NO EMERGENCY: U.P. community reflects on implications of E.R. closure

ONTONAGON, Mich. (WJMN) – The closing of Ontonagon’s hospital has left the residents of a small town on the west end of the Upper Peninsula to live in fear, with very little peace of mind.

This is the third part of our coverage of the event. If you haven’t already, take a look at part 1 and part 2.

“I never, ever saw this coming. And we all feel blindsided. We were just in shock when they made the announcement that in 60 days they would be closing and no further comment. And I don’t think any of us saw it happening. we’re just devastated, feeling very betrayed and just devastated,” said concerned resident Cheryl Sundberg.

“It makes me feel pretty bad because we got a lot of health problems. Everybody got health problems. And we need people around. You need a hospital, you need emergency room, need everything. You know, it’s like we’re going to go next village, next hospital. Everybody’s going to be hurting,” said another local, John Statler.

“It’s just unthinkable. I just don’t know how they could do it. No one. And then it’s a kick in the teeth having them take 30 million up Laurium in the queue and all. Then again, right after that 300 million to the St Luke’s facilities over the. And I just think it’s so sad. I just don’t know what anybody’s going to do. I really don’t. I it just really scares me,” said Ontonagon resident Faith Peterson.

And they are also filled with anger about the way Aspirus shut down their hospital, they were notified in through a press release, giving just 60 days’ notice with absolutely no communication from Aspirus since. Ontonagon was founded in 1843 and has had a hospital since the 1880’s. Aspirus took over in 2007, as their first hospital in Michigan. Village Manager William DuPont feels that being given such short notice was unfair.

“That’s the one thing that Aspirus could have done. I feel like they should have given us more time to get things in place to save people. And this whole we only had a two-week proper, three-week prep, whatever it was to figure this out, we’re going to be done in three weeks. That’s not a great time frame to set up lifesaving systems. I’ll say,” said DuPont.

The closing of the hospital, especially the emergency room will undoubtedly have implications well beyond healthcare. DuPont says that this single event will change the personality and face of this town.

“And so, I do see a shift going to more are more vacation homes, more Airbnb’s. I definitely see a shift going to more of a touristy town, which is good and bad. I mean, at some point though, you need residents to live here to support the businesses all the time,” said The Village Manager.

It may seem like a lost cause, but some lawmakers are not giving up. I spoke to Senator Ed McBroom on his way to Lansing.

“I think that there’s still opportunities to find somebody else who’s willing to do it. Political pressure on virus. But, you know, to a large extent, a lot of these options are probably very late to the table because this virus did give everybody a heads up. They were doing this until the last minute. I certainly saw you had Congressman Bergman and I have discussed this; how other states have a six-month notification law that we definitely need to do that in Michigan, but that’s not going to help us with on Ontonagon right at this moment,” said McBroom.

With thousands of tourists enjoying The Porcupine Mountains, To hazardous like logging and mining, and with an average population over the age of 60. Ontonagon residents feel an emergency room is crucial to the survival of their community. Once again Village Manager, William DuPont.

“There’s a lot of older people here, there’s a lot of retired people. It’s a lot of people on Social Security, a lot of folks that have on their house for a long time. And I know some of them are probably thinking, I don’t want to stay here anymore because there isn’t any are available. And I think that’s a shame,” said DuPont.

One of the most disturbing realities of this situation, is that many elderly residents will be forced to move away or live in constant fear. Ontonagon native, Cheryl Sundberg wants to stay in her home, but questions the safety of remaining.

“No, I don’t want to move. I don’t I don’t want to leave here. But I want a chance to be survive. If something bad happens that I can get to medical emergency care in a reasonable amount of time. They have my best chances of survival. And I think everybody in the community deserves that,” said Peterson.

Ontonagon is now left with a very uncertain future. Loss of tourism, Loss of residents, and revenue, falling property values, serious disadvantages attracting new industry to the area, and reluctance of people to move here due to lack of emergency care.

One thing is certain though… Aspirus does not seem to have plans to re-open the E.R. any time soon.

And so, the good people of Ontonagon will be must to make the hour-long drive to the nearest emergency facility. Praying through each mile to make it on time.

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