Spectrum Health Designated Pulmonary Fibrosis Care Center

Offers Increased Access to Treatment and Service

Doctor examining chest x-ray film of patient at hospital.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., May 18, 2018 – The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) announced this week that Spectrum Health is now a part of its nationwide Care Center Network.

More than 200,000 Americans are living with pulmonary fibrosis, a deadly and complex disease which causes progressive scarring in the lungs. Pulmonary fibrosis causes more than 40,000 deaths annually. Fifty-thousand new cases are diagnosed each year. There is no known cure.

The PFF’s Care Center Network, a collection of medical centers with expertise in accurately diagnosing and treating individuals with pulmonary fibrosis (PF), now has 60 sites in 30 states. Fifteen new sites, including Spectrum Health, will help fill a treatment gap, increasing access to quality care and services that are critical to the local PF community.

Spectrum Health is the only member of the Care Center Network in West Michigan and is one of only three hospital members in Michigan.

“Our partnership with the PFF reflects our commitment to integrating world class care and cutting edge research into the overall disease management for patients, caregivers and loved ones,” said Michael Harrison, MD, FCCP, vice president, department chief Digestive and Specialty Health, Spectrum Health Medical Group. “At Spectrum Health, our team of experts in pulmonary medicine, rheumatology, radiology and pathology provide life enhancing treatments to people living with PF while researching the cause and cure for the disease.”

“As the leading resource for the pulmonary fibrosis community, the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation is dedicated to developing new tools and support to help ensure patients receive a swift and accurate diagnosis along with the highest quality of care,” said Dr. Gregory P. Cosgrove, Chief Medical Officer for the PFF. “The launch of our 15 new Care Center Network sites provides crucial resources for care along with an infrastructure that facilitates research toward a cure.”

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About the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation
The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation mobilizes people and resources to provide access to high quality care and leads research for a cure so people with pulmonary fibrosis will live longer, healthier lives. The PFF collaborates with physicians, organizations, patients, and caregivers worldwide. The PFF has a three-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Better Business Bureau accredited charity. For more information, visit pulmonaryfibrosis.org or call 844.TalkPFF (844.825.5733) or 312.587.9272 from outside the U.S.

People are at the heart of everything we do, and the inspiration for our legacy of outstanding outcomes, innovation, strong community partnerships, philanthropy and transparency. Corewell Health is a not-for-profit health system that provides health care and coverage with an exceptional team of 60,000+ dedicated people—including more than 11,500 physicians and advanced practice providers and more than 15,000 nurses providing care and services in 21 hospitals, 300+ outpatient locations and several post-acute facilities—and Priority Health, a provider-sponsored health plan serving more than 1.3 million members. Through experience and collaboration, we are reimagining a better, more equitable model of health and wellness. For more information, visit corewellhealth.org.

Contact:
Sarina Gleason
Media Relations
Phone: 517.256.5618
Email: sarina.gleason@corewellhealth.org