Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital Convenient Care Walk-In Clinic Provides Access to Health Care in the Ludington Area
By Alan Neushwander, Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital Communications Specialist
Having wisdom teeth removed has become a rite of passage for most teenagers.
While minor pain, swelling and discomfort are a normal part of the healing process, there are rare instances when complications may occur.
Emily Van Dyke, 15, of Ludington, Michigan, had the routine surgery on a Thursday afternoon. By the weekend, the swelling and pain continued to get worse. Her mother, Julie, called the oral surgeon’s office, but it would be several days before the doctor could see Emily at his office.
Photo courtesy of Photography by Sue Brown
“Emily was in a lot of pain and had developed a fever,” Julie said. “We went to Convenient Care for some advice and walked out 10 minutes later with a prescription to treat an infection that had developed.”
Van Dyke not only appreciates the convenience of the walk-in clinic, but also the compassion.
“Everyone was very caring,” she said. “They understood the issue and saw the sense of urgency as soon as they saw the swelling on Emily’s face.”
The Convenient Care Walk-In Clinic is intended for people who feel ill or have minor injuries, but don’t require emergency care. Patients are able to get immediate medical attention without an appointment.
Another person who benefited from the clinic is Lexi Kosla. The Ludington resident experienced symptoms consistent with strep throat and decided to use Convenient Care.
“My primary care doctor can be difficult to get into and, in the past, didn’t do strep tests in their office so I would have to go to the hospital for the test and then wait for the results,” Kosla said.
She got right into the Convenient Care clinic and the provider performed a throat culture in the office that came back positive for strep. She received a prescription for antibiotics.
Anyone may use the Convenient Care Walk-In Clinic regardless of insurance status or whether they have a primary care physician. For those with a physician, the medical record from the visit is coordinated back to their provider.
The Convenient Care Walk-In Clinic is located at 7 Atkinson Drive, Suite 113 in the medical office building attached to Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital. For more information, visit ludingtonwalkinclinic.org or call 231.843.3700.
Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award
It was recently announced that Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital has been awarded the Healthgrades 2016 Patient Safety Excellence Award, an honor which recognizes hospitals that have prevented the occurrence of serious, avoidable complications for patients during their stay. It places Spectrum Ludington in the top 10% of hospitals in the country for their excellent performance as evaluated by Healthgrades, an online resource for information regarding doctors and hospitals.
Hospital Services
Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital continues to expand and upgrade its buildings and services and has over 40 physicians on staff in various areas of medicine, including:- Family Practice
- Internal Medicine
- General/Vascular Surgery
- ENT
- Cardiology
- Oncology
- Urology
- Radiology
- Pediatrics
- Psychology
- Orthopedics
- Opthamology
Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital also features Home Health Care, Rehabilitation, 24-hour emergency department, and specialty clinics. And specifically for women: a birthing center, mammography center, bone densitometry and ultrasound services are available. A kidney dialysis center was added in 1996, and in 2000, Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital became the first hospital in Michigan and only the fourth in the nation to become certified to the quality standard of ISO 9002. A Women's Imaging Center opened in 2009, allowing women to have mammograms and bone density tests in a separate and private area.
Spectrum Health Ludington recently opened a Convenient Care Walk-In Clinic where people who feel sick or have minor injuries can get immediate medical attention without an appointment. The Clinic is located in the medical office building attached to the hospital, 7 North Atkinson Drive in Ludington, and is open Monday-Friday from 8am-8pm and Saturdays from 8am-2pm.
If you are experiencing any of the serious symptoms below, immediately call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room.
And when you're looking for quick answers without a trip to the doctor, Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital participates in the MedNow on-demand primary care program. With MedNow, you will consult with a physician at one of the nation's top 15 health systems, through video or eVisit. Your visit will be shared with your primary care physician for follow up. Call (844) 322-7374 to schedule an appointment or visit
The facility also offers their Win With Wellness Program to encourage healthy living through promotion of wellness to those of all ages, including a Fit Club program for elementary school children.
Safety is Priority at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital
In August 2008, Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital was ranked in the top 5% nationally for patient safety. This means that out of 5,000 hospitals around the country, Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital is one of 249 hospitals to receive this accolade, and only one of 13 hospitals in Michigan. Patients here had a 43% lower chance of encountering medical errors compared to hospitals with a poor performance. The study was done by HealthGrades, a leading independent healthcare rating organization. This proves the dedication of Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital when it comes to improving patient care and evaluating new technologies.Hospital History
From its inception in 1906 as Paulina Stearns Hospital on north Washington Avenue, to its present location on Ludington Avenue--Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital continues its goal of caring for the community. We owe the birth of our hospital in 1906 to a group of tenacious women who would not give up the idea of building a hospital. The friends of Paulina Stearns had a vision, and set about convincing the men in the community to agree. Justus Stearns, a local businessman and lumberman, donated $1,000 and the use of his home and the Paulina Stearns Hospital went into operation. It was named after his wife who died in 1904.
After 33 years, the hospital moved into a new building across the street from it's original location in August of 1940. It housed 30 beds, and because it was during the WWII years, only four doctors served the hospital. Once again, women volunteers from the community helped keep the hospital afloat during the lean years.
With the development of new medical technology and equipment, expansion was necessary again in the 1960's. Since there was no room to grow on Washington Avenue, property on east Ludington Avenue was purchased for the new hospital. In 1967, a 76-bed facility was completed and was re-named Memorial Hospital of Mason County. In May 1981, the hospital celebrated its 75th anniversary and changed its name for the third time to Memorial Medical Center of West Michigan. In 2013, it became Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital.
2013 proved to be a big year at the local hospital that was formerly known as Memorial Medical Center. A $14.7 million expansion was finished late August, and changes included the hospital's main entrance being moved to face US-10 rather than being located in the back by the emergency entrance. There is a covered area where visitors and outpatients enter to the left and emergency patients to the right. The new and larger Emergency Center includes two trauma rooms and over 20 private exam rooms. The surgery area has also been expanded, with an additional operating room (bringing the total to five) and private recovery rooms.
There have been improvements to outpatient areas, such as the laboratory, medical imaging, and cardiopulmonary department. One main corridor for public foot traffic is now in place, reducing the confusion that existed when trying to find certain destinations within the hospital. Perhaps one of the biggest additions is the new helipad, which is located to the east of the hospital. This is critical when patients need to be moved quickly to a larger facility, such as Spectrum Health Hospital in Grand Rapids.
In addition to the physical changes to the facility, other changes have taken place within the building. They have now partnered with Spectrum Health, allowing access to more specialties in the medical field. Hospitalists are also working within the hospital, which began in May of 2013. Hospitalists are staff doctors who specialize in treating patients in the hospital. They partner with the patient's primary physician, but are in the hospital 24 hours a day, preventing wait-time for a doctor to arrive. On October 1st, 2013, Memorial Medical Center was officially renamed Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital.
A few women with a dream into what it is now- a regional medical center serving thousands of people in West Michigan. Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital- leading the region in the pursuit of optimal health.
For more information about the Ludington hospital, contact:
Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital
1 Atkinson Dr
Ludington, MI 49431
(231) 843-2591
More Ludington Community Information...
- Lakeshore Pyrate Heads Party with a Purpose!
- Ludington Optimist Club Supports Community Youth
- Accessible Walkways at Stearns Park Beach in Ludington
- COVE=Communities Overcoming Violent Encounters
- The Ludington Area Jaycees: Building Young Leaders Since 1947
- Ludington's Skate Plaza
- Move to Ludington...Living Here is Great!
- Community Services in the Ludington Area
- Breaking Records is What Ludington Does Best!
local advertisement