The program gives West Michigan patients greater choice and access to top-rated care close to home while also reducing costs. The Grand Rapids market was previously the largest in the state with a single open-heart program.
The UMHW cardiovascular operating room has state-of-the-art equipment (Courtesy, UMHW)
UM Health-West CEO Dr. Peter Hahn said the milestone is a testament to the collaboration and meticulous preparation that led to the program launch last October.
“Before we saw a single patient, we built and equipped a state-of-the-art operating room. We assembled a team of leading heart surgeons and cardiovascular experts, and we designed protocols to ensure our first patient could have the same expectation of excellence as our 100th patient,” Hahn said. “We intend to continue building on that success.”
Dr. Alphonse DeLucia III, who leads the UM Health-West cardiac surgery team, said the program’s success shows the genius of the model established by the Cardiovascular Network of West Michigan. The joint operating agreement leverages the expertise of Trinity Health Muskegon, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, UM Health-West, and more than 125 years of cardiovascular leadership from University of Michigan Health in Ann Arbor.
“Patients no longer have to wonder if they are getting the best option for care,” DeLucia said. “Patients go through their own cardiologist. If advanced cardiovascular care becomes necessary, the Network provides the collective expertise from all four programs to evaluate each case and ensure the best possible treatment.”
Trinity Health provides access to some of the most accomplished surgeons in the state (Courtesy, UMHW)
Whether surgery takes place at Trinity Health Muskegon or at UM Health-West in Wyoming, the Network provides access to some of the most accomplished surgeons in the state. These surgeons have decades of experience and have performed thousands of operations.
Another aspect that sets the program apart, said Dr. Theodore Boeve, a cardiothoracic surgeon based at Trinity Health Muskegon, is that it draws on the renowned cardiovascular expertise of University of Michigan.
“Some of the greatest advances in cardiovascular medicine and surgery got their start in Ann Arbor, and Michigan Medicine continues to be a leader in improving outcomes for patients with heart disease,” Boeve said, noting patients benefit from the latest research and clinical trials. “This opens an entirely new scope of treatment options.”
UM Health-West Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ronald Grifka said the early success confirms that the cardiac surgery program and the Network are addressing a critical necessity for the fastest-growing region of the state.
The overwhelming success of the cardiovascular program has encouraged plans for further expansion (Courtesy, UMHW)
“The fact that we expect to perform close to 125 surgeries in our first 12 months – and possibly 200 in our second year – shows West Michigan needed more options in the fight against heart disease, the No. 1 cause of death,” Grifka said. “We are making a direct impact on the quality of life for our patients across the region.”
Dr. Himanshu Patel, Executive Director of the Cardiovascular Network of West Michigan says the overwhelming success of the program has encouraged plans for further expansion and advancements.
“Expansion in the next decade is not a matter of if, but when,” Patel said. “We are confident of this, just as we fully expect to continue delivering more breakthroughs and sophisticated treatments for our patients.”
Guadalupe Alejos (Courtesy, Trinity Health Grand Rapids)
By Trinity Health
In 1973, Guadalupe Alejos was one of the first to undergo a kidney transplant at what is now known as Trinity Health Grand Rapids. Fifty years later, that kidney is still functioning and has allowed him to lead a full, happy and productive life. He raised his family and now enjoys his retirement years.
Today, doctors tell their patients a kidney from a living donor lasts an average of 15 to 20 years, and from a deceased donor, 10 to 15 years. The longevity of Alejos’ kidney is miraculous.
The future didn’t look that bright back in the mid-1960s when he was diagnosed with a degenerative kidney disease called glomerularnephritis, which affected both of his kidneys. For several years, Alejos held the disease at bay with medication. In 1968, he married his high school sweetheart, Lupe.
Lupe (left) and Guadalupe Alejos. (Courtesy, Trinity Health of Grand Rapids)
“When I married him, I knew he was sick,” Lupe said. “I knew what I was getting into. Your heart rules.”
Both Alejos and his wife have a great faith in God, which permeates their daily living.
By 1973 at the age of 27, Alejos’ kidneys were barely functioning, and he was so ill that Lupe found him collapsed, unable to walk. He began dialysis, and Dr. William Bouman (now retired) told him his only hope was a kidney transplant.
The hospital was just starting a transplant program, and Dr. Bouman – one of its founders – cautioned Alejos that the transplant procedure was still unproven.
“I was so sick, that even if my chances [of survival] were 10 percent, I’d have taken it,” he said.
His six brothers were tested as potential donors, and his oldest brother, Vincente, agreed to give Alejos one of his kidneys. Following the transplant, Vincente has had no issues living with just one kidney.
On July 23, 1973, Dr. Robert Levine (now deceased) – another of the program’s founders – performed what then was a new and rare procedure in Grand Rapids, transplanting the kidney into Alejos’ abdomen. The diseased kidneys were not removed, so he actually has three kidneys.
