New Acute Care Clinic in Grand Rapids Offers Fresh Approach

By HCO Staff

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—In July, Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Emergency Care Specialists (ECS) opened a first-of-its-kind emergency clinic in the state’s second-largest city. ECS, a physician owned private practice which provides staffing for 13 emergency departments in Michigan, launched its RightCare Clinic, offering a low-cost alternative to emergency room visits while providing services not available at the area’s urgent care facilities. 

“We are excited to provide the greater Grand Rapids community access to the outstanding, quality care that we are known for in our emergency departments through our new clinic,” said Todd Chassee, MD, FACEP, vice president of clinical services at Emergency Care Specialists and medical director for RightCare Clinic. “RightCare Clinic is truly patient centered, offering patients convenient, high-level care, all while protecting patients from the high costs typically associated with traditional acute care.” 

According to a recent U.S. News & World Report study, the average cost of treating common medical issues at a hospital’s emergency department has topped $2,000. RightCare Clinic estimates its average patient visit will cost around $350, which includes costs associated with consultation, x-rays, CT scan and blood or urine labs. 

The clinic is staffed with the same medical professionals seen in emergency departments and provides on-site labs, exams and radiology with same-day results. It is designed to provide patients with a level of care above urgent care facilities, but not at the level provided in hospitals for major trauma, stroke or heart attack. 

RightCare Clinic offers scheduled and walk-in care for patients experiencing pain, including abdominal and chest; cough; injuries including broken bones, sprains or cuts; respiratory illness; infections, including skin and sexually transmitted infections; urinary symptoms; vomiting; and others. Additionally, the clinic does schedule and provide same-day sports physicals. For a limited time, families requiring sports physicals will be charged $25 per student athlete.  

RightCare Clinic is a subsidiary of Emergency Care Specialists, which was established in 1984 at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan. ECS specializes in all aspects of acute care medicine, and has continued to grow both in size and breadth to meet the needs of patients throughout Michigan. Today, ECS retains nearly 200 physicians over 100 physician assistants and nurse practitioners across 13 emergency departments, caring for over 450,000 patients annually. 

“Our health care team is on the front line, serving in the emergency departments at many of Michigan’s hospitals,” said John Throop, MD, MBA, FACEP, president of Emergency Care Specialists. “We are taking best practices from our experiences and scaling them to fit the needs of most patients requiring care quicker than available at most primary care physician’s offices, but at a higher level than what can be obtained at urgent care facilities.” 

Throop says that the goal of RightCare Clinic is to focus on same-day referrals and appointments, while still accepting patients who haven’t made an appointment if capacity allows. 

“We believe our model will revolutionize how immediate healthcare needs are met,” said Throop. “This is an alternative for cost-sensitive patients. By offering near-ED services without fees associated with large facilities, this model will be a game changer.” 

Currently RightCare is in talks with most major medical insurance carriers servicing the West Michigan region. Individuals can contact RightCare Clinic to discuss the specifics of their insurance plans, or to receive cost estimates. Patients who plan on self-pay for their visit will notice fees that are exponentially less than visiting a hospital’s emergency department, said Throop. 

RightCare Clinic is located at 745 E Beltline Avenue, Grand Rapids.