New health center opens in Calumet

Residents in Calumet now have the option to see a doctor in their area thanks to a new health center. ABC 10 Keweenaw Bureau reporter Sam Ali checked out the facility today to see how the community is capitalizing on the opportunity.

The Upper Great Lakes Family Health Centers continue their expansion into the Copper Country with opening of a brand-new facility at the Mine Street Station in Calumet. It’s a federally-qualified health center, meaning it accepts all patients and insurances, regardless of their ability to pay. It’s not easy to receive that kind of designation.

“The core requirements that we’re governed by require us to meet very rigorous standards for quality, compliance, community development and access to care,” UGLF Health Centers CEO Donald Simila said.

He also says the organization’s partnership with Portage Health allowed for the new health center to be created.

“The relationship that the health center has with its partner hospitals is really significant as well. Partner hospitals work with us collaboratively
to make sure that patients have access to the needed ancillary services that any physician practice would,” Simila said.

The health center will save a trip to the Houghton/Hancock area for many residents, but is there a difference in the quality of treatment? Guy
Pellegrini, one of the primary care providers at the health center, says no.

“Every provider practices differently I would think. But we all have the same standard of care that we try to implement. And that’s really what it’s based on, standard of care,” Pellegrini said.

To learn more about the UGLF Health Center’s focus on affordable healthcare, head to their website.