Sandusky City Hall welcomed a crowd of over twenty people yesterday who were eager to hear discussion regarding the Special Land Use (SLU) permit submitted by Aspire Rural Health System.
Those in attendance included Co-CEOs Andy Daniels and Angie McConnachie, along with residents and board members of McKenzie Health System. Deckerville Community Hospital, Hills & Dale Healthcare, and Marlette Regional Hospital officially came together in January with the shared goal of expanding access to rural healthcare.
This same goal has led Aspire Rural Health System to begin planning to open its first rapid/primary care center in Sandusky, just across from Walmart. The facility will have ten rooms, allowing for x-rays, labs, and physical therapy services. Half of the clinic will also provide rapid/urgent care with the other half offering primary care.
One citizen expressed their support for the proposed facility, claiming that it could benefit the community. “Patients will have the freedom to choose where to seek care based on their individual needs and preferences. This choice empowers patients to take control of their healthcare decisions and ensures that they receive the level of care that is most suitable for them . . . [And] that property from across the Walmart has sat empty for so long.”
Aspire Rural Health System met all additional requirements for urgent care/hospitals, including meeting state and federal regulations, screening to residential neighborhoods, and disclosing that there will be no additional accessory uses.
Council members ultimately approved the permit, and though plans are still being finalized, the organization hopes that construction will take about ten months once it begins. “We’ll get digging,” Daniels said.
