Mercy Health and Saint Joseph Mercy Health System support Governor Whitmer's action to limit vaping use

Media Statement Contact:

Laura Blodgett

Saint Joseph Mercy Health System

734-670-5370

Laura.Blodgett@stjoeshealth.org

September 4, 2019

CANTON and NORTON SHORES, Mich. – (Sept., 4, 2019) – Mercy Health and Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, the two health systems that form the Michigan region of Trinity Health based in Livonia, Michigan, support Governor Whitmer's action to limit vaping use.

"We applaud the step that Governor Whitmer has taken to ban the sale of flavored vape products in an effort to combat vaping among youth. We know that vaping use by youth in our communities has doubled over the last two years, especially in rural areas, with as many as 35 percent of students in some districts reporting use in the last month. We look forward to working with the administration and legislators to build upon this action in the future." --Rob Casalou, president and CEO, Trinity Health Michigan.

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About Trinity Health Michigan

Trinity Health – Michigan is a leading health care provider and one of the state’s largest employers. With almost 24,000 full-time employees serving numerous counties, Trinity Health – Michigan provides the full continuum of care for Michigan’s residents through eight hospitals, including the five hospitals of Saint Joseph Mercy Health System in Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Howell, Livonia and Pontiac, and the three-hospital Mercy Health, operating in Grand Rapids and Muskegon.

Throughout Michigan, Trinity Health operates numerous ambulatory care locations, three home health agencies, one hospice agency and 19 senior living communities, which include sites featuring skilled nursing, assisted living and memory care as well as independent senior living communities. It also manages 13 additional senior living facilities, including low-income housing through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Nationally, Trinity Health is a leading Catholic health care system based in Livonia, Michigan, with operations in 22 states. Trinity Health employs about 129,000 colleagues, has annual operating revenues of $18.3 billion, assets of $26.2 billion, and returns about

$1.1 billion to its communities annually in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs.