even more than they protect you so I urge everyone to make a plan to get vaccinated when you are eligible and to continue employing all the mitigation strategies outlined above until we reach herd immunity.

That’s a lot to take in, but much more likely to work than doing nothing or doing the wrong thing. It’s going to take everyone doing their part to beat this virus…let’s get to work!

Yours in Health,
Annette Mercatante, MD, MPH
Medical Health Officer
St. Clair County Health Department

Michigan Learning Channel Launches to Teach Conservation

The Michigan Learning Channel has been launched to teach lessons about understanding and preserving Michigan’s natural resources. The channel is the result of a collaboration between public television stations and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

The content is aimed at children in grades Kindergarten through third grade and is available over the airwaves and on digital devices.

EGLE Director Liesl Clark said the purpose is to “get young students excited about the environment and instill in them at an early age a sense of stewardship of the state’s air, land and water resources.”

Clark said, “As this generation’s children grow up, they will be key to finding solutions to tough ecological problems and shepherding Michigan toward its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 in a manner that is equitable for all communities.”

The content will include videos that explain complex issues such as geology, recycling, and climate change in easy-to-understand ways, according to EGLE.

All public television stations in Michigan have established special on-air channels. The content is also available at MichiganLearning.org.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland