Cardiovascular
Helmsley Charitable Trust Provides $8.8 Million Grant to BHSH Spectrum Health West Michigan to Improve Rural Healthcare through Telerobotics
Project will develop robotic cardiovascular capabilities in rural America and study telerobotic treatment of heart attacks and strokes
October 3, 2022
Grand Rapids, Mich., Oct. 3, 2022 – The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust has awarded an $8.8 million grant to BHSH Spectrum Health West Michigan for a major telerobotics project to improve access to cardiovascular care in rural areas.
The project seeks to build on the expertise and experience of the interventional cardiology team at BHSH Spectrum Health West Michigan to help cardiac catheterization labs in the upper Midwest and Nevada establish robotic-assisted coronary programs. The project will also launch the first education and training center to facilitate adoption and retention of robotic-assisted coronary procedures.
“Bringing robotics into the cath lab can help improve patient outcomes and extend a physician’s ability to practice medicine,” said Walter Panzirer, a Helmsley trustee. “Hospitals serving rural patients should have access to technology that can level the playing field.”
Additionally, the project will develop the first multi-state network among independent health systems to study how remote catheter-based technologies could be used to treat myocardial infarction and stroke.
The project builds on the expertise of Ryan Madder, MD, an interventional cardiologist, and Stacie VanOosterhout, MEd, a research project specialist from BHSH Spectrum Health West Michigan, who have successfully integrated robotic-assisted coronary intervention into their practice and previously demonstrated the technical feasibility of telerobotic, catheter-based treatments over distances exceeding 3,000 miles.
“Barriers to timely access to catheter-based, life-saving treatments for myocardial infarction and stroke still exist for many patients due to geography and a shortage of specialists,” said Dr. Madder. “The consequence of not meeting this need is that myocardial infarction and stroke victims in underserved areas often do not receive timely, state-of-the-art treatment and consequently can suffer higher mortality and worse outcomes.”
In collaboration with Helmsley, five hospitals outside of Michigan will be invited to participate in this project and incorporate robotic percutaneous coronary intervention into their cath labs and serve as the initial sites in the cardiovascular telerobotic network.
About BHSH Spectrum Health West Michigan
People are at the heart of everything we do, and the inspiration for our long and continuing legacy of strong community partnerships, philanthropy and transparency. Our award-winning team improves health, inspires hope and saves lives across 13 counties in West Michigan. We bring together 11 hospitals—including Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, with expert care from 350+ pediatric specialists in 70+ specialties and programs—three rehabilitation and nursing centers, 120 outpatient sites and telehealth services. We are proud to work with 4,000 physicians and advanced practice providers, including Spectrum Health Medical Group, one of the largest and most comprehensive multispecialty physician groups in West Michigan.
About the Helmsley Charitable Trust
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional efforts in the U.S. and around the world in health and select place-based initiatives. Since beginning active grantmaking in 2008, Helmsley has committed more than $3.5 billion for a wide range of charitable purposes. Helmsley’s Rural Healthcare Program funds innovative projects that use information technologies to connect rural patients to emergency medical care, bring the latest medical therapies to patients in remote areas, and provide state-of-the-art training for rural hospitals and EMS personnel. To date, this program has awarded nearly $600 million to organizations and initiatives in the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Minnesota, Iowa, Montana and Nevada. For more information, visit www.helmsleytrust.org.
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