Several months ago, Ann Emmerich asked Michigan State University President Lou Anna K Simon about the possibility of McLaren building a new hospital on university land and she didn't confirm or deny the possibility.
"Got a tip this morning that McLaren is in talks to build a hospital on campus," Emmerich said.
"Well you know I think talks would be too strong a word," Simon said in August 2015. "I don't think you'll see a Michigan State University hospital, I think you'll see us being a partner in the community, where that will take us is a different matter."
MSU released a statement about the possibility, but wouldn't give any details.
"MSU has strong relationships with both of its hospital partners in mid-Michigan, McLaren and Sparrow, and we are in constant conversations with both of them to make those relationships better and improve the health care of our community.
It would be inappropriate to comment on the specifics or potential outcomes of our ongoing discussions with any one partner. As new initiatives, programs or partnerships are finalized, we look forward to sharing them with the community," Jason Cody said in an email to FOX 47 News.
McLaren Greater Lansing is being similarly tight-lipped about the deal.
The statement it sent FOX 47 News said, "McLaren Greater Lansing is regularly engaged in dialog with a number of stakeholders about ways we can improve the health and well-being of mid-Michigan residents and spur economic development in the region. It would be premature to discuss specifics of our conversations with any stakeholder at this time. We look forward to sharing details in the future about our collaborative efforts to elevate health care services, access, research, and education throughout mid-Michigan and beyond."
A new hospital could mean the end of McLaren's building in south Lansing, but Mayor Virg Bernero says neither of the city's two major hospitals will be leaving Lansing any time soon.
"McLaren has been here. It has been an anchor in this community, an anchor in healthcare, in the economy, and it will remain so," Bernero said.
He says the partnership would be a tremendous opportunity for the city.
"It looks to me like they're going to be expanding, we're going to be adding jobs that there's going to be this healthcare economy," he said.
The mayor says the two entities working together would also give MSU the opportunity to be more involved in a teaching hospital, something the university has been looking to do.
