Finding a Trusted Family Practice Center in Newberry, MI: A New Resident’s Story

Moving to a new community is exciting. It can also bring a quiet kind of worry, especially when it comes to finding healthcare you trust. Who do you call when you’re sick? Where do you go for an annual checkup? Will the doctor really listen?

For one couple who recently moved to the Eastern Upper Peninsula, those questions were answered the moment they walked through the doors of Helen Newberry Joy Hospital & Healthcare Center. We’re grateful to longtime patient Bruce R. Sikorski for sharing his family’s experience and giving us permission to share it with our community.

New to the UP and Searching for Healthcare You Can Trust

Bruce and his wife made the move to the Upper Peninsula about two years ago. Like many newcomers to Luce County, they fell in love with the landscape, the pace of life, and the genuine warmth of their neighbors. But settling in also meant figuring out the practical things, including finding a primary care doctor and a trusted healthcare provider close to home.

“Being new to the area, we didn’t know where to go for medical treatment,” Bruce shared.

That uncertainty is something many new residents experience. The Upper Peninsula is a special place, but it isn’t a metro area with a clinic on every corner. As a rural healthcare provider serving Luce County and the Eastern Upper Peninsula, HNJH is built to help fill that gap with high-quality, accessible care close to home.

One Emergency Visit Changed Everything

About six months after the move, Bruce experienced a medical issue that required immediate attention. He and his wife decided to visit the Emergency Department at Helen Newberry Joy Hospital in Newberry.

“What a great choice we made,” he said.

That emergency visit did more than address the immediate concern. It opened the door to a long-term healthcare relationship that has supported Bruce and his wife ever since.

During that visit, they were introduced to the broader HNJH care network, including the Gibson Family Health Clinic, which is directly connected to the hospital.

For new residents who haven’t yet established care, it’s comforting to know one location offers:

• Emergency services
• Primary care
• Lab work
• Diagnostic imaging services
• Swing bed care

Having these services available under one roof can make navigating healthcare much easier, especially in a rural community.

Meeting Dr. Patricia Gill at the Gibson Family Health Clinic

Through that first hospital visit, Bruce and his wife found their primary care physician, Dr. Patricia Gill.

“Dr. Gill is the best, most caring physician we have ever had,” Bruce said. “She takes her time explaining things and doesn’t try to rush through the appointment. She is very thorough, as is her nurse, Caitlyn.”

That kind of feedback reflects what we hope every patient experiences at the Gibson Family Health Clinic. A strong family practice center is built on trust, communication, and continuity of care, and that starts with providers who treat every appointment like it matters, because it does.

Bruce also shared that when Dr. Gill was unavailable, Dr. Rao stepped in to provide care.

“His nurse Jenn is amazing as well,” he added.

What a Family Practice Center Can Do for UP Families

A strong relationship with a primary care doctor isn’t only about treating illness when it appears. The Gibson Family Health Clinic offers comprehensive family medicine services designed to support long-term health and wellness.

Annual Checkups and Preventive Care

Routine wellness visits and annual checkups help patients stay proactive about their health while building a trusted relationship with their provider.

Chronic Disease Management

HNJH helps patients manage ongoing conditions such as:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease

Coordinated chronic disease management helps improve quality of life and long-term outcomes.

Pre-Employment Physicals

The clinic also provides pre-employment physicals and occupational health services for local workers, seasonal employees, and businesses throughout the region.

Diagnostic Imaging and Coordinated Care

Patients also have access to diagnostic imaging services and specialty referrals when additional care is needed.

A Whole Team That Treats You Like Family

Bruce was quick to point out that exceptional care at HNJH extends far beyond the exam room.

“One very important honorable mention is Rae at the front desk. I desperately needed medical attention one day, and Rae automatically dropped what she was doing and immediately got me the help I needed, which truly saved my life.”

That story captures something essential about the culture at Helen Newberry Joy Hospital. Every team member, from the front desk to the lab to the Emergency Department, plays a vital role in patient care. There are no small roles when someone’s wellbeing is on the line.

Bruce also recognized the broader care team:

“Everyone there, the ladies who check you in at the clinic, the ones who schedule your next appointments, Tracy Paramski the Patient Advocate, the doctors and nurses in the ED, and the ladies who check you in for lab work, are all incredible and have your best interest at heart.”

The HNJH Promise: Every Patient, Every Time

At HNJH, our mission is simple: keep the patient at the center of everything we do. Every patient. Every time.

Hearing that promise reflected back through patient stories like Bruce’s means our team is living it out in the everyday moments that matter most.

In a rural community, healthcare isn’t just about services. It’s about knowing someone is there when you need them most.

What to Do If You’re New to Luce County

If you recently moved to Newberry or anywhere in the Eastern Upper Peninsula, here are a few simple steps to help establish care and stay connected to local healthcare resources.

Establish a Primary Care Physician Early

The Gibson Family Health Clinic accepts new patients and offers comprehensive family medicine services.

Schedule an Annual Checkup

Routine visits help you build a relationship with your doctor and stay ahead of potential health concerns.

Save Important Contact Information

Call HNJH at 906-293-9200 to schedule appointments or ask about services including:

• Chronic disease management
• Pre-employment physicals
• Diagnostic imaging
• Preventive care

Know Where to Go for Emergencies

The HNJH Emergency Department is staffed 24/7 and ready to care for you and your family.

Ask About Financial Assistance

If cost is a concern, HNJH offers a Sliding Fee Schedule and Financial Assistance Program because no one in our community should have to choose between their health and their finances.

Healthcare That Feels Like Home

Stories like Bruce’s are why we do what we do. The Upper Peninsula is a place where neighbors take care of neighbors, and Helen Newberry Joy Hospital & Healthcare Center is proud to be the healthcare provider families throughout Luce County can count on.

Whether you’ve lived in the EUP your whole life or you’re still unpacking boxes from a recent move, you deserve healthcare that treats you like a person, not a number.

Thank you, Bruce, for trusting our team and for sharing your story so other new residents can feel a little more at ease.

If you’re looking for a trusted family practice center in Newberry, MI or want to learn more about the services available through HNJH and the Gibson Family Health Clinic, contact our team today.