Spring brings new services and opportunities for the residents of Benzie County to stay close to home for their healthcare.
Munson Healthcare Paul Oliver Hospital President James Barker said the busy COVID-19-dominated winter has now transitioned to fewer COVID-19 patients and a chance for hospital staff and leadership to find a sense of normalcy.
“We are fortunate to have outstanding providers and staff delivering amazing care to our patients. I am amazed and humbled by their resiliency and dedication to our patients and our community,” he said. “We are pleased that for now we can think about restoring services impacted by the pandemic and adding others to keep residents close to home.”
Barker said one positive for the region has been the increased number of board-certified physicians staffing the Emergency Department, providing extended in-person access. Additionally, residents soon will see virtual urgent care services access offered through Munson Healthcare.
In downtown Frankfort, new Frankfort Specialty Care Clinics on Main Street are now open, and patients can make appointments with visiting specialists from Munson Healthcare’s Cardiology, OB/GYN, Orthopedics and Urology service lines. Sleep Medicine and Wound Care services will also be coming back to the clinic site this summer.
Barker said Cardiac Rehab services that were paused during the pandemic will be brought back in April.
Other changes at the hospital include:
- Moving IV Infusion Therapy to the second floor into space dedicated to the service.
- Major kitchen renovations providing an upgraded space for food preparations for patients and staff.
- Providing the Long-Term Care unit, with 35 licensed beds, with its own dedicated space for physical, occupational and speech therapy, making therapy sessions more convenient for residents and the rehabilitation team.
- The addition of Michelle Ruhser, B.S.N., as the new regional manager for Surgical Services. Ruhser’s role will allow for additional outpatient procedures to become available at the hospital. Ruhser also manages the surgical team at Manistee Hospital.
Additionally, Barker said Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital now is partnering with Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation at Munson Healthcare for outpatient physical, occupational, speech therapies and more. Mary Free Bed is one of the largest and most comprehensive rehabilitation hospitals in the United States. The combination of more than 110 specialized medical and sports rehabilitation programs and an exclusive focus on rehabilitation enables their specialty physicians and staff to help patients achieve positive clinical results.
“All of our current rehabilitation staff will remain employees of the hospital and we’re pleased to share that Esther Sigurdardottir, P.T., long-time director of the rehab program in Manistee, will now lead the four programs affiliated with Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital - Frankfort, Benzonia, Interlochen and Empire, in addition to the Manistee site,” he said.
Sigurdardottir has more than 30 years of experience in rehabilitation services and will work closely with Paul Oliver-based therapists Adrienne Stephen Jones, P.T., D.P.T., S.C.S., and Derek Migazzi, P.T., O.C.S.
“We’re thankful to our community members in Benzie County and beyond for their support during the pandemic,” Barker said. “We’re excited that as spring dawns we can turn a new corner as we continue to provide high-quality care to the region.”