Cardiovascular, Children's Health

Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Earns Accreditation from the Adult Congenital Heart Association

One of the First Hospitals in the U.S. to Earn ACHA Adult Congenital Heart Disease Accreditation from the Adult Congenital Heart Association

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Oct. 25, 2018 – In recognition of its expertise in serving adults with congenital heart disease (CHD), Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital has received accreditation from the Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA). The ACHA is a nationwide organization focused on connecting patients, family members and health care providers to form a community of support and network of experts with knowledge of congenital heart disease CHD. This new accreditation is the accomplishment of Stephen Cook, MD, director of the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, in collaboration with the ACHD team and Congenital Heart Center.

Individuals with CHD, the most common birth defect diagnosed in one in 100 births, are living longer. There are now 1.4 million adults in the U.S. living with one of the many different types of congenital heart defects that can be simple, moderate or complex.

“It is rewarding to be able to care for adolescents and adult congenital patients from across the state of Michigan,” said Stephen Cook, MD. “As a result of medical and surgical advances over the last several decades, these patients continue to live long and fulfilling lives. The Adult Congenital team at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital is proud to participate in their cardiovascular care and honored to partake in their journey throughout their lifetime.”

Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital received accreditation by meeting ACHA’s criteria, which includes medical services, personnel requirements, and going through a rigorous accreditation process, both of which were developed over a number of years through a collaboration with doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses and ACHD patients.

“There are now more adults than children in the U.S. with CHD,” said Mark Roeder, President and CEO of ACHA.  “Accreditation will elevate the standard of care and have a positive impact on the futures of those living with this disease. Coordination of care is key and this accreditation program will make care more streamlined for ACHD patients, improving their quality of life.”

The following centers have earned the ACHD Accredited Comprehensive Care Center designation:

  • Ahmanson/UCLA Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center (Los Angeles, CA)
  • Adult Congenital Heart Program, Stanford University (Palo Alto, CA)
  • Colorado Adult and Teen Congenital Heart (CATCH) Program at Children’s Hospital Colorado and University of Colorado Hospital (Aurora, CO)
  • The Washington Adult Congenital Heart (WACH) Program at the Children’s National Heart Institute, Children’s National Health System(Washington, D.C.)
  • Memorial Regional Hospital/Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital ACHD Center (Hollywood, FL)
  • Emory Adult Congenital Heart Center (Atlanta, GA)
  • Boston Adult Congenital Heart (BACH) and Pulmonary Hypertension Program (Boston, MA)
  • University of Michigan Adult Congenital Heart Program (Ann Arbor, MI)
  • Washington University Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program (St. Louis, MO)
  • Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine (Omaha, NE)
  • NYU Langone Health Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program (New York, NY)
  • Cincinnati Children’s Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program (CCHMC) (Cincinnati, OH)
  • COACH: Columbus Ohio Adult Congenital Heart Disease & Pulmonary Hypertension Program (Columbus, OH)
  • Medical University of South Carolina Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program (Charleston, SC)
  • UT Southwestern and Children’s Health Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program (Dallas, TX)
  • Texas Children’s Hospital Adult Congenital Heart Program (Houston, TX)
  • Utah Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program (Salt Lake City, UT)
  • Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program at University of Washington & Seattle Children’s Hospital (Seattle, WA)
  • Providence Adult and Teen Congenital Heart Program (PATCH) (Spokane, WA)
  • Wisconsin Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program (WAtCH) at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin (Milwaukee, WI)

About the Adult Congenital Heart Association 

The Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA) is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life and extending the lives of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). ACHA serves and supports the more than one million adults with CHD, their families and the medical community—working with them to address the unmet needs of the long-term survivors of congenital heart defects through education, outreach, advocacy, and promotion of ACHD research. For more information about ACHA, contact (888) 921-ACHA or visit www.achaheart.org.

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.

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