Spectrum Health Medical Group Adds New Surgical Expert

The Spectrum Health Medical Group announced the addition of a new surgical expert who will have the leadership role for the Spectrum Health Level I Trauma Center and largest surgical intensive care program in West Michigan.

Steven A. Blau, MD, will serve as medical director of trauma and surgical intensive care for Spectrum Health Butterworth and Blodgett hospitals.”

“Dr. Blau brings extensive experience as both a traumatologist and surgical critical care physician who has coordinated care for critically ill patients across many specialties,” said James M. Tucci, MD, MMM, president, Spectrum Health Medical Group. “We look forward to Dr. Blau helping us to build on the excellent care we currently offer in our trauma and surgical intensive care programs, and taking that to the next level of excellence and integration as we create one of the highest quality trauma and surgical intensive care programs in the state.”

Dr. Blau will be engaged in the leadership and coordination of both trauma and surgical intensive care services to improve care for critically ill and injured patients.

“In his role, Dr. Blau will ensure every patient suffering significant trauma will have immediate access to the expert services at Blodgett and Butterworth hospitals,” said Matt Van Vranken, executive vice president, Spectrum Health and president, Spectrum Health Hospital Group. “The appointment of a single director for both programs recognizes the national trend to closely integrate the trauma and surgical intensive care programs for better patient care.”

Blau was most recently chief of trauma and critical care at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York, which is part of the Albert Einstein School of Medicine. He earned his medical degree at the University of Chicago Medical School, and served his residency at the University of Arizona Affiliated Hospitals in Tucson, Arizona and Charity Hospital of Tulane University. He served two fellowships: one at the National Cancer Institute, surgery branch in Bethesda, Maryland and one in trauma and burns at the Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana.

While Dr. Blau will work predominantly with private practice surgical specialists at Spectrum Health Hospitals, he will be a member of the Spectrum Health Medical Group Surgical Specialties Department. The Spectrum Health Medical Group employs approximately 80 physicians and mid-level providers, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan that offers a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, a collection of seven hospitals and more than 140 service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group, a multispecialty team of nearly 100 providers; 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.