Michigan-based McLaren Health Care Corp. is planning a cutting-edge short-stay hospital in Independence Township, according to an article on the Crains Detroit website.

McLaren's "hospital of the future"  would be a relatively small, less costly, $30 million to $50 million, 30-bed short-stay hospital with high-tech diagnostics and a 24-hour emergency department. 

On top of building a short-stay unit for patients who need less than 24 hours of care on an outpatient basis, McLaren would also like to expand its outpatient cancer care center and build a second medical office building. 

A short-stay service fills a gap for patients who fall between outpatient care and the full-service needs of inpatient care. 

"You can keep outpatients in the (short-stay) bed as long as you want, longer than 23 hours, but you only get paid the outpatient rate," St. Joseph Mercy Health System CEO Rob Casalou said. "It is on your nickel if it lasts longer than 23 hours." 

Read the article.