Receives Outstanding Patient Experience award for second year

Spectrum Health United Hospital announced this week that it has achieved the Healthgrades 2018 Outstanding Patient Experience Award™. This distinction recognizes United Hospital among the top 15 percent of hospitals nationwide for the second year in a row (2017-2018), according to Healthgrades, the leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals.

Healthgrades evaluated 3,478 hospitals that submitted at least 100 patient experience surveys to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), covering admissions from April 2016 to March 2017 to identify hospital performance in this area. 

In order to be recognized by Healthgrades, hospitals must meet eligibility requirements for consideration, which includes clinical performance thresholds in addition to a minimum of 100 survey responses. Nationally, almost 3,000 hospitals met those requirements with 439 hospitals outperforming their peers—based on their patients’ responses—to achieve this distinction. Spectrum Health United Hospital’s performance places it among the top 15 percent in the nation.

“We are proud to be recognized for outstanding patient experience. This recognition emphasizes our continuing commitment to provide our community with the best possible care,” said Andrea Leslie, Spectrum Health United Hospital President. “I want to thank our colleagues and physicians, who deliver excellent care to our patients every day.”

Spectrum Health United Hospital was named one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals by IBM Watson Health^TM. Formerly known as the Truven Health Analytics® 100 Top Hospitals, this study spotlights the top-performing hospitals in the U.S. based on a balanced scorecard of publicly available clinical, operational and patient satisfaction metrics and data.

The Watson Health 100 Top Hospitals® study uses independent and objective research to analyze hospital and health system performance in 11 areas, addressing: inpatient mortality; 30-day mortality rate; complications; core measures; 30-day risk-adjusted readmission rate; severity-adjusted average length of stay; mean emergency room throughput; inpatient expense per discharge; Medicare spend per beneficiary; adjusted operating profit margin; and Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) score (patient rating of overall hospital performance). The study has been conducted annually since 1993. This is the eighth time Spectrum Health United Hospital has been recognized with this honor. 

It is an honor to be recognized as one of the nation’s top 100 hospitals,” said Andrea Leslie, President, Spectrum Health United Hospital. “To receive this award eight times is truly a reflection of our sustained focus on improving the health of the communities we serve.” 

Based on the results of this year’s study, we extrapolate that if all Medicare inpatients received the same level of care as those treated in the award-winning facilities: 

• More than 102,000 additional lives could be saved;
• More than 43,000 additional patients could be complication-free; 
• More than $4.4 billion in inpatient costs could be saved; 
• Approximately 200,000 fewer discharged patients would be readmitted within 30 days.

“The country’s best hospitals have proven that an unrelenting focus on quality, supported by constant measurement against peer performance benchmarks, can drive improved outcomes while reducing costs and growing profit margins,” said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president, 100 Top Hospitals Programs, IBM Watson Health. “Congratulations to this 25^th anniversary class of 100 Top Hospitals who have helped raise the bar for healthcare in the U.S. and improve the healthcare experiences of the people in their communities.”

The winning hospitals were announced in the March 5^th edition of Modern Healthcare magazine.

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

Bonnie Kay Guthrie, age 67 of Coral, passed away Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at Spectrum Health United Hospital in Greenville. She was born February 3, 1950 in Mount Pleasant. Many people knew Bonnie as a longtime Howard City hairdresser. After 30 years of styling and befriending clients at area salons, she retired from Renaissance Salon and Spa, where she especially loved working. Bonnie was full of life and full of love. She had a big personality- she loved music, she had a wonderful sense of humor, and was more than a little sassy. She was always beautifully put together, makeup immaculate and hair perfectly coiffed with a colorful outfit to match. She will be deeply missed, especially by her children, Jim (Becky) Guthrie of Pierson and Jodi (Cheryl Nemeth) Guthrie of Coral; grandchildren, Tiffany Guthrie, Trenton Satterlee, Meghan (Bob) Kessel, and Hunter Guthrie, great-grandchildren, Mayhem and Charlie; brother, Billy Ward; and countless other relatives, friends, and clients. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Monday, March 13, 2017 at Hurst Funeral Home, Greenville, with visitation Sunday from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at the funeral home. Interment will be in West Pine Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be given to a charity of one’s choice, and memories and messages of condolence may be shared at www.hurstfh.com.

Arrangements by Hurst Funeral Home, Greenville

“Thank you to blood donors for saving my little girl’s life. Without you taking the time to donate blood, she wouldn’t be here today.” – Jamiee Mentink, mother to premature baby Ava whose life was saved through blood transfusions.

Premature baby girl survives infection after two blood transfusions

As many people nationwide celebrated the special women in their lives during Mother’s Day earlier this month, Michigan Blood is celebrating Jamiee Mentink and her story of becoming a mom for the first time.

