Aspirus Health celebrated the completion of its expanded Houghton clinic with a ribbon cutting and open house Thursday, unveiling new facilities designed to bring more reliable healthcare access to Michigan’s Copper Country.
Healthcare representatives, clinic staff and community leaders gathered to tour the renovated facility, which includes 15 new patient rooms, additional procedure spaces and a new drive-thru pharmacy. The expansion allows patients to complete their care cycle after visiting physicians for checkups or minor surgical procedures.
“We’re so excited. We’ve been looking forward to this for over a year since we announced during the groundbreaking for the Houghton Clinic as well as our Keweenaw Hospital renovation and expansion,” said Natalie Seaber, Michigan regional president for Aspirus Health. “We came in under budget, on time, and look at the space. It’s just beautiful.”
The project utilized local contractors, keeping economic benefits within the community.
“I might be a little biased, we get the job, the contractors get the job done, they do quality work, and they’re local,” said Rep. Greg Markkanen, who represents Michigan’s 110th District. “That keeps the money local, supports their families, supports local businesses. It’s just a win-win-win for everybody.”
The expansion significantly increases healthcare capacity in the region. A new walk-in clinic began operating last month, providing services seven days a week. Previously sporadic specialty services now operate on regular schedules.
“Our walk-in clinic is now available starting last month, and that’s seven days a week,” said Deanna Hayes, regional clinical director for Aspirus Health. “We’re able to get orthopedics down here five days a week, and general surgery, and dermatology, things like that, where we weren’t able to have the space to have them come so frequently.”
Heather Norton, a licensed practical nurse and nursing supervisor at Aspirus Health, emphasized the facility’s enhanced capabilities.
“It’s actually been a very great expansion. We have 15 new rooms. We’ve got a lot of procedure rooms that have been added. We now have the walk-in clinic, so everybody’s super excited for the offerings,” Norton said.
The drive-thru pharmacy addresses practical needs for families in the rural community.
“It really allows busy moms and dads who have a car full of kids not to have to drive them all into a pharmacy as well, even during the nice summer months,” Seaber said. “The entire clinic has been expanded. We have additional rooms. Everything’s been renovated and it allows us to expand our specialty services as well as our primary care.”
Healthcare officials say the expansion will serve communities that previously had limited access to nearby medical services.
“Once you’re able to get closer access to care, we’re able to service other parts of the community, maybe further south that we might not have gotten to come up to Laurium,” Hayes said. “We’re able to get patients that we can get from surrounding communities.”
The facility maintains continuity of care with Aspirus’s other regional locations, allowing patients to see the same providers across different sites.
Houghton City Manager Eric Waara and Rep. Markkanen said the expansion demonstrates Aspirus’s commitment to the Copper Country region.
“I think it’s important to have a clinic of this nature in this area and everything, healthcare radiates out from here,” Markkanen said.
Seaber emphasized the organization’s community-focused approach.
“When there’s additional needs from the community perspective. We look at that and then we make sure that we try to meet those needs, whatever that is, whether it’s longer hours staying open or specialty services that we could provide,” she said. “We really like our clinics, our walk-in spaces to be a one-stop shop.”
Aspirus Health operates multiple facilities throughout Houghton County, including the Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital in Laurium, an outpatient therapies and fitness center in Calumet, and an at-home care and hospice office in Hancock. The healthcare provider also maintains a clinic in Lake Linden.
