Spectrum Health and Gerber Memorial Health Services Vote to Move Forward with Integration Process

The Spectrum Health Board of Directors and Gerber Memorial Health Services (GMHS) members have each approved resolutions that would integrate GMHS into Spectrum Health. Based on the resolutions, GMHS will become a Spectrum Health hospital, effective May 1, 2010 pending execution of final legal documents.

“Spectrum Health has had an affiliate relationship with Gerber Memorial Health Services since 1987,” said Matt VanVranken, executive vice president of Spectrum Health and president of Spectrum Health Hospital Group. “This agreement takes that relationship to a new level by integrating Gerber into Spectrum Health and will enable us to provide a broader, more coordinated array of services to the region.”

Patients of Gerber Memorial Health Services will experience the same level of consistent, quality care they have come to appreciate and value. There will be no interruption in patient care. Gerber Memorial Health Services is a 61-bed, not-for-profit community hospital located in Fremont.

“Gerber Memorial Health Services has served the Newaygo County area with compassionate and quality health care for decades,” said Randall J. Stasik, GMHS president and CEO. “The integration with Spectrum Health provides us the means to serve our mission, improve quality and meet the needs of our community now and far into the future.”

Gerber Memorial Health Services has been a member of the Spectrum Health Regional Hospital Network and the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Partners in Children’s Health.

Specific terms of the agreement are confidential.

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 eight hospitals and more than 140 service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group, mmpc® and West Michigan Heart-physician groups totaling more than 400 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with nearly 580,000 members. Spectrum Health’s 16,000 employees, 1,500 medical staff members and 2,000 volunteers are committed to delivering the highest quality care. The organization provided $79.4 million in community benefit during its 2009 fiscal year. As a system, Spectrum Health has earned more than 100 awards since it was formed in 1997.

GMHS, the only hospital in Newaygo County, received the 2007 Governor’s Award for Excellence in improving the quality of care and patient safety in the hospital setting. Services include a 24-hour Emergency Department, Women’s Health Center, Physician Offices, Cancer Treatment Center, modern Surgical Suites and accompanying ICU Unit, Birth Center, Tamarac – The Center for Health and Well-Being, and Continu-Care Home Health Services.