Charlevoix Hospital to convert urgent care to new walk-in clinic - Petoskey News-Review

Munson Healthcare Charlevoix Hospital's new walk-in clinic will be located at 14705 W. Upright St., Building D. It opens on April 1.

CHARLEVOIX — Munson Healthcare Charlevoix Hospital announced on Tuesday the transition of the Charlevoix Urgent Care to a new walk-in clinic.

The change is part of the Regional Care Transformation Plan that is designed to provide more patient-centric care. The plan, which was first announced in September, will transition the Charlevoix and Grayling hospitals into community hospitals, primarily offering outpatient services. The Otsego Memorial Hospital would also transition from a community hospital into a regional hospital, where most inpatient services will be completed.

Officials said the goals of the regional care transformation plan are to adopt a more patient-centric model, expand Munson Healthcare's outpatient footprint, enhance virtual care, regionalize inpatient services and elevate Munson Medical Center to a high-level specialty.

More:Gaylord, Charlevoix hospitals to see changes under Munson plan

On March 1, the Charlevoix Urgent Care, located within the Charlevoix Emergency Department, will discontinue services and begin the transition to the new walk-in clinic, opening on April 1. 

The clinic will be located at 14705 W. Upright St., Building D, in Charlevoix. The Charlevoix Emergency Department will continue to offer 24/7 care every day of the year.

The new Charlevoix Walk-in Clinic will prioritize walk-in availability and same-day call-ahead appointments. Additionally, officials said the clinic will offer more affordable options for the community.

"We are excited to offer this standalone walk-in clinic separate from the emergency department. In the existing Urgent Care framework, the level of patient care can unexpectedly shift from urgent to emergency services based on clinical criteria. This has resulted in increased expenses for our valued patients," said Joanne Schroeder, president of MHC Charlevoix Hospital, in a press release. "Acknowledging this concern, we are pleased to announce that our new walk-in clinic model will effectively tackle this issue."

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Patients can expect the same level of care provided by the current urgent care, including point-of-care lab testing and necessary imaging services, which will be accessible at Charlevoix Hospital, located across the street.

During the transition period from March 1 to March 31, community members are encouraged to utilize existing alternative health care resources, including:

  • Charlevoix Emergency Department for emergencies.
  • Munson Healthcare's Ask-A-Nurse Line, (231) 935-0951: This is a free service connecting the community to a registered nurse to talk about any symptoms or concerns. It is available 24/7.
  • Munson Virtual Urgent Care: Open daily from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. at MunsonHealthcare.org/VirtualUrgentCare
  • Primary care provider: Don't have one? Munson Healthcare Charlevoix Primary Care is accepting new patients, call (231) 547-6554 or visit MunsonHealthcare.org/Find-A-Doctor.

— Contact reporter Annie Doyle at (231) 675-0099 oradoyle@charlevoix

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