Spectrum Health Named A Top 100 Integrated Health Care Network

Spectrum Health’s success in integrating its operations has earned the health system a place in the 2009 SDI IHN 100, as one of the nation’s top 100 integrated health care networks. It was ranked 47th.

The announcement was published in the January 26, 2009 issue of Modern Healthcare magazine. The award not only recognizes health care systems that have mastered the fundamentals of integration, but also have shown success in connecting their systems with technology to improve clinical outcomes.

“Rankings such as these are an honor since they reflect how well the entire system is performing,” said Spectrum Health President & CEO Richard C. Breon. “We are being recognized nationally as a health care system for improved outcomes and a systemwide focus on quality improvement. This translates to better care and value for the patients we serve in West Michigan.”

SDI analysts reviewed 570 regional, nonspecialty health care systems. The study measures each system on clinical and financial performance and ability to operate as a unified organization in eight categories: integration, integrated technology, contractual capabilities, outpatient utilization, financial stability, services and access, hospital utilization, and physicians.

The IHN 100 ranking was previously published by Verispan, which merged with SDI in 2008. SDI is one of the nation’s top developers of health care data products and analytic services to the pharmaceutical, biotech, health care, medical device, financial services and consumer packaged goods industries.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan that offers a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, a collection of seven hospitals and more than 140 service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group, a multispecialty team of nearly 100 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with nearly 500,000 members.

Spectrum Health’s 14,000 employees, 1,500 medical staff members and 2,000 volunteers are committed to delivering the highest quality care to those in medical need. The organization provided $111.1 million in community benefit during its 2008 fiscal year. As a system, Spectrum Health has earned more than 100 awards during the past 10 years. More news about Spectrum Health is available at spectrum-health.org/news.