Blodgett Hospital Sponsors EGR July 4th Celebration

Spectrum Health Blodgett Hospital is partnering with the City of East Grand Rapids (EGR) to sponsor the community’s 2009 July 4th Celebration.

“Blodgett Hospital has a long tradition as a member of the community of East Grand Rapids. We want to strengthen this important relationship by sponsoring this annual celebration,” said James Wilson, president, Blodgett Hospital.

The EGR July 4th Celebration is an all day event that begins with a community parade. Immediately following the parade, concessions and multiple family-oriented attractions will be in place at John Collins Park on Reeds Lake.’ The afternoon in the park is highlighted by a water ski show on Reeds Lake, a musical performance by the American Federation Band and a fireworks display over the water at dusk.

Blodgett Hospital was established in East Grand Rapids in 1916 and became a part of Spectrum Health in 1997. In August 2008, Spectrum Health broke ground on a new $98 million patient care facility at Blodgett Hospital. The 162,000-square-foot, five story addition is adjacent to the building facing Wealthy Street and will include four patient care floors and one floor dedicated to mechanical equipment. When renovations are completed in 2010, Blodgett Hospital will house 284 private rooms along with many other improvements.

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.