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Spectrum Health and Mecosta County Medical Center Announce Affiliation Agreement

New CEO for Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital

Spectrum Health and Mecosta County Medical Center (MCMC) have been in discussions regarding ways to work more closely together over the past several months. Both parties are continuously seeking ways to better meet the health care needs of the residents of the communities they serve by increasing access, improving quality and reducing the cost of health care services.

As a step toward greater integration, MCMC and Spectrum Health have agreed to an affiliation agreement that will involve Spectrum Health providing certain administrative support to MCMC. As part of the agreement, Mecosta County Medical Center’s CEO, Sam Daugherty, will be employed by Spectrum Health and will remain accountable to the MCMC governing board.

In addition, Daugherty will serve as president of Spectrum Health’s Reed City Hospital, a role that has been filled on an interim basis by Paul Bonis, president of Spectrum Health United and Kelsey hospitals.

The affiliation agreement includes the provision for full integration of MCMC into the Spectrum Health system in 24 months pending due diligence and other details.

Because of geographic proximity, there may be opportunities for Reed City Hospital and MCMC to work more closely in providing services to patients. Coordination of clinical services between the two organizations will be evaluated in the coming months, keeping in mind the strengths of both organizations. Daugherty’s leadership of both organizations is expected to encourage collaboration in sharing best practices and in helping to improve access to care for the region.

“We believe there will be opportunities for growth and enhancement of both organizations as we coordinate services for the benefit of patients in the region,” said Matt Van Vranken, executive vice president, Spectrum Health and president, Spectrum Health Hospital Group. “We look forward to building our relationship with MCMC and identifying areas of collaboration. At the same time, we are extending the reach of our well-established Reed City Hospital, which is an award-winning health care organization with acute care, long-term care and cancer treatment expertise.”

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan that offers a full continuum of care through its seven hospitals, more than 140 service sites 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.