CADILLAC — Munson Health care is nearing completion of an 18,000-square-foot surgical center in Cadillac. The facility is designed to improve medical access for residents in rural Northern Michigan.
The outpatient center will feature one operating room and three procedure rooms. Munson Health care officials stated the center will offer a range of surgical services as part of a commitment to provide care closer to patients’ homes.
The new facility is located near the highway to accommodate patients traveling from multiple directions. Currently, many residents in the region must drive an hour or more to reach the nearest surgery center. Brandsma noted that the Cadillac location provides an easy-to-reach alternative for patients coming from the north, south, east or west.
Hilary Brandsma serves as the chief operating officer of Munson Health care South. She emphasized that the location was chosen specifically to reduce travel burdens for local families.
“Our patients need access to care and many patients, if they want to go to a surgery center right now, would have to drive an hour or more from their home to get that experience. So now it’s right here. It’s close to home in Cadillac and it’s a great location. People from the north, south, east or west were right off the highway, easy to get to,” Brandsma said.
The facility is built to allow for future growth. While it will open with a single operating room, Munson Health care has developed plans to add a second operating room as demand for services increases.
Munson Health care administration, physicians and donors have been invited to tour the center. Members of the media are also invited to tour the state-of-the-art facility and interview leadership regarding the vision behind the project.
The facility is expected to be operational this spring. An official opening date has not yet been announced.