Persson Internal Medicine Joins Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital

The internal medicine practice of John Persson, DO, and Susan Persson, PA-C, is the latest area medical office to integrate with Spectrum Health Medical Group (SHMG) and Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital. The integration became effective Monday, May 11.

The office is now known as Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital Internal Medicine—Ludington. The agreement to integrate the office with the hospital was signed last week by Dr. Persson and hospital president Mark Vipperman, FACHE, and approved by Seth Wolk, MD, president of Spectrum Health Medical Group.

Dr. Persson also announced his retirement from medical practice after serving the Ludington and surrounding communities for over 30 years. Physician assistant Susan Persson will continue her work as the office’s advanced practice provider. Dr. Persson and Susan Persson opened their own internal medicine practice in 2001. Prior to that Dr. Persson was part of Internal Medicine Associates in Ludington.

A new physician, Bryan Kovas, MD, will join the practice July 13. Until that time, Dr. Mary O’Callaghan, DO, will serve as supervising physician for the practice. Dr. O’Callaghan is the regional chief for Spectrum Health Medical Group. Practice manager Mary Zingery, CCP, will remain in her role, as will the rest of the office staff. They will continue in their current location, suite 207 in the medical office building attached to the hospital. Dr. Kovas will be a member of Spectrum Health Medical Group, while Susan Persson and the entire office staff will be employed by the hospital.

“We welcome the addition of this medical office to the Spectrum Health Medical Group and the hospital,” said David Ottenbaker, MD, associate chief medical officer—regions, for SHMG.”We see this integration as a way of providing greater access and resources to the community and the patients who have come to trust these excellent medical providers with their health care.”

Jim Wincek, vice president of operations for Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital, said, “We believe the integration will be beneficial to patients for a variety of reasons. The convenient, high quality care people have relied on from the Perssons will continue, in the capable hands of Susan Persson and Dr. Kovas, who will be joining the practice soon.”

“They will now be a part of one of the top 15 health systems in America. Spectrum Health and the Medical Group provide an array of local and regional specialists, surgeons and support staff who work as a team to provide all needed medical resources.”

“We are communicating this change to the patients long served by Persson Internal Medicine, assuring them of continuity in their medical care,” added Wincek. “Our operational assistance will ensure that the medical providers of the office will have additional time to focus on their patients, improving access to excellent care.”

For questions concerning the integration, patients are invited to call the office at 231.843.3600.