Northern Michigan Regional Health System and Spectrum Health Explore Closer Relationship

Northern Michigan Regional Health System (NMRHS) and Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids have agreed to explore a potential affiliation. The process to evaluate a relationship will begin this month and continue through 2009.’

“This initiative is consistent with Northern Michigan Regional Health System’s patient centered strategic plan to develop integrated partnerships for resource sharing, increased local and regional access to high quality specialty care and ensuring the viability of our organization into the future,” said Tom Mroczkowski, president and CEO of Northern Michigan Regional Health System.

The NMRHS Board of Trustees has reviewed and discussed partners for several years. Spectrum Health was identified by the board as a possible strategic partner based on similar culture, values, size and scope of the organization, along with the potential for growth as part of a larger regional system.
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“In today’s challenging health care environment, collaborative relationships are becoming increasingly important to ensure high quality patient care and financial stability for health care systems,” said Richard C. Breon, Spectrum Health president & CEO. “Regional partnerships can benefit patients by offering a broader range of services, create more opportunities for medical education and physician training, and create efficiencies in care delivery.”

NMRHS currently has an agreement with Spectrum Health for the provision of specialty pediatric care through the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Partners in Children’s Health. In addition, in 2007 NMRHS participated in creating Value Health Partners, an eight-member health system collaborative developed for the purpose of addressing community health needs, health care quality initiatives and advocacy issues. Spectrum Health is also a member of Value Health Partners.

Northern Michigan Regional Health System is a non-profit organization that is committed to providing patient centered specialized care to residents in 22 counties throughout northern Michigan and the eastern part of the Upper Peninsula. The flagship of Northern Michigan Regional Health System is Northern Michigan Regional Hospital, a 243-bed, regional referral center located in Petoskey. With a medical staff of nearly 200 physicians representing nearly all medical and surgical specialties, the Hospital provides full-service care with an emphasis on advanced heart, cancer, orthopedics and neuroscience services, and remains at the forefront of medical advances through participation in clinical research. Other Health System affiliates include Northern Michigan Regional Hospital Foundation, Hospice of Little Traverse Bay, Boulder Park Terrace, VitalCare, Michigan Heart & Vascular Specialists and the Community Free Clinic. Regional partners include Mackinac Straits Hospital, Mackinac Island Health Center and Beaver Island Health Center.

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.