Spectrum Health Regional Network Strengthens Community Hospitals, Helps Region Save $1.1 Million.Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers GRAND RAPIDS Grand Rapids, city (1990 pop. 189,126), seat of Kent co., SW central Mich., on the Grand River; inc. 1850. The second largest city in the state, it is a distribution, wholesale, and industrial center for an area that yields fruit, dairy products, farm produce, , Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 2004 Ten independent West Michigan community hospitals and health systems have collectively saved more than $1.1 million dollars and realized additional benefits of collaboration after joining the Spectrum Health Regional Hospital Network eight months ago. "Our goal in creating the Regional Hospital Network was to assist community hospitals by offering group purchasing benefits and helping improve patient care," said John Mosley, Spectrum Health Senior Vice President. "The network's growth and savings during just eight months are testaments to its success. Working together has made each entity in the network stronger on multiple levels. At the same time, Spectrum Health benefits from having strong community hospitals in the surrounding areas. Whenever possible, it's better to provide care to patients close to home." Preserving community hospital independence and economic strength are cornerstones of the network. Independent members work with Spectrum Health to better coordinate health care processes between community hospitals and the region's largest acute care center. The more than $1 million already saved by participating hospitals was the result of group purchasing of supplies and services. This includes a $300,000 savings on blood products and services purchased through the American Red Cross American Red Cross: see Red Cross. and Michigan Community Blood Centers. Member hospitals also achieve significant savings on medical-surgical, pharmaceutical and laboratory supplies, made possible by Spectrum Health's sponsorship in a national group purchasing program. The Regional Hospital Network will also partner with the West Michigan Imaging Center beginning in early 2004. The Center provides mobile MRI 1. (application) MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging. 2. MRI - Measurement Requirements and Interface. services to Muskegon and Ottawa counties Ottawa County is the name of four counties in the United States:
In addition, the network focuses on improving patient care. Specialty work teams are focusing on high-priority areas such as quality improvement, staff education, risk and compliance, physician recruitment, and community health initiatives. "Joining the Spectrum Health Regional Hospital Network has been beneficial for our organization in many ways," said Ned. B. Hughes, Jr., President of Gerber Memorial Health Services health services Managed care The benefits covered under a health contract in Fremont. "The advantages to our hospital in terms of peer-to-peer collaboration with other hospitals has been extremely helpful, and the significant cost savings prove there is strength in numbers in numbered parts; as, a book published in numbers. See also: Number . And while this first million dollar milestone is significant, we expect dividends from our membership in the Regional Hospital Network to continue to grow." Currently, the Regional Hospital Network is working to secure not-for-profit status, allowing members equal voting rights Voting rights The right to vote on matters that are put to a vote of security holders. For example the right to vote for directors. voting rights The type of voting and the amount of control held by the owners of a class of stock. for decisions affecting network activities. In addition to the nine Spectrum Health-owned hospitals, members of the Spectrum Health Regional Hospital Network include Gerber Memorial Health Services in Fremont, Holland Community Hospital, Ionia County Memorial Hospital, Mary Free Bed Hospital & Rehabilitation rehabilitation: see physical therapy. Center in Grand Rapids, Memorial Medical Center of West Michigan in Ludington, Metropolitan Hospital in Grand Rapids, North Ottawa Community Hospital in Grand Haven Grand Haven, city (1990 pop. 11,951), seat of Ottawa co., SW Mich., at the mouth of the Grand River; inc. 1867. It is a port on Lake Michigan that ships sand and gravel. Grand Haven manufactures fabricated-metal and paper products. , Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services is a Psychiatric Hospital and mental health treatment facility based primarily in West Michigan. Founded in 1910 in Cutlerville, Michigan (south of Grand Rapids, Michigan) as the Christian Psychopathic Hospital, the name was changed in in Grand Rapids, Pennock Health Services in Hastings, and Zeeland Community Hospital. Spectrum Health is a West Michigan-based regional health system. With 14,000 employees, it is one of the top integrated health systems in the country. The health system is comprised of nine hospitals with more than 2,000 licensed beds, 1,600 medical staff members, 140 service sites, a 400,000-member health plan, helicopter transport service, long-term and continuing care continuing care a professional convention that a veterinarian who is treating an animal is obliged to continue treating that case unless an arrangement is made with its custodian to transfer the care to another practitioner or to a specialist. services, home care and hospice care. Spectrum Health has earned numerous national awards in the past year, such as Money magazine's listing of best hospitals coast to coast and Verispan 100 Integrated Healthcare Network status. |
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