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Spectrum Health Listed Among Best Hospitals

July 17, 2012

U.S. News & World Report Also Cites Nine Hospital Programs as High-Performing

Spectrum Health has been ranked among the best hospitals in the nation in two medical specialties by U.S. News & World Report in its Best Hospitals 2012-13 rankings. Additionally, Spectrum Health was recognized as high-performing in nine medical specialties.

Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital and Spectrum Health Blodgett Hospital were ranked 21st in gynecology and 22nd in diabetes and endocrinology in the national rankings. The hospitals also were recognized as high-performing in cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, gastroenterology, geriatrics, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology and urology.

The Best Hospitals 2012-13 rankings are the 23rd annual edition, which showcases more than 720 of the nation’s approximately 5,000 hospitals. Fewer than 150 hospitals are nationally ranked in at least one of 16 medical specialties.

“We are honored to be ranked among the best hospitals in the country and have so many specialties considered high-performing,” said Matt Van Vranken, executive vice president, Spectrum Health Delivery System. “It is a tremendous reflection on our physicians and employees and underscores our commitment to providing value and quality to the people of West Michigan.”

The hospital rankings, said U.S. News Health Rankings Editor Avery Comarow, are like a GPS-type aid to help steer patients to hospitals with strong skills in the procedures and medical conditions that present the biggest challenges. “All of these hospitals are the kinds of medical centers that should be on your list when you need the best care,” said Comarow. “They are where other hospitals send the toughest cases.”

The rankings were published by U.S. News in collaboration with RTI International, a research organization based in Research Triangle Park, N.C. The complete rankings and methodology are available at http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan offering a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, which is comprised of nine hospitals including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, a state of the art children’s hospital that opened in January 2011, and 190 service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group and West Michigan Heart, physician groups totaling more than 600 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with 625,000 members. Spectrum Health is West Michigan’s largest employer with more than 18,000 employees. The organization provided $176.5 million in community benefit during its 2011 fiscal year.