City on a Hill Health Clinic

Keeping the community healthy

By Steph Lulofs

From one small idea with bigger dreams, City on the Hill has grown from 12 original ministries in a reclaimed hospital to an organization of 46 dedicated groups. Providing care to low-income and uninsured patients is a priority for one of them, the City on a Hill Health Clinic.

“We are the only resource for this in Ottawa County,” said Christine Plummer, director of the Zeeland-based health clinic. “We see people free of charge. And we intend to remain that way.”

In 2005, two nurses from a local church saw a need for community health during a rough economy and were contemplating the idea of a ministry center. Zeeland Community Hospital was moving to a new location and the timing was just right. City on a Hill opened in the former hospital in May of 2006 with 12 ministries and has since expanded to 46.

The health clinic treats two areas: general care on Tuesday evenings for minor injuries and illnesses and women’s health.

The women’s health aspect offers several important resources that could save a life, including Pap tests and mammograms. This service is available every third Thursday of the month.

“Without these resources, women would go without mammograms, they may not detect their breast cancer,” Plummer said. “Screenings and mammograms prevent that. If they have it [and] it is caught early, it is a high cure rate. They need to have that resource available.”

The clinic has three part-time staff members, as well as over 60 licensed medical professionals who volunteer to make the services possible.

City on a Hill Health Clinic is currently seeking licensed medical professionals to volunteer, as well as volunteers for housekeeping and working at the reception desk.

“I think it is most important that people understand that regardless of what kind of national health care thing is going on, there will always be people that fall through the cracks,” Plummer said. “And we are the safety net for the people who fall through those cracks.”

City on a Hill Health Clinic
616-748-6009
coahm.org/clinic