Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Announces Consolidation of Cardiology Services

Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital today announced the consolidation of pediatric cardiology services to improve access and coordination of heart care for the children of Michigan.

Beginning Monday, September 28, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Pediatric Cardiology will bring together physicians and staff from Western Michigan Pediatric Cardiology Associates, PC, and the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Congenital Heart Center.

The expanded program will include six pediatric cardiologists dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of children who are born with heart problems or which are acquired in childhood or adolescence. Services include heart catheterization and interventional cardiology, echocardiography, and transesophageal echocardiography. A special interest in diagnosis of congenital heart defects, and long term treatment of such defects into adulthood is a hallmark of this practice.
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“Children and their families will continue to receive the same compassionate, high quality care they have come to expect from each practice,” said Bob Connors, MD, president,’Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. “We are pleased to provide care as a coordinated team.”

Ronald Grifka, MD, will serve as division chief and Samuel Lacina, MD, will serve as chief, integration and outpatient services. Donald Malcolm, MD, will serve as director, echocardiographic laboratory. Other physicians in the practice include Michael Florentine, MD, Kim Lee, MD and Jeffrey Schneider, MD.

Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, a member of Spectrum Health, is a Grand Rapids-based hospital serving children throughout Michigan. A teaching hospital, it includes more than 150 pediatric specialty physicians with specialized training in providing medical and surgical care to children in more than 40 pediatric specialties. Visit’devoschildrens.org‘to learn more or’devoschildrens.org/2011‘to learn about the new hospital opening in 2011