Two Major Michigan Hospitals Are Merging
Two major Michigan hospitals have been in the works to merge, and the deal was finally made official this week. If you frequent either of these facilities, though, don’t worry….
(Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Two major Michigan hospitals have been in the works to merge, and the deal was finally made official this week.
If you frequent either of these facilities, though, don't worry. Their services aren't expected to change.
Lansing-based Sparrow Health System announced Monday (April 3) that it has officially joined with the University of Michigan Health. According to a statement, the two hospital groups have "received the necessary regulatory approvals to partner" and officially joined on April 1.
Now, the two have become one of the state's largest health care systems, valued at $7 billion. The deal also includes Sparrow's Physicians Health Plan, which gives insurance coverage to more than 70,000 members and 300 employers in Michigan, plus as a Medicare Advantage plan.
"Today is just an absolutely historic day for us," James F. Dover, president and CEO of the Sparrow Health System, said Monday (April 3) at a news conference. "We've worked so long and hard in order to prepare ourselves to be able to officially join the University of Michigan Health System. (I am) very proud of this moment, as well as what the future now offers for us."
During the news conference, Dover said that the cost for patients will not rise because of this deal. Patients will also not lose access to their current physicians.
Michigan Medicine, which is the University of Michigan's health system, announced plans to purchase Sparrow Health System back in December. But, according to a release, the final deal isn't a buy-out. With the agreement, Michigan Medicine committed $800 million in investments to Sparrow Health System over the next eight years, according to the statement. Those funs will go to Sparrow's six hospital campuses, funding facility projects, operations and other "strategic investments."
Just how safe are Michigan hospitals? According to a new survey, a dozen Michigan hospitals rank at the top of their class for patient safety. It's comforting to know that quality health care is so readily available in this state.
The new study was conducted by Leapfrog Group at HospitalSafetyGrade.org. "For more than 20 years, The Leapfrog Group has collected, analyzed, and published hospital data on safety and quality in order to push the health care industry forward," the publication stated. "Leapfrog's bold transparency has promoted high-value care and informed health care decisions — and helped trigger giant leaps forward in the safety, quality, and affordability of U.S. health care."
They add, "The Leapfrog Group is a nonprofit watchdog organization that serves as a voice for health care consumers and purchasers, using their collective influence to foster positive change in U.S. health care. Leapfrog is the nation’s premier advocate of transparency in health care—collecting, analyzing and disseminating data to inform value-based purchasing and improved decision-making."
Leapfrog looked at all of the major hospitals in the list and gave them a grade. Read on for the full list of all the Michigan hospitals that received an "A" grade in patient safety, followed by the hospitals that received a "B" grade. Congratulations to these great hospitals for their continued care.
Michigan Hospitals with an 'A' Grade for Patient Safety
This list is via Leapfrog Group at HospitalSafetyGrade.org.
Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo
Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo
Mercy Health Saint Mary’s in Grand Rapids
North Ottawa Community Hospital in Grand Haven
http://www.noch.org/
Sparrow Hospital in Lansing
Spectrum Health Big Rapids Hospital
Spectrum Health Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph
Spectrum Health Lakeland Niles Hospital
Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital
Spectrum Health United Hospital in Greenville
Spectrum Health Zeeland Community Hospital
University of Michigan Health-West in Wyoming
These Michigan Hospitals Received a "B" Grade
Read on for the Michigan hospitals that received a "B" grade.
