Design Plans Finalized, Approved for Medical Center Expansion and Revitalization

Artist rendering of a new main entrance for the Medical Center at MyMichigan Medical Center Clare as part of a $40 million investment to continue to provide excellent care in an environment where patients and their care team feel safe and secure.

MyMichigan Medical Center Clare recently obtained funding and design approval from its local Board of Directors, as well as the MyMichigan Health Board of Directors, for a $40 million investment in Phases 1 & 2 of the multi-phase expansion and revitalization of the Medical Center.

“Several months ago, we shared with the community that MyMichigan Medical Center Clare was here to stay in its current downtown location,” said Marita Hattem-Schiffman, president of MyMichigan Medical Centers in Clare, Alma and Mt. Pleasant. “Since then, we’ve been hard at work alongside our architectural and construction teams to design a state-of-the-art Medical Center that can continue to provide high-quality, technologically-advanced, convenient health care in a location that’s close to home. We now have all necessary approvals to move forward on the expansion and revitalization of our Medical Center.” 

The Medical Center is working with Hord Coplan Macht as the designer and architect on the project, as well as Granger Construction. Phase one will include construction of a new two-story section that will house a new Emergency Department, new Inpatient Unit with all private rooms, and an expanded Imaging Department, including a fixed MRI Unit. Access to the medical center for 24/7 outpatient services including lab, Xray and CT imaging will also be improved. The North parking lot will also be expanded for improved employee parking. Construction for phase one is expected to begin by 2025, and last 14 months.

Phase two of the project will include construction of a new main entrance and canopy, as well as a plaza connecting the campus to the downtown area.  Improvements include better patient entry and wayfinding, and complete renovation of first floor public spaces to include Patient Registration, first floor dining, the Shamrock Patch Gift Shop and access to lab and imaging services. Phase two will immediately follow phase one and is anticipated to take eight months.  

Artist rendering of a new Emergency Department and After Hour Care entrance at MyMichigan Medical Center Clare.

Hattem-Schiffman continued, “Access to health care is getting harder to find in rural areas. MyMichigan Health is committed to providing as much high-quality health care as close to home as possible for our communities. Investing in our people and facilities provides not only great access to great care, but as a large employer we support our local economies in very meaningful ways. With these investments, we can provide the vast majority of health care that our patients need in their lifetime here in mid- and central Michigan, as well as continuing 24/7/365 access to life-sustaining, emergency care.  The additions we’ve made to provider practices in Clare, Farwell and Harrison create more primary care access, and the modernization of the Medical Center means we can provide more care in a state-of-the-art environment that promotes hope and healing.” 

“It’s been an exciting process to see our vision for the future of MyMichigan Medical Center Clare come to life,” said Glenn King, R.N., vice president, MyMichigan Medical Centers in Clare, Alma and Mt. Pleasant. “Our focus is on creating a space that allows our staff to continue to provide excellent care in an environment where patients and their care team feel safe and secure. This expansion and revitalization will allow us to keep patients close to home, and also offer high-quality and technologically advanced health care to residents of Clare County and beyond.”

Named a Top Rural Hospital in 2021, the Medical Center in Clare has more than 300 employees, volunteers, physicians and other personnel. It offers a full range of services in specialty areas including diabetes, emergency care, adult trauma, heart and vascular services, hyperbaric oxygen, infusion services, neurosciences, occupational health, ophthalmology, orthopedics, primary care, pulmonology, rehab services, sleep disorders, spine and pain, surgery, women’s health and wound treatment.

A fundraising campaign for this project has been approved by the MyMichigan Health Foundation Board of Directors and is currently underway. Those who would like more information, or to make a donation, may visit www.mymichigan.org/givetoclare.