In March of 2012, daughter Ava was born through emergency C-section at only 28 weeks, due to Jamiee’s severe illness, preeclampsia. Ava, a tiny 1 lb, 11 oz. at birth, had been doing great in the NICU, but then fell sick to infection. Two blood transfusions were needed to save Ava’s life.

“Immediately after the transfusions, you could see a difference. Ava’s skin turned pink again, and she became her feisty self again,” said Jamiee. “All the medical stuff in the world couldn’t replace the blood that Ava so desperately needed.”

With time, Ava fought her way back to being a healthy, thriving baby. Ava is now a fun, feisty, sweet little girl who is energetic about dance lessons and loved being a wedding flower girl recently. She just celebrated her 4th birthday in March.

Through the experience with Ava, and as the Director of Inpatient Emergency Services at South Haven Hospital, Jamiee realizes first hand the importance of blood donation. She is now a loyal blood donor herself.

“As a nurse I used to give blood to patients regularly, but I feel bad that it took Ava’s experience for me to regularly donate,” adds Jamiee. “Like I did, I think people take for granted that somebody else is donating blood. If people could realize that donating takes just a short amount of time, but it’s something that’s so worth the cause.”

Jamiee also wishes to thank those donors whose blood saved Ava’s life.

“Thank you for saving my little girl’s life. Without you taking the time to donate blood, she wouldn’t be here today.”

To view Jamiee and Ava’s full story, watch their video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pisYzF9iGAQ

Upcoming blood drives nearby include:

• 6/03 – Spectrum Health – United Hospital, Conference Rooms Sides A and B, 615 S. Bower Street, Greenville, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
• 6/06 – Rockford Area Donor Site at the Community Cabin, main room, 220 N Monroe St., Rockford, 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm
• 6/09 – Cedar Springs United Methodist Church – 140 S. Main Street, from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. This is a blood drive to support three local students. Emma Orr, Brison Ricker and Bree Town. For every person that attempts to give blood, $10 will be donated. Please call 233-8509 or go to www.miblood.org to make an appointment.
• 6/21 – Cedar Springs Area Donor Site at Cedar Springs United Methodist Church, 140 S Main St., Cedar Springs, 12:30 pm to 7:00 pm.

Michigan Blood is the sole provider of blood and blood products for more than 60 hospitals in Michigan, including Spectrum Health, Metro Health, and Mercy Health St. Mary’s. Donations given outside of Michigan Blood do not have direct local impact. Donating blood with Michigan Blood helps save the lives of patients in Michigan hospitals. Any healthy person 17 or older (or 16 with parental consent) who weighs at least 110 pounds may be eligible to donate. Blood donors should bring photo ID. We are currently in urgent need of O-Negative blood donations. To schedule an appointment, please call 1-866-MIBLOOD (642-5663) or schedule online at https://donate.miblood.org. 

You asked, Spectrum Health United Hospital has listened.

The Convenient Care Walk-In Clinic, located at 1202 W Oak Street, across from the United Hospital, opened October 5 and is making primary care more “convenient” by offering extended hours and weekend access to all.

Spectrum Health recognizes that health care doesn’t always follow a doctor’s schedule. The Convenient Care Walk-In Clinic is open Monday to Friday, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Saturdays, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“The concept for the Walk-In Clinic was developed based on feedback received from the community, who expressed a desire to have an alternative to the emergency department for after-hours primary care,” said Brian Brasser, President of United and Kelsey Hospitals. “The feedback was evident in our recent Community Health Needs Assessment, it has been brought forward by our Patient and Family Advisory Council, and also during one-on-one conversations out in the community.”

The clinic will be staffed with a Physician Assistant and a team of registration and clinical staff.  Dr. Kaushal Kalra from Greenville Family Medicine is the supervising physician for the clinic.

Whether you are a current patient or not, the Convenient Care Walk-In Clinic can provide the care you need, when you need it, and your care will be coordinated back to your provider. “Our priority is to grow and support the network of really amazing primary care providers in our community, and the clinic is not intended to replace that provider/patient relationship. Rather, it is designed to be an affordable and clinically effective way to support that relationship by providing access when the provider is not available,” said Todd Boonstra, Physician Assistant.

Patient financial responsibility varies with insurance coverage, but typically, Urgent Care and Emergency room visits will have higher copays and costs to the patient. The Convenient Care Walk-In Clinic is designed to offer additional access options at a more affordable price similar to the costs of a primary care office or specialist.

“The clinic will care for needs such as insect bites, rashes, coughs, congestion, flu-like symptoms, sore throats, and sports physicals for school. After seeing us for this visit, we send a full after-visit summary of care back to the primary care physician so they are aware of care given outside of their management and can continue follow up care for the patient as needed,” explained Juliane Giles, Practice Manager. “If your need is more severe and cannot be treated in the clinic, we will immediately notify the ER of the need and direct the patient from our office to the ER.”

