Cardiovascular

April 26, 2022
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 […]

August 19, 2021
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 […]

May 27, 2021
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 […]

February 24, 2021
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 […]

October 30, 2020
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 […]

April 14, 2020
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 […]

February 5, 2020
Spectrum Health Celebrates Heart Month
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Feb. 5, 2020 – February is Heart Month and Spectrum Health – the leading provider of cardiac care in West Michigan – is taking this opportunity to both educate the public and celebrate its successes. “We are very proud of the level of cardiovascular care we provide throughout West Michigan. Our experienced […]

August 27, 2019
Spectrum Health Seeks to Be Among First to Offer Recently FDA-Approved Heart Attack Alert System
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Aug. 27, 2019 – An implantable monitoring device may benefit those suffering from high-risk cardiac disease and Spectrum Health hopes to be among the first in the nation to offer the treatment to its patients. An acute coronary syndrome (ACS) event occurs when one or more of the coronary arteries supplying the […]

October 25, 2018
Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Earns Accreditation from the Adult Congenital Heart Association
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Oct. 25, 2018 – In recognition of its expertise in serving adults with congenital heart disease (CHD), Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital has received accreditation from the Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA). The ACHA is a nationwide organization focused on connecting patients, family members and health care providers to form a community of […]

September 17, 2018
Should seniors be taking low-dose aspirin for primary prevention of heart attacks?
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Sept. 17, 2018 – A new research study questions the effectiveness of daily low-dose aspirin for the primary prevention of heart attacks and strokes and has patients reaching out to cardiologists for direction. The joint Australian-U.S. study of greater than 19,000 healthy older patients was recently published online by the New England […]

February 13, 2018
Spectrum Health Offers Heart Disease “True/False” Test
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Feb. 13, 2018 – During February –Heart Month– there are messages everywhere about the importance of maintaining optimal heart health. Since heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women, heart disease should be taken seriously by everyone. An expert from Spectrum Health says that, even with efforts […]

January 8, 2018
Spectrum Health Completes 100th Lung and 100th Heart Transplants During Four-Day Span in Late December
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Jan. 8, 2018 – Spectrum Health’s Richard DeVos Heart & Lung Transplant Program reached significant milestones in late December, with transplant teams completing the program’s 100th heart and 100th lung transplants within days of one another. Ascenda Denton, 42, of Stevensville, Michigan, the lung recipient, and Elaine Slikkers, 62, of Holland, Michigan, the […]

May 1, 2017
Spectrum Health Announces New Leader for Heart and Lung Transplant Program
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., May 1, 2017 – Spectrum Health today announced the retirement of one key physician leader and the promotion of another. Asghar Khaghani, MD, FRCS, will retire as Richard DeVos Endowed Director for heart and lung transplant surgery and mechanical circulatory support with the Spectrum Health Richard DeVos Heart and Lung Transplant Program. […]

March 28, 2017
Spectrum Health Cardiomyopathy Program Named National Center of Excellence
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., March 28– The Spectrum Health Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Program has been designated a national Center of Excellence by the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association (HCMA). Spectrum Health joins 25 other centers nationwide with this recognition, and becomes the second center in the state of Michigan. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common genetic cardiovascular disorder, […]
December 9, 2015