Holland Community Health Center

Holland Community Health Center offers high-quality, culturally sensitive, health care for men, women and children, regardless of insurance status.

We accomplish this through a partnership with Holland Hospital, Spectrum Health Medical Group, and a committed, bi-lingual team of board-certified physicians, nurse practitioners, staff, and volunteer providers from various specialties.

With over 10,000 visits each year, The Community Health Center serves more than 4900 patients providing health care services to those in need.

-adapted from the Holland Community Health Center website


Here are some frequently asked questions about the Holland Community Health Center. Check back for updates.
Frequently Asked Questions

What is Holland Community Health Center?

HCHC is a primary care office that exists primarily to serve the healthcare needs of the uninsured and underinsured residents of the greater Holland area.

HCHC is staffed by two full-time board certified family physicians, two full-time physician assistants, one full-time nurse practitioner, and a top-notch staff of nurses, medical assistants, and clerical associates. The providers all specialize in family medicine, providing care for all members of the family, regardless of age or sex. Prenatal and obstetric care is also available.

HCHC is privileged to host volunteer specialists from the community. These specialties include podiatry, orthopedics, hand surgery, internal medicine, family medicine, and ophthalmology. HCHC also partners with other specialty providers in the community on a case-by-case basis to help patients get the care they need, regardless of insurance status.

HCHC partners with Holland Hospital and the Spectrum Health Medical Group.

What do you do at Holland Community Health Center?

At HCHC, while we are different from many other medical practices in some ways, in many ways we are just like any other medical office.

Appointments are scheduled for visits with the providers between the hours of 8:30 and 4:30 Monday through Friday. You will check in at the front desk, and then you will be escorted to the exam room by a nurse or medical assistant, who will get your vital signs, review your medicines, and get a little bit of information about your health concerns, and may do some blood or urine tests. Your provider will discuss your concerns and do an exam and any tests that may be necessary, or the provider may order some tests to be done at the hospital lab or x-ray department. Sometimes your provider may recommend that you see a specialist. When you are finished with the provider, you will check out at the front desk, receive any necessary paperwork, schedule your next visit, and be on your way.

We care for a variety of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, chronic pain, depression, heart disease, etc. In some cases, we will refer you to a specialist for more detailed evaluation and treatment of your conditions, but we are often your “first stop” on the road to good health.

We also care for acute illnesses such as colds, minor injuries, strep throat, flu, etc. Sometimes we may not have an appointment available the same day, but there is always a nurse or medical assistant available to give you advice on how to help yourself feel better at home while waiting to see your provider, or to recommend other ways to get more immediate treatment if necessary.

In addition to appointments with the providers, we offer other services such as assistance with getting prescription medications at no charge from the company, assistance with connecting with mental health resources, the Maternal Infant Child Program, the Ready for School Program, the Healthy Beginnings Program, and Reach Out and Read.

What don’t you do at Holland Community Health Center?

Because we usually have a full schedule of appointments every day, we don’t typically see patients without appointments on a walk-in basis. If you have an urgent need, it is always acceptable to call the office to see if there is an appointment available, and a nurse or medical assistant can advise you. If no appointment is available, staff may offer advice for home care or may discuss your case with a provider. If it is possible to make an appointment that day or the next, staff will advise you on what to do while you wait. If there is truly no appointment available, or the times we offer do not fit your schedule, staff may recommend that you seek care at an urgent care facility or an emergency department, depending on the urgency of your health care need.

HCHC is not an urgent care center or an emergency department. While we are equipped to handle minor injuries and acute illnesses, if you have an emergency, you should call 911 or go directly to the nearest hospital emergency department.

We do not typically treat problems or prescribe medications over the phone. Things like colds, urinary tract infections, stomach viruses, etc, may seem pretty straightforward, but diagnosing and treating without seeing a patient can be very dangerous, and the providers at HCHC are considering your health and safety above all else when we make treatment decisions. If we do not have an available appointment, our staff will offer advice on how to manage your problem and when to seek emergency evaluation and treatment.

How long will my appointment take?

Because we operate a bit differently from other medical offices, your appointment may take a little longer at HCHC. We strive to provide the most thorough care we can, with as little cost to the patient as possible. This means that we often spend longer with each patient at each visit than is common at most medical offices. Sometimes patients do wait a little longer to see the provider than they would at some offices, but this is because each provider wants to be sure to give each patient enough time to address as many of their health concerns as possible. In addition, medical care is often unpredictable. Sometimes emergencies happen, and these can’t be predicted. Often the providers are also answering questions for the staff, talking with other doctors on the phone, reviewing test results, waiting for tests to be done, or managing medical records between visits, and although we strive to keep wait times to a minimum, it is common to wait a little longer at HCHC. We value your time and appreciate your patience. If you find that your wait time is too long on any particular day, and are unable to stay, please notify our staff so that your appointment can be rescheduled.

So why do I have to reschedule if I’m late for my appointment?

Our policy at HCHC is that if you arrive after your scheduled appointment time, you will likely be asked to reschedule. This is not because we think your time is not valuable, or because we think our time is more important than yours. When a patient arrives late for their scheduled appointment, even when the provider is “running behind,” this creates a “snowball effect” for the appointments scheduled after that appointment, and can cause even greater delays for those who arrive on time for their appointments. As discussed earlier, there are several steps to each visit, and delaying just one part of the visit can cause delays for the rest of that visit and all the visits after that. We ask that you be considerate of other patients as well as of the staff at HCHC.


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This page is not designed to provide medical advice, and is not an appropriate way to contact your provider if you have medical questions.

If you have questions, need medical advice, or need to schedule an appointment, please contact the office during phone hours (8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday). If you have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.

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