For more information about the Convenient Care Walk-In Clinic, please call 616.754.4685.

New MRI provides patients with faster exams, excellent images, and an open concept that reduces claustrophobia

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) exams—non-invasive  diagnostic imaging exams of soft tissue, bone and muscles—have become one of the fastest growing types of medical diagnostic tests in the United States. With Spectrum Health’s recent installation of a MAGNETOM® Aera 1.5T Open Bore MRI system, patients can now experience faster, more comfortable exams without leaving Greenville.

“United’s new MRI scanner is the latest technology available, one of the most advanced in West Michigan. It will allow us to perform more types of scans closer to home, where people really need us most,” said Dave DeBoode, Director of Clinical Diagnostics at Spectrum Health United Hospital.

Benefits of the MAGNETOM Aera 1.5T Open Bore include:

• Superb image quality that may be used for a wide range of medical needs, from orthopedic and sports-related injuries to breast cancer testing, and can help physicians make quicker, more accurate diagnoses.
• The tube-like structure of an MRI machine (where the patient lies during the imaging process) is larger and can accommodate patients up to 550 pounds.
• The system’s ultra-short bore (145 cm) can help to alleviate concerns of claustrophobia since many exams can be performed with the patient’s head outside of the bore.
• Mood lighting on the system, which can help create a calming environment for patients in the examination room.

“The new MRI unit is state of the art and it is an open magnet which allows us to accommodate more patients, said John Merchun, MD, Advanced Radiology Services, Spectrum Health United Hospital. “The newly constructed addition to the hospital that houses the magnet is both functional and beautiful. We will also be able to add new services in the near future such as breast and cardiac MRI. We are well equipped to serve the needs of the community for years to come.”

To schedule an appointment for an MRI or any other diagnostic imaging performed at United Hospital (including x-ray, Computerized Tomography (CT), ultrasound, digital mammography, nuclear medicine, breast biopsy, or bone densitometry), call 616.225.9090.

Seth James Nicholson was the first baby born in 2014 at Spectrum Health United Hospital, in Greenville.

He was born at 9:39 pm on January 2, 2014 in United Hospital’s obstetrics unit. His parents, Annette and Tim Nicholson, live in Stanton.

Seth weighed 4 pounds, 5 ounces, and was 17 inches long. He was delivered by Dr. Andrea Sterling.

At Spectrum Health United Hospital, new moms come from all walks of life and with unique birthing plans that staff and physicians seek to accommodate whenever possible. But one variable remains constant—every expectant parent hopes that the welcoming of a new baby will be the best experience possible. To make those hopes a reality, planning is underway to expand and renovate the obstetrics department at United Hospital.

The project will create five additional private postpartum rooms and renovate space to include three private labor and delivery suites. The end result will be eight postpartum care rooms and one additional labor and delivery room. This renovation will allow for enhanced privacy, patient experience and growth.

“We strive to provide the best possible care to our patients” said Andrea Sterling, DO, United Hospital OBGYN. “Through this expansion and renovation, patients and families at United Hospital will be provided with more comfort and an enhanced exceptional experience.”

Philanthropic support is essential to add these new private rooms. Recently, Spectrum Health Foundation United & Kelsey Hospitals approved the designation of proceeds from the 2014 charity ball to the renovation project. The 2014 charity ball will be held on Saturday, February 9 at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids.

For information on how you can help make the OB department expansion possible, contact the Spectrum Health Foundation United & Kelsey Hospitals at 616.225.6427. To make an appointment with a Spectrum Health United Hospital OB provider, call 616.754.2944.

Formally acknowledged for pollution prevention program

Spectrum Health United Hospital was awarded the 2013 “Partner for Change” Award by Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s leading health care membership community that empowers its members to increase their efficiencies and environmental stewardship while improving patient safety and care. The Award is one of the organization’s Environmental Excellence Awards given each year to honor outstanding environmental achievements in the health care sector.

The Partner for Change Award recognizes health care facilities that continuously improve and expand upon their mercury elimination, waste reduction, recycling and source reduction programs. At a minimum, facilities applying for this Award must be recycling 15 percent of their total waste, have reduced regulated medical waste, are well along the way to mercury elimination, and have developed other successful pollution prevention programs in many different areas.

“This award proves that Spectrum Health United Hospital is committed to eliminating mercury, reducing waste, recycling and preventing pollution, among other environmentally preferable practices,” said Laura Wenger, RN, Executive Director, Practice Greenhealth. “Practice Greenhealth is pleased to recognize them for these efforts.”

