Patient-Centered Focus of Trinity Health Colleagues Inspires the Family of Barbara Bowman

Dividing time between Bloomfield Hills and Petoskey, Ham Schirmer and his wife, Barbara Bowman, who had been living with congestive heart failure, had been in and out of several hospitals nearly a dozen times over a span of four years. In late 2023, Barb arrived by ambulance at Trinity Health Oakland for the first time. 

“From that first experience, Barb and I were both really impressed with the quality and caring of doctors and nurses,” said Ham. “We talked about it and agreed we should switch to Trinity. We had no idea how strong our connection to Trinity would become.” 

Barb suffered a heart attack in early 2024 just days after she returned home. She was hospitalized for 13 consecutive weeks at Trinity Health Oakland. Barb’s care spanned the Emergency Department, Surgery, Intensive Care and Cardiac Care, four different nursing floors in the South Tower as well as Inpatient Rehabilitation and the Select Specialty Hospital housed within Trinity Health Oakland.

“Neither Barbara’s daughters nor I had much experience with Trinity Health Oakland until she was brought there by EMS,” Ham said. “But from that moment forward our experience continued to be astounding. Throughout the course of her care, her daughters and I were with her every day and many nights as she underwent healing treatment. During the whole time we remained convinced that she could not possibly have been in a better place, nor received better care.”

A Difference They Could Feel

Serving on a health care foundation board member at a hospital in Petoskey, Ham’s knowledge of hospitals runs deeper than most. He was impressed with Trinity Health Oakland’s facilities and the comfort and privacy that they provided for Barb and the family. 

“It’s very modern and new, and we appreciated the private rooms which are so important for recovery and rest,” he explained. “We liked how the nurses work area is positioned with ability to see patients in two rooms.”

Ham said he couldn’t help noticing how collegial everyone was, with him, with Barb’s daughters, Katie, Karen and Mimi, and with each other. It was what he describes as a palpable ethos of care, genuine concern and patient-centered focus.

“We were there nonstop, so we got to know all the staff,” recalled Ham. “We even got to know the housekeeping and cafeteria staff. When I went down for a cup of coffee they’d ask, ‘How’s your wife doing?’ They cared enough to get to know us, I don’t think that is common.”

He added, “I felt a sense of personal engagement with everyone we met. Barb’s daughters did too. It was like being cared for by ‘old-fashioned medical practitioners,’ and I mean that in the best possible sense of their kindness and their humanity.” 

“It was so clear to us that the team was truly invested in caring for Barb. It was important to them personally. I cannot tell you how much that meant to us.” 

Expertise and True Caring Creates an Authentic Connection

The expertise and advanced technology utilized in Barb’s care was extraordinary and inspired the family’s complete confidence, said Ham. “We were continually impressed by the professionalism, teamwork, concern, and support of Barb’s team of doctors. The nursing staff equally impressed us. I have seldom seen a finer group of professionals.” 

He added, “They gave it their all and that is what matters to us. They included us in the decisions. We had the true sense that Barb and our family were real people to them.”

In May, Barb was discharged to home with hospice care. She passed peacefully at home about 10 days later. 

“I went back to the hospital that night to let the nurses know, and they cried and hugged me,” he said. “There was some part of Barb that was kind of magic, an aura that people always responded to, and so did these amazing doctors and nurses.” 

Ham and Barb’s daughters were inspired to support the cardiac unit with a generous philanthropic gift. “Barb’s issue was her heart, and we thought our donation to cardiology would help others with issues like hers,” said Ham. “We spent the most time with the heart team, so we thought that was the best place to support.”

A Charitable Spirit in Action

Ham decided to take it a step further and recently became a volunteer at the hospital. “While we were in the surgical waiting room, I saw a couple of old guys like me volunteering, and I thought, ‘I can do that.’ 
I’m 84 and retired so I can give some time, that’s the least I can do.” 

“Charitable giving as well as giving your mind and your time is so important. It outlives you, and you will help people that you’ll never know’” Ham said. “There was a wonderful actor and dancer named Ray Bolger who said, ‘it’s important to leave footsteps on the stage.’ Barb lived a life that left footprints, and I have a feeling I will as well.”

For more information about how you can support Trinity Health Oakland hospital, please contact Craig Peiser at 248-736-5815 or Jill Schubiner at 248-417-9974.