Community Involvement Important for Hartland's Remaining Family Doctor

In the almost two decades that has been practicing medicine in Hartland, he has seen many things come and go such as Bucky’s Pharmacy, Hartland Hardware and the Oasis Gas Station.

Now, with another business leaving Hartland — — Kopel, along with his nurse practitioner wife, Christine, say they can take on families who still wants a family doctor based in Hartland.

“If they’re looking for a doctor in Hartland and they want to stay local for their basic health care, we’re always available for new patients,” said Kopel of the practice, . “My philosophy has always been, patients aren’t here for me, I’m here for patients.”

The St. Joseph Mercy office is officially closing in early September and referring patients to its Brighton area offices about eight miles away, leaving Kopel as the only family practice in Hartland. (There are also two urgent care centers).

It's not the first time Kopel has been the only full-time family doctor in his almost 20 years coming here. He said his experience here has taught him some valuable lessons about practicing in a smaller community.

“If you work hard, if you show people that you care, if you’re available, then people come, people stay,” Kopel said. “When you own your own (practice), you have a greater vested interest in keeping your customers.”

Getting involved in the community

In 1992, when Kopel still worked for the Huron Valley hospital system, he agreed to move to the Hartland site, which was a big change for him and something he was looking for from his previous location of Dearborn Heights.

“When I use to come here in ‘92, there were just cornfields on both sides, all along,” Kopel said. “And now they’re all gone.”

He said the Oasis was “just about the only place you could buy a meal outside of the grocery store” back then. 

Kopel said he liked the community and the people right away and immediately became involved with the sports program at Hartland High School when he was asked to back up the school’s trainer on the field during football games.

“I’ve been standing on the sidelines for probably 90 percent of the home varsity football games,” Kopel said.

Since then, Kopel went on to buy his own practice in 1999, moved into his own suite of offices located at 11150 Highland Road which has nine exam rooms and a staff of eight while he still continues to have privileges at the Huron Valley hospital.

Today, Kopel, who commutes from his home in Novi, still helps on the sidelines with the football team as well as providing other services for the community as well.

“Every June, the high school has a day where they have physicals available for the kids,” office manager Carrie Fitzpatrick said. “And basically, I think the high school charges 25 or 30 dollars and Dr. Kopel and Christine, his wife, volunteer their time.”

The money raised from the physicals is all donated to the Hartland Athletic Department which uses those funds to help sponsor scholarships for local athletes in need.

“What happens with that money is, kids have to 'pay-to-play' now,” Fitzpatrick said. “And there’s a lot of families that can’t afford to do that, so the money they collect goes to that.”

More info

Office hours are Mondays and Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursdays and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 810-632-6380. Most insurances are accepted.

“All we do is ask you to call and register to get you in the computer,” Fitzpatrick said. “We don’t ask you to bring your medical records, let Dr. Kopel see you first, and then we’ll go from there. It’s very simple for everybody. All they have to do is make a phone call.”

Fitzpatrick said the practice can perform a variety of services that include physicals, sutures and mole removals.

“Sometimes in the winter, when its flu season, it can get really hectic, but they do a great job of going in and out and seeing everybody as best as they can," she said.