Public Sneak Peek Scheduled for Saturday, June 2

On Tuesday, May 8, the Spectrum Health United Hospital Heart & Vascular Center officially opened its doors to existing and new patients.

In this completely renovated facility, nationally recognized specialists from West Michigan Heart and the Spectrum Health Medical Group will provide comprehensive heart & vascular services from prevention and diagnosis to treatment.

The United Hospital Heart & Vascular Center is directly connected to the Fred & Lena Meijer Heart Center in Grand Rapids. Patients have the convenience of seeing many of the specialists from the Meijer Heart Center, close to home.

“The opening of the Spectrum Health United Hospital Heart & Vascular Center is extremely exciting,” said Percy Mahar, Chief Clinical Officer for Spectrum Health United Hospital. “Not only does it expand upon current medical services we can provide our patients on site, it is also the first project to be completed as part of the entire United For Health expansion and renovation project.

“This opening is an opportunity to see first-hand how United For Health will allow patients the ability to receive a higher level of coordinated care, here at United Hospital.”

A community sneak peek will be held on Saturday, June 2, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. In addition to the United Hospital Heart & Vascular Center, attendees will also have the opportunity to view Phase 1 of the new Stanley and Blanche Ash Emergency Department. For additional information on the sneak peek, contact 616.225.6421.

An annual study released this week by Thomson Reuters recognized Spectrum Health United Hospital in Greenville as being among the 100 best hospitals in the country. The designation was based on measures of overall organization performance, including patient care, operational efficiency, and financial stability.

Spectrum Health United Hospital in Greenville was named one of Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals®.

United Hospital is the only small community hospital (under 100 beds) to receive this elite honor and recognition within the region. In total, 918 small community hospitals were included with the nationwide survey. Of those surveyed, only 20 were selected as award recipients in this category, of which one is Spectrum Health United Hospital. Additionally, this award places United Hospital in the top 2 percent of approximately 5,500 hospitals in the nation.

This distinction is awarded because of the Thomson Reuters’ annual study that examines changing performance levels in U.S. hospitals and objectively identifies hospitals based on their overall performance.

“It is extremely gratifying to be recognized for our ongoing commitment to excellent quality, safety and patient satisfaction. To be named one of the top 100 hospitals in the nation reaffirms our mission and vision to improve the health of the community and be a leader for health,” said Tina Freese-Decker, President, Spectrum Health United Hospital.

“This award is the result of the dedication and teamwork of our medical staff and employees. Their commitment to excellence and compassion shines for every patient, every day.”

The Thomson Reuters study evaluates performance in 10 areas: mortality, medical complications, patient safety, average length of stay, expenses, profitability, patient satisfaction, adherence to clinical standards of care, and post-discharge mortality and readmission rates for acute myocardial infarction, heart failure and pneumonia. The study has been conducted annually since 1993.

To conduct the 100 Top Hospitals study, Thomson Reuters researchers evaluated 2,914 short-term, acute care, non-federal hospitals. They used public information – Medicare cost reports, Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPAR) data, and core measures and patient satisfaction data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Compare website. Hospitals do not apply, and winners do not pay to market this honor.

If all Medicare inpatients received the same level of care as those treated in the award-winning facilities:

• More than 186,000 additional lives could be saved.

• Approximately 56,000 additional patients could be complication free.

• More than $4.3 billion could be saved.

• The average patient stay would decrease by nearly half a day.

For more information, visit www.100tophospitals.com.

First session March 22

Be an engaged health care consumer! By taking an active role with the health care team, patients and families can impact the quality of health care experiences, their health status and overall life.

Leading the national trend of engaging patients and families by putting them at the center of care, Spectrum Health announces a new health care education series led by its Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFAC). The Perspectives Series offers participants an opportunity to gain insight into health care from the perspective of current and former patients and families.

The first Perspectives Series session will occur live at the Prince Conference Center at Calvin College on March 22, 2012 at 7 p.m.

The event will be broadcast to several locations throughout the region including Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial, Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital, Spectrum Health United Hospital, Spectrum Health Zeeland Community Hospital and the Widdicomb Building. Preregistration is required. Please call 616.776.9626 or visit http://perspectiveseries.eventbrite.com to register.

An annual study released last month by Thomas Reuters recognized Spectrum Health Grand Rapids and Spectrum Health United Hospital as being among the 100 best hospitals in the country based on measures of overall organization performance, including patient care, operational efficiency, and financial stability.
Spectrum Health United Hospital in Greenville was named one of Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals®.
United Hospital is the only small community hospital (under 100 beds) to receive this elite honor and recognition within the region.  In total, 924 small community hospitals were included with the nationwide survey. Of those surveyed, only 20 were selected as award recipients in this category, of which one is Spectrum Health United Hospital.
This distinction is awarded because of the Thomson Reuters’ annual study that examines changing performance levels in U.S. hospitals and objectively identifies hospitals based on their overall performance. The winners were announced in the March 28 issue of Modern Healthcare magazine.
“It is extremely gratifying to be recognized for our ongoing commitment to superior quality and patient satisfaction at lower costs as compared to the majority of other hospitals in the nation. To be named one of the top 100 hospitals in the nation reaffirms our mission to bring the absolute best medical care possible to the communities we serve,” said Paul Bonis, President, Spectrum Health United Hospital. “This award belongs to our physicians and staff as a result of their dedication and commitment to excellence and compassion for every patient, every day.  I would also like to thank Spectrum Health and our community for their outstanding allegiance and support, without which awards like this would not be possible.”
The Thomson Reuters study evaluates performance in 10 areas: mortality, medical complications, patient safety, average length of stay, expenses, profitability, patient satisfaction, adherence to clinical standards of care, and post-discharge mortality and readmission rates for acute myocardial infarction, heart failure and pneumonia. The study has been conducted annually since 1993.
To conduct the 100 Top Hospitals study, Thomson Reuters researchers evaluated 2,914 short-term, acute care, non-federal hospitals. They used public information – Medicare cost reports, Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPAR) data, and core measures and patient satisfaction data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Compare website. Hospitals do not apply, and winners do not pay to market this honor.
If all Medicare inpatients received the same level of care as those treated in these 100 Top Hospitals award winners:
Nearly 116,000 additional patients would survive each year.
More than 197,000 patient complications would be avoided annually.
Expense per adjusted discharge would drop by $462.
The average patient stay would decrease by half a day.
If the same standards were applied to all inpatients, the impact would be even greater. For more information, visit www.100tophospitals.com.

Photo courtesy of WOODTV.com. Trevor and Danielle Lowis hold their son, Trenton.

Some proud parents in our area rang in the New Year in a special way last weekend—by having a baby.
Danielle and Trevor Lowis, of Sparta, welcomed the first baby in Kent County at Spectrum Health Butterworth at 12:17 a.m. January 1. Their son, Trenton Austin Lowis weighed in at seven pounds, eight ounces.
Spectrum Health United Hospital in Greenville proudly announced their first newborn delivery of 2011 was born 26 hours later, on January 2. Nora Mae Johnson was born at 2:57 a.m., Sunday, January 2nd at the Spectrum Health United Hospital Obstetrics Unit.  Her parents, Larissa Mae and Kevin Emil Johnson, reside in Greenville. Nora is the couple’s first child.

Kevin and Larissa Johnson with their daughter, Nora Mae.

Nora was 7 pounds, 9 ounces and was 20-½ inches long. She was delivered by Dr. Kelly Wiersema, MD after a short labor and delivery, totaling four hours from beginning until Nora’s arrival.
The Post congratulates both the Lowis and Johnson families on their special additions!