“We’re close to I-96 and Okemos Road, so we’re right off the freeway," Yaney said. "That makes it pretty handy for the patients."

This freestanding facility is one of the only of its kind in the state. It stands separate from a hospital, but still serves the community as a fully-functioning emergency room.

The Emergency Center is staffed by certified emergency physicians and emergency nurses, offering 24-hour CAT scans, 24-hour X-ray availability and ultrasounds until 11 p.m.

A core group of nurses provides will staff the center 24 hours a day, seven days of week, and will coordinate with Sparrow Health System's main hospital on E. Michigan Avenue to provide care to all of the system's patients.

“If we have surges in patients over here that takes us up to where it’s above safe staffing levels, we can work with the main (hospital) to move resources over here (to) over there," nurse manager Sean Binkley said.

In addition to providing medical care, Sparrow's new site intends to reduce disparities in healthcare access. With more facilities being built on the east side of the Capitol Region, factors that prevent people from accessing care – such as socioeconomic status and neighborhood residency – can be battled.

“The Sparrow Emergency Center in Okemos is aimed at promoting access to care, both for emergency care and primary care,” executive director at Capital Area Health Alliance Jason Blanks said in an email.

The new emergency room with an adjoining primary care office will help to relieve congestion at the main Sparrow emergency room.

“This synergy will allow Sparrow Healthcare and the community healthcare partners, like CAHA, to work hand-in-hand to address access to care,” Blanks said in an email.