Cardiovascular


Corewell Health Among First in Nation to Use Novel Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation

Grand Rapids and Royal Oak, Mich., Feb. 21, 2024 – Corewell Health™ is the first health system in the Midwest to successfully treat patients with an innovative technology that uses pulsed electric fields to address atrial fibrillation. The procedures took place on Thursday, Feb.15, at Corewell Health Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center in Grand […]



Corewell Health Research Team Receives $400,000 American Heart Association Grant

Grand Rapids, Mich., August 17, 2023 – A Corewell HealthTM research team has been awarded a $400,000 grant by the American Heart Association for its study to better understand how differences in people’s cells impact illness and recovery from a number of cardiovascular diseases. The project is led by primary investigator Jeremy Prokop, Ph.D., Corewell […]



Corewell Health TAVR Program Recognized by American College of Cardiology

Grand Rapids, Mich., June 29, 2023 – Corewell Health’s Structural Heart and Valve Center at  Butterworth Hospital has received national reaccreditation from the American College of Cardiology (ACC) for its TAVR program. Corewell Health is the only healthcare system in the state to achieve three ACC accreditations. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a procedure […]



New Corewell Health Medical Intensive Care Unit to Open

Grand Rapids, Mich., March 7, 2023 – After 15 months of work, the transformation of the eighth floor of the Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center is complete. The new Intensive Care Unit at Corewell Health features 24 single-occupancy rooms, expanding access to high-acuity care. The new unit will begin admitting patients on March 15 […]



Corewell Health West Conducts 300th Lung Transplant

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Dec 15, 2022 – Corewell Health’s Richard DeVos Heart and Lung Transplant Program reached a significant milestone on December 5, with transplant teams completing the program’s 300th lung transplant. The Corewell HealthTM, formerly Spectrum Health, Richard DeVos Heart and Lung Transplant Program, founded in 2010, completed its first heart transplant in November, […]



Corewell Health™ Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Pediatric Heart Transplant Program Considered Active by UNOS

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Dec. 8, 2022 – Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital (HDVCH) pediatric heart transplant program is now considered active by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). HDVCH is now one of three pediatric hospitals in Michigan connected to the national transplant list and database across the United States through UNOS. Physicians […]



Corewell Health West Offers Pritikin Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Nov 3, 2022 – Corewell Health WestTM, formerly Spectrum Health, is now offering Pritikin Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation, a clinically proven program that provides comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation care for patients who have undergone a cardiac procedure and those who have had a cardiovascular event. Pritikin Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation (ICR) is based on the […]



Helmsley Charitable Trust Provides $8.8 Million Grant to BHSH Spectrum Health West Michigan to Improve Rural Healthcare through Telerobotics

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 […]



Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital Recognized by American College of Cardiology

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 26, 2022 – Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital has received national accreditation from the American College of Cardiology (ACC) in three areas. These include accreditation for its Electrophysiology Lab, Cardiac Catheterization Lab, and as a HeartCARE Center. Spectrum Health is one of three health organizations in Michigan to achieve recognition for cardiac […]



Spectrum Health Strengthens Cardiac Imaging Program

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., August 19, 2021 – The Spectrum Health Fred and Lena Meijer Heart and Vascular Institute took delivery of a Siemens 1.5 Tesla Sola magnet this week, which strengthens its commitment to providing state-of-the-art cardiac imaging to patients in West Michigan. The new magnet, which will be located in the new Cardiac MRI […]



Spectrum Health Cardiologists Perform 600th WATCHMAN Implant

Grand Rapids, Mich., May 27, 2021 – Spectrum Health physicians recently implanted the organization’s 600th WATCHMAN device. The device seals the left atrial appendage of the heart, preventing blood clots caused by atrial fibrillation from traveling to the brain where they can cause stroke. The WATCHMAN (produced by Boston Scientific) is a catheter-delivered, parachute-shaped implant […]



Spectrum Health Expanding Cardiovascular Care to South Haven

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Feb. 24, 2021 – Spectrum Health is pleased to announce new Cardiovascular Services in South Haven. Spectrum Health cardiologist Michael Dickinson, MD, will provide specialized cardiac care and treatment for advanced heart failure patients each Thursday starting in mid-February. Dr. Dickinson is an advanced heart failure cardiologist with specialization in mechanical circulatory […]



Spectrum Health Announces New Surgical Director for Heart Transplant and VAD Programs

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., October 30, 2020 – Spectrum Health has selected Marzia Leacche, MD, as the Richard DeVos Endowed Heart Transplant and Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Surgical Director for its Richard DeVos Heart & Lung Transplant Program effective Jan. 1, 2021. Dr. Leacche has been a member of the transplant team since 2016.   “A comprehensive search process was conducted by a multidisciplinary committee, which evaluated both internal […]



Spectrum Health Answers Questions about COVID-19 and the Heart

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 14, 2020 – New research has determined that the novel coronavirus COVID-19 can do alarming damage to the heart. In fact, one out of five patients with COVID-19 experience heart damage, according to a study published in March in JAMA Cardiology. People already diagnosed and suffering from heart disease have increased […]