Children's Health

War Memorial Hospital Partners with Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital

Network Includes 28 Hospitals Working Together for Pediatric Health Care

War Memorial Hospital has joined Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital’s Partners in Children’s Health, becoming one of 28 hospitals to affiliate with the children’s hospital in an effort to enhance the care of children and families throughout the state. The Partners in Children’s Health Network brings hospitals together to improve access to pediatric specialty services and continuing professional education.

“We are very excited to be affiliated with Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital,” said Jane McLeod, vice president, nursing, War Memorial Hospital. “This agreement provides an opportunity for partnering with a population-specific medical center and ability to utilize resources for our nurses, physicians, and ultimately our pediatric patients and their families. We have had a transferring relationship with Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital for many years, and this solidifies the faith our physicians place in them.”
 
As part of the affiliation agreement, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital offers assistance with quality initiatives, clinical outreach and pediatric-specific continuing medical education programming for the hospitals’ pediatricians and other clinical staff members. The affiliation also provides an opportunity for periodic community education programs and advocacy for children’s health and safety in Sault Ste. Marie.

“The agreement provides a framework for our hospitals to work together to strengthen pediatric care in Sault Ste. Marie and the surrounding community,” said Bob Connors, MD, president, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. “It connects War Memorial Hospital to a regional system of care for children, dedicated to providing care close to home and links the hospital to a comprehensive children’s hospital.”

War Memorial Hospital is an 82-bed full-service health care facility located in Michigan’s upper peninsula. A medical staff of 47 provides general and specialty medical services to a population of approximately 40,000 individuals.

Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital is a Grand Rapids-based hospital serving children throughout Michigan. A teaching hospital, it includes more than 150 pediatric specialty physicians with specialized training in providing medical and surgical care to children in more than 40 pediatric specialties. We care for 7,600 children on an inpatient basis and 190,000 children at outpatient sites annually. The staff is committed to caring for children and families with compassion, excellence and innovation. The children’s hospital is one of seven hospitals in the Spectrum Health system. Visit devoschildrens.org to learn more or devoschildrens.org/2011 to learn about the new hospital opening in 2011.