Caryn Kovar, formerly Caryn Bartholomew, stands in an examination room at Mackinac Straits Hospital's pediatric clinic in St. Ignace on her first day of work Monday, June 8. Mrs. Kovar, a physician's assistant, is joining Doctors Statler and Duarte to provide five-days-a-week pediatric care at the hospital. She has 13 years of experience in pediatrics and said she is excited to work alongside the doctors in St. Ignace. Children can receive expanded pediatric care at Mackinac Straits Hospital in St. Ignace on Mondays through Fridays under a new program that began Monday, June 8.

Previously, the pediatric care facility was open two or three days a week and patients often had to wait in the emergency room for treatment from doctors who weren't pediatricians.

The clinic will be staffed by two doctors currently at the hospital, Claudio Duarte and Cynthia Statler. Caryn Kovar will join the team as a physician's assistant, which will allow the expanded program.

Mrs. Kovar has been working in school-based clinics in Rudyard, Engadine, and Brimley, where people knew her as Caryn Bartholomew before her marriage. She will continue working part-time for the school clinics through the next year, and then work primarily at St. Ignace.

"I feel very fortunate to be in the office setting," she said, "and to be working with Dr. Statler."

She was graduated in 1996 from Western Michigan University and worked for Promed Pediatrics in Kalamazoo for six years. She has 13 years of experience as a physician's assistant and also worked at the Shasta Community Health Center in northern California before moving to Engadine six years ago.

Laura Anderson, rural health clinic director at the hospital, said same-day appointments and scheduling will be much more available with the five-days-a-week clinic schedule.

She said patients will see an improved availability of well-child visits, which are specifically scheduled mandatory appointments for a child's immunizations, check-ups, and other standard care.

Mrs. Kovar said a visit with her would be just like a visit with one of the doctors, and all routine care will now be available daily at the St. Ignace clinic.

"Pediatrics is my love and expertise," she said. "I want to help foster the growth and development of children and their families and help create healthy and happy children."

A recognition of a community and regional need for a more accessible pediatric clinic was the main reason for the change, said Dr. Donza Worden, a physician executive with Mackinac Straits Health System. Being the only pediatric care location in the region, other than Sault Ste. Marie, was also a factor, he said.

"People couldn't get appointments," Dr. Worden said. "Access is the big thing."

Dr. Worden has worked in his current position for seven weeks and has a background both in the financial administration and medical sides of health care.

Although space for the pediatric clinic is currently shared with other departments in the hospital, the move to the new hospital early next year will provide it with its own area.