LEWISTON -- For Ward Olson staying physically active is a part of his daily lifestyle and with a nickname like "Coach" it only makes sense.
"I ride my bicycle in. I do this seven days a week, six hours a day for about five months," says Olson.
Keep in mind, Olson or "Coach" is 82 years old. After coaching high school sports for more than 30 years he now works at the Garland Lodge and Resort in Montmorency County.
"I'm actually the un-official greeter. I say good morning, good afternoon to everyone," says Olson.
It was while working at the resort one day back in June that Olson started to have severe pain.
"I was riding in on my bicycle. I just didn't feel well that day," says Olson.
That's when Olson decided to go to his regular Munson outpatient clinic in Gaylord, not thinking anything was seriously wrong.
"The doctor set up a stress test and while I was in the doctor's office that pain came back. The doctor said we're going to take you over to Munson," says Olson.
"He grabbed my arm and said the pain was unbearable and I looked at the doctor and said he's having a heart attack right here. They took him to the ER immediately," says Olson's wife Gunhild Olson.
Dr. Tony Ochoa is a Munson cardiologist who works at the Gaylord clinic every week. He was the one who sent ward to Munson's ER in Traverse City.
"When he came up to the front desk for check in we immediately realized ward could be having a heart attack," says Dr. Ochoa.
It was obviously a serious matter that required emergency care out of Munson Medical Center, but Dr. Ochoa says having outpatient clinics like the one in Gaylord can make a world of difference for patients like Olson.
"If they're having problems and they need to be seen, they can been seen here closer to where they live...it offers our patients a lot of convenience and better care," says Dr. Ochoa.
"They took me to Munson when I got there it was the best of care. I decided it was the place to go," says Olson.
For Olson's case, the outpatient clinic provided a close commute that led to immediate medical care.
"Munson is very dedicated to maintain outpatient clinics. They want us to go to smaller communities and see these patients out there," says Dr. Ochoa.
For more information on out patient clinics in your area click here.
