Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital launches new CarePartners Program to help patients seeing multiple specialists

Major funding made possible by Peter and Joan Secchia

Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital is pleased to announce the creation of the Peter and Joan Secchia CarePartners Program, a program designed to help patients and their families better navigate multiple appointments with more than one specialist. Launched in spring of 2015, the new program is made possible by the generosity of Peter and Joan Secchia.

“This level of care coordination is something we have wanted to offer at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital for quite some time,” said Bob Connors, MD, president, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. “Peter and Joan have made this dream a reality, and their vision and generosity will make a difference for so many patients and families for years to come.”

The Peter and Joan Secchia CarePartners program aims to improve the health and alleviate suffering of medically complex children and their families by transforming the care model to provide a time compressed, coordinated plan of care across multiple specialties and providers. When referred, the CarePartners program coordinator will screen a child’s needs and coordinate the appointments for the family. The appointments will be scheduled in a compressed time frame so families can see several specialists in an efficient manner, reducing travel time and missed days at school or work. The program coordinator or medical director will also explain medical jargon, diagnostic information and help patients and families throughout the course of treatment.

“Because of a similar situation with our granddaughter, we realize how difficult it can be for families to face a complex health situation with a young child and then have to manage multiple appointments,” said Peter Secchia. “We had to line up several appointments within a day or two for our daughter and granddaughter. Joan and I understand the need for a program like this, and wanted to make sure all families coming to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital have this support while going through such a difficult time.”

Joan Secchia echoes his support of the program and is excited to see it launched at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.

“We wanted to ensure the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital experience would provide special care to other families during stressful times,” she said.

Peter and Sara Brodhead, one of the first families involved in CarePartners, live abroad in Korea. Several months ago the family learned their now 9 month old son Otto would need evaluation and treatment by several pediatric specialty doctors over the next few years. The Brodheads wanted to obtain this care in the U.S. and were faced with the challenge of arranging appointments and procedures from half a world away. When they learned about the new CarePartners Program at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, the Brodheads were excited to participate. They recognized the expert coordination of CarePartners as a major benefit when arranging appointments with different specialists and have the following to say about the program.

“We have several different doctors we are working with, but now only need to communicate with the CarePartners coordinator who acts as our advocate and liaison at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital,” said Peter Brodhead. “Having one main point of contact has made our experience much more personal and has really been a game changer. My family is extremely grateful to have the opportunity to be involved in this wonderful new program.”

Bill Bush, MD, medical director of the program, recently hired Michelle Lancaster, RN as its first coordinator. The Peter and Joan Secchia CarePartners Program will soon be located in the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Outpatient facility, across the street from the hospital, at 35 Michigan Street.