Gerber Memorial Hospital

Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial Introduces Patient Family Advisory Council

While striving to offer excellence in health care at Spectrum Health, leadership, physicians and staff realized that one pair of very important eyes was missing for a clear view of what that should be – the eyes of the patient. Patients and their families provide a unique perspective on how they want care provided to them.

Guided by these ideas, Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial developed a Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) with members of the Newaygo County community who have either been patients or are family members of patients.  The hospital looks to this group to provide valuable insights into the delivery of patient care and provide input on how to make that experience better.

PFAC members are consultants, advisors and champions for the patient perspective, providing feedback and input into Gerber Memorial’s decision making processes. The Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial PFAC has been meeting for the past two years.  The newest member to join the team is Juan Herrera, a business owner in Fremont.  Juan is a resident of Newaygo and attends church in Bailey. His family and friends have experienced several services offered by Gerber Memorial.

He looks forward to providing another perspective on how the hospital may better deliver its medical care. Other members of the council include Todd Blake (Fremont), Barb Geno (White Cloud), Holly Harmon (Fremont), Linda Jones (Hesperia), Don Potter (Fremont), Jen Roesly (White Cloud), Jon Schneider (Newaygo), and Laurie Supinski (Newaygo).

This council is charged with speaking up about what matters to a patient and their family, and what adds to comfort and healing.  The council is an avenue for the hospital to hear from the community with respect to ideas that will complement the medical expertise of staff in providing patients and families with an exceptional medical experience.

 

From left to right: Juan Herrera (kneeling), Don Potter, Barb Geno, Holly Harmon, Laurie Supinski, Jon Schneider and Todd Blake. (Linda Jones and Jen Roesly not pictured)

Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial is a 49-bed acute care hospital that serves all of Newaygo County with a wide range of medical, surgical and specialty care. The hospital has a cancer care center, intensive care unit, birthing center and a women’s health center that provides digital mammography, bone scans and ultrasounds. Its emergency department operates 24 hours a day and specialist clinics provide diagnosis and treatment in cancer and hematology, cardiology, ear/nose/throat, neurology, nephrology, ophthalmology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, podiatry, pulmonary, sleep disorders, urology and vascular diseases. Gerber Memorial offers diagnostic imaging, including CT and MRI scans; home health services called Gerber Home Care and a physician-led medical weight loss program. The hospital’s medical wellness center, Tamarac, houses a rehabilitation group, fitness center and medical day spa.  Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial is located in Fremont, Michigan, 45 miles NW of Grand Rapids.

Visit spectrumhealth.org/gerber and tamaracwellness.org for more information.