West Michigan Heart to Join Spectrum Health System

The Spectrum Health Board of Directors and West Michigan Heart shareholders have each approved resolutions that would integrate West Michigan Heart into the Spectrum Health system. Based on the resolutions, West Michigan Heart will become a wholly-owned, non-profit subsidiary of Spectrum Health, effective December 31, 2009 pending execution of final legal documents. The agreement states that West Michigan Heart would become part of the Spectrum Health Medical Group in five years.

“Spectrum Health and West Michigan Heart have partnered to serve patients for many years. This agreement formalizes our relationship and creates new opportunities for collaboration,” said Matt Van Vranken, executive vice president, Spectrum Health and president, Spectrum Health Hospital Group. “West Michigan Heart has played a significant role in helping to create an award winning, nationally recognized cardiology program at our Fred & Lena Meijer Heart Center. We look forward to working with West Michigan Heart, along with the other physicians who serve our heart patients, to build on and expand the excellent program that has been developed. Our patients and families will benefit from a heart program that provides the most advanced treatment and care, and sets the stage for more research and medical education.”

As West Michigan Heart becomes part of the Spectrum Health family in 2010, patients will experience the same level of consistent, quality care they have come to appreciate and value from West Michigan Heart. Services will continue at sites throughout the West Michigan region.

“Formalizing the long standing collaborative relationship between West Michigan Heart and Spectrum Health is the next logical step in advancing our services for the patients of West Michigan,” said Suzette Jaskie, chief executive officer, West Michigan Heart. “The integration will allow us to continue our pursuit of specialized and advanced cardiovascular services, access to the most contemporary devices and therapies, as well as the recruitment of talented young cardiologists. We look forward to working with Spectrum Health to build on the exceptional clinical program already established at the Meijer Heart Center and to increase research and medical education opportunities for long term success of the program.”

The integration of West Michigan Heart marks the beginning of a larger effort to expand the Spectrum Health cardiovascular program through more robust research and academic affiliations with the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and Van Andel Institute.

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 and mmpc, multispecialty physician groups with more than 400 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with nearly 500,000 members. Spectrum Health’s 16,000 employees, 1,500 medical staff members and 2,000 volunteers are committed to delivering the highest quality care. 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.

West Michigan Heart, the Leader in Cardiac Care, is the premier source for cardiovascular care in West Michigan. West Michigan Heart provides compassionate and efficient care of the highest quality, promotes professional relationships and leadership in cardiovascular clinical advancement, education and clinical research. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, West Michigan Heart serves 10 regional hospitals, has five primary offices, along with nine cardiovascular satellite locations throughout West Michigan.