As evidenced in a recent Health Care Research Collaborative study, “Can Sustainable Hospitals Help Bend the Health Care Cost Curve?” introducing environmental sustainability measures in hospitals not only results in significant savings, it won’t increase operating costs.  The implications are clear — given the return on investment, all hospitals should adopt and expand their sustainability programs.

“We are proud to positively impact our environment” said Tina Freese-Decker, President, Spectrum Health United and Kelsey Hospitals. “Our sustainability efforts have enabled United Hospital to be better stewards of our resources, environment and costs, all in an effort to provide better value and high quality care for our patients.”

The Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Awards were presented in Boston, MA, at CleanMed, Thr premier national environmental conference for leaders in health care sustainability.

United Lifestyles, a member of Spectrum Health United Hospital in Greenville, is offering a three-session Diabetes Education group class, and a CPR class in May.

Diabetes classes

The diabetes classes will be held on Wednesdays, beginning May 9, 2012 from 1 to 4 p.m. at 407 S. Nelson, Greenville. This American Diabetes Association recognized program includes education on glucose levels, dietary guidelines, and management techniques. Most insurances cover all or part of the class fees, with a physician’s signature. Registration is required. For more information, call 616.754.6185, ext. 100 or 800.406.4551.

CPR class

The CPR class will be on Thursday, May 10, 2012 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at 407 S. Nelson, Greenville. This comprehensive community class includes CPR for Adult, Infant & Child and Automated External Defibrillation (AED) training. Cost for the class is $40. Registration is required. An on-line renewal option is available. For more information, call 616.754.6185, ext. 100 or 800.406.4551.

A new camera will aid physicians in making more informed decisions in evaluation of heart, cancer, other diseases at Spectrum Health United Hospital.

The hospital recently announced the opening of a newly expanded nuclear medicine suite, featuring the BrightView nuclear imaging system—or gamma camera—from Philips Healthcare. With the camera, staff can perform non-invasive, highly advanced diagnostic imaging that can be used for diagnosis and treatment planning.

Unlike some imaging tests, nuclear imaging allows clinicians to see how a part of the body is functioning at the metabolic level. This improved diagnostic confidence may alter the course of action and improve patient care. For instance, a patient may be able to avoid a biopsy or an invasive surgical procedure.

Nuclear imaging is an important diagnostic technology for heart and vascular conditions as well as various forms of cancer. It is also extremely useful for other common applications such as bone, pulmonary, brain, thyroid, and renal imaging.

The advanced system allows clinicians to perform a powerful type of nuclear imaging called SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) that allows visualization of activity within structures deep inside the body. SPECT is particularly useful for cardiology, brain, and some orthopedic and oncology applications. It generates 3D images whereas non-SPECT, or planar imaging, consists of 2D snapshots or moving images of physiology.

“The addition of the new nuclear medicine camera broadens our applications for nuclear medicine imaging, including the ability to use the latest technologies, such as concurrent imaging,” said Percy Mahar, Chief Clinical Officer at Spectrum Health United Hospital. “This means we can provide a higher level of diagnostic confidence for enhanced patient care.”

He added that the new nuclear medicine suite will be utilized by all areas of the hospital, including the Spectrum Health United Heart & Vascular Center, scheduled to open this spring. “Technologists will partner with the cardiologists, using the camera to detect heart disorders earlier with clearer, more defined images of the heart.”

United Hospital receives nuclear cardiology accreditation

United Hospital’s Cardiovascular Imaging Lab recently received accreditation of the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Nuclear Medicine Laboratories (ICANL).  This accreditation means that United Hospital has undergone a thorough review of its operational and technical components by a panel of experts.  This accreditation is only granted to facilities that are found to be providing quality patient care, in compliance with national standards through a comprehensive application process including case study review.

The ICANL accreditation is considered a seal of approval that patients can expect the facility has been carefully critiqued on all aspects of its operations considered relevant by medical experts in the field of nuclear medicine.

Dates UPDATED: 1/6/2012

United Lifestyles, a member of Spectrum Health United Hospital in Greenville, is offering two programs this month.
Walk and Talk: Trying to lose those holiday pounds? Join Renee DeFrang, Registered Dietitian, for a weekly weigh-in followed by a 10 minute motivational talk on weight loss and a 10 minute group walk. The cost for the program is $30.  The program will be held on Wednesdays starting January 18 through February 29, 2012 from 4 to 4:30 p.m. at Greenville High School, Room 534, 111 Hillcrest, Greenville. (Park in the lot off of Yellow Jacket Drive and use the back entrance.) Registration is required. For more information, call 616.754.6185, ext. 100 or 800.406.4551.
Diabetes question and answer session: United Lifestyles is offering a free question and answer session with a pharmacist on diabetes medications. The session will be on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 from 4:30 to 5 p.m. at 407 S. Nelson, Greenville. Registration is required. For more information, call 616.754.6185, ext. 100 or 800.406.4551.