Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services to Partner with Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital

Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services has joined Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital’s Partners in Children’s Health, becoming one of 31 hospitals to affiliate with the children’s hospital in an effort to enhance the care of infants, children and adolescents throughout Michigan. Partners in Children’s Health brings hospitals together to improve access to pediatric specialty services and continuing professional education.

“Pine Rest has a long and successful history of providing care and treatment to children and adolescents from across the state,” said Mark Eastburg, PhD, president and CEO of Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services. “As a community-based regional provider of mental health services, we’re pleased to join this voluntary network of organizations and providers dedicated to improving the health and well-being of our children. Working together as partners, we can continue to ensure that critically needed services and compassionate care are always available to children in need, and their families.”

As part of the affiliation agreement, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital offers assistance with quality initiatives, clinical outreach and pediatric-specific continuing medical education programming for the hospitals’ physicians and other clinical staff members. The affiliation also provides an opportunity for periodic community education programs and advocacy for children’s health and safety.

“We are excited to welcome Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services to Partners in Children’s Health,” said Bob Connors, MD, president, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. “We have a longstanding relationship so this is a natural partnership. The agreement provides a formal framework to strengthen pediatric health care for our patients.”

Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services is West Michigan’s premier provider of behavioral health services, providing a broad continuum of care for individuals, couples, and families. This includes acute inpatient care for children, adolescents, adults, and older adults, partial hospitalization, and outpatient therapy at over 20 locations in Michigan and Iowa. Pine Rest also offers residential services for adolescents, adults, older adults, and persons with developmental disabilities or substance use disorders. Visit http://www.pinerest.org/.

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 nearly 200 pediatric physicians with training in providing medical and surgical care to children in more than 50 pediatric programs and specialties. A new 440,000 square foot hospital opened in January 2011 designed specifically with children and families in mind. Visit helendevoschildrens.org to learn more.