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Leelanau County loses its only urgent care facility

Leelanau Urgent Care

The only urgent care facility in Leelanau County has closed. Leelanau Urgent Care in Suttons Bay shut its doors this month when owners Dave and Janice Lemak moved.

The Lemaks had run the facility for the last 14 years, according to the Leelanau Enterprise. They moved to Reno, Nevada.

Urgent care facilities typically treat patients who require immediate care, but don’t need an emergency room.

Michelle Klein with the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department says the facility will be missed.

“It’s particularly challenging for those who live in the northern part of Leelanau County," says Klein. "But even for those in Suttons Bay and Lake Leelanau and Leland, it’s a long drive to drive into Traverse City, and the closest urgent care is Munson.”

Munson Healthcare leased the building to Leelanau Urgent Care. Munson Spokesperson Diane Michelak says the company has formed a team to look at options for the building.

“We always want to provide care that’s closest to home," says Michelak. "It would be a great benefit, but we can’t commit to that at this time.”

Munson operates clinics in Empire and Suttons Bay, but not an urgent care facility. Michelak says patients in Leelanau County who require immediate medical attention should call 911 and seek an ambulance to Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.