Spectrum Health United Hospital in Greenville has received the 2018 America’s Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence™ and was also named a recipient of the Healthgrades 2017 Outstanding Patient Experience Award™ as measured by Healthgrades, the leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals.

The hospital was recognized with five-star ratings for clinical quality achievements in four categories: Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; Treatment of Pneumonia for three years in a row (2016-2018); Treatment of Sepsis for seven years in a row (2012-2018); and Treatment of Respiratory Failure for two years in a row (2017-2018). Patients treated at hospitals receiving a five-star rating have a lower risk of complications during a hospital stay than if they were treated at hospitals receiving a one-star rating in that procedure or condition. 

“We are pleased to be honored by Healthgrades again this year,” said Spectrum Health United Hospital President Andrea Leslie. “We are very proud of our team for their commitment and hard work to ensure quality care and safe outcomes for our patients and their families.”

Healthgrades analyze clinical outcomes (mortality and complications) for each of 34 condition or procedure cohorts. Inclusion criteria for cohort analyses require at least 30 cases across three years of data and at least five cases in the most current year per hospital. As a result, the number of hospitals that qualified and received a rating ranged from a low of 526 rated for bariatric surgery to a high of 4,098 rated for pneumonia. Nearly 5,000 small acute-care hospitals were analyzed for clinical outcomes.

The Stitchers & More group and some of the hats they’ve made.

February is American Heart Month and a fellowship group with the informal name of Stitchers & More is celebrating. They are raising awareness of heart disease by knitting red hats for all babies born in February at United Hospital in Greenville.

The Stitchers & More group began twenty years ago as a group of women who gather once a month for fellowship while crocheting, stitching, scrapbooking, and sewing. The group ranges in age from early twenties, up to their oldest member who is turning ninety this year. When asking the group what inspired them to participate in this project, the name Kaylee is spoken in unison.

“This project is dedicated to a two year old from Woodlawn Christian Reformed Church who underwent successful open heart surgery,” explained member Mary Brasser.

Heart disease remains the number one killer of Americans and congential heart defects are the most common type of birth defect in the country. Congenital heart disease is a problem with the heart’s structure and function that is present at birth. Some defects will heal on their own, over time, while others will need to be treated. Some are treated with medications and others with surgery.

“We work closely with the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Pediatric Cardiology Program when we identify an infant in need. All of our infants are screened for congenital heart disease and we also carefully monitor the cardiac health of women with congenital heart defects who are pregnant or want to become pregnant,” said Dr. Jonathan Windeler, Chief of Pediatrics at Spectrum Health United Hospital.

“We are so thankful to the Stitchers & More group for their kindness and generosity. It is our hope that this information will raise awareness of heart disease and will inspire others to participate in similar activies,” said Shelly Westbrook, Foundation Director at Spectrum Health United and Kelsey Hospitals.

For more information about the congenital heart disease, go to http://www.spectrumhealth.org/congenital-heart-disease

Joan Oberlin, center, is this year’s recipient of the Suzanne Christensen Volunteer Award.

Spectrum Health Foundation United & Kelsey Hospitals hosted a volunteer appreciation luncheon on Wednesday, November 19 in honor of United and Kelsey Hospitals’ 96 active volunteers. A highlight of this annual luncheon is the presentation of the 2014 Suzanne Christensen Volunteer Award. The Suzanne Christensen award is given annually to a recipient who has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to the Spectrum Health United Hospital and Kelsey Hospital’s community through volunteerism or other significant goodwill. It is with great pleasure and honor to announce that Joan Oberlin was this year’s recipient.

Joan has been volunteering at United Hospital and has been a Kelsey Hospital Guild member since July 2012 and recently began volunteering at Kelsey Hospital. At United Hospital, Joan delivers mail, serves as a patient and family experience volunteer, greets at the front entrance, works in the gift shop and assists with special projects in the foundation office. She serves in the special procedures area as a volunteer at Kelsey Hospital. As an active member of the Kelsey Hospital Guild, Joan helps with fundraising initiatives that support Kelsey Hospital. Joan has exhibited true dedication, enthusiasm and a giving heart. We sincerely appreciate Joan and the energy, time and compassion that she gives to United and Kelsey Hospital’s patients and staff.

Spectrum Health United and Kelsey Hospitals would like to thank Joan and the many other devoted volunteers for the dedication and support they give to help others.

On Sunday, December 7, the Spectrum Health Foundation United & Kelsey Hospitals will hold its annual United Hospital Tree of Lights celebration at 4 p.m. at United Hospital in Greenville. On Tuesday, December 16, at 6:30 p.m., the Kelsey Hospital Tree of Love celebration will be held at United Church of Christ, 115 W Fifth Street in Lakeview.

The Tree of Lights and Tree of Love are free community events; everyone is invited to share in these special holiday traditions. Please join us and enjoy the musical sounds of the season and delicious refreshments. Names of those being honored and remembered through the Tree of Lights and Tree of Love will be read at the corresponding event. The sponsored names will also be thoughtfully displayed in United or Kelsey Hospital throughout the holiday season.

Funds raised will support your community hospitals. This year, funds from the United Hospital Tree of Lights will help launch an Oncology (Cancer) Nurse Navigator program for Spectrum Health Regional Cancer Center at United Hospital. A nurse navigator will help coordinate the care of cancer patients, provide education about the disease process and treatment and help connect them with important services.

Funds raised through the Kelsey Hospital Tree of Love will help support the growing needs of the Lakeview Youth Clinic. The Lakeview Youth Clinic is a school-linked adolescent health center that serves 10 to 21 year-olds. Gifts to the 2014 Tree of Love will help expand Lakeview Youth Clinic services to meet the growing needs for counseling, educational programs in the Lakeview Community Schools, and other medical services.

For more information on the Tree of Lights and Tree of Love, please visit http://give.spectrumhealth.org/united-kelsey or contact the foundation office at 616.225.6427. For information about United and Kelsey Hospitals’ programs and services, please visit www.spectrumhealth.org.

Spectrum Health United Hospital in Greenville, Michigan was recently listed as one of Becker’s Hospital Review “100 Great Community Hospitals”.
“We are proud of the efforts of our providers and employees who have contributed to our hospital achieving this designation,” said Tina Freese-Decker. President, Spectrum Health United and Kelsey Hospitals. “We appreciate their hard work and commitment to excellent patient care.”
Becker’s Hospital Review has published its list “100 Great Community Hospitals.” This list recognizes community hospitals dedicated to high-quality care and service to the community. The hospitals have fewer than 550 beds and minimal teaching programs, and are often located in rural areas as the only hospitals in their communities. Whether independent or part of a larger health system, the following hospitals have worked to continually provide the quality of care and expeThe Becker’s Hospital Review editorial team selected community hospitals based on rankings and awards from iVantage Health Analytics, Truven Health Analytics (formerly Thomson Reuters), Healthgrades and The Joint Commission. Nominations for the list were also considered.

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.

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.