Every six months, Alejos visits the Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center, and follows a healthy lifestyle to keep his kidney functioning. For 25 years, he worked in social services for the State of Michigan, retiring in 2001.
“Without the transplant, I would have been gone long ago,” Alejos said.
Lupe said, “I thank God every day. Thank you for giving us every day to enjoy life.”
The Alejos family also have a devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe and proudly display her statue at their home. They attribute Alejos’ transplant success to Our Lady’s intervention.
Our Lady of Guadalupe statue. (Courtesy, Trinity Health of Grand Rapids)
Because of his transplant, Alejos and his wife have been able to travel to Mexico and California to visit family members during these past five decades. The couple has also enjoyed raising their three children, who have given them seven grandchildren. “Now we are waiting for great grandchildren,” Lupe said with a smile.
As they reflected on the care they received at Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Alejos and Lupe shared their thoughts.
“Trinity Health Grand Rapids is a hospital you can trust for a kidney transplant and other health issues. I was so lucky to have dedicated doctors who took care of all my needs. The hospital has caring and attentive people. I would recommend them by all means,” Alejos said. “God works in mysterious ways. I think He chose those doctors to help me and others, and to use them for His purpose.”
Lupe added her thoughts as well: “I am so grateful to God, Vincente and the doctors for the years we have had together. I’ve had my share of illness too. And Guadalupe was able to be there for me because of his transplant.”
The couple’s gratitude also extends to organ donors, especially living kidney donors.
If you decide to do it,” Lupe said. “May God bless you. That is a big gift. I can’t say enough to those who decide to do it.”
Since 1973, The Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center has performed close to 3,000 kidney transplants. It is the first and only kidney transplant center in Michigan to partner with the National Kidney Registry, an extra avenue of hope for hard-to-match patients.
One of the latest technological innovations, robotic live donor nephrectomy, has created even more opportunities for live kidney donations for our patients. Transplantation services are provided by the most experienced multidisciplinary kidney transplant team – composed of nurses, physicians, pharmacists, social workers, referral coordinators, financial coordinators, and medical assistants – in West Michigan.
Members of Trinity Health Michigan and Universal Health Services along with community leaders helped to break ground on the new Southridge Behavioral Hospital. (courtesy, Trinity Health Grand Rapids)
On Monday, Trinity Health Michigan and University Health Services (Ny’SE: UHS) broke ground for a new behavioral health hospital that will be located just south of the City of Wyoming in Byron Center.
Southridge Behavioral Hospital, which a joint venture partnership between NYSE: UHS and Trinity Health, will be located right near the Trinity Health Medical Center at 2145 64th St. SW in Byron Center.
“Southridge Behavioral Hospital, which will open in 2025, will help address the growing need for high quality mental and behavioral health care services for people struggling with depression, anxiety, substance use and other issues, and who need hospitalization and intensive individualized care,” said Dr. Matt Biersack, president of Trinity Health Grand Rapids. “Southridge represents a sustainable, long-term solution and it will be a key piece of the behavioral health care continuum in West Michigan.”
Kelly Smith, chief strategy officer for Trinity Health Michigan, said the new behavioral hospital will accommodate up to 96 beds, serving adult and geriatric patients. The facility is estimated to employ approximately 170 full-time and part-time staff including physicians, nurses, therapists, mental health technicians, administration, dietary and housekeeping personnel. Programming will be tailored to individual patient needs, with core psychiatric services and counseling supplemented with art therapy, music therapy and outdoor activities.
“Right here, where we gather today, you will see a new beautiful state-of-the-art facility,” said Sheila Adams, vice president of corporate development for Universal Health Services. “It will feature design elements that will create an optimal therapeutic environment with serene decor and furnished with warm and inviting finishes. We will create a space that enhances safety and promotes healing resembling a hospitality environment rather than an institutional type setting.”
The Southridge Behavioral Hospital is designed to tie into the growing network of behavioral health services in the area, including UHS-operated Forest View Hospital and Trinity Health Michigan’s new partnership with Network 180 to open a Behavioral Health Crisis Center for the rapid availability of assessment services on a walk-in basis.
For more about Southridge Behavioral Hospital, including what the hospital’s interior will look like, visit www.southridgebh.com.
Nathan Hannum (standing) with his donor, Kyle Hess. (Courtesy, Trinity Health)
Some years ago, Nathan Hannum received the diagnosis that he had IgA nephropathy, also sometimes called Berger’s disease, that occurs when an antibody called immunoglobulin A (IgA) builds up in the kidney resulting in inflammation that can hamper the kidneys’ ability to filter waste from your blood.
It was a slow decline of kidney function, taking about 18 years for Hannum to drop to about 80% function and then in 2020, the decline started to take a steep dive, with him losing about 20% of functionality.
“So it was a pretty steep deal, but at the end of the year I was in a better position than a lot of other patients in that even though my function had gone down so far, I didn’t have to have dialysis,” he said.
When Hannum and his family moved to Grand Rapids about 15 years ago, he discovered there was only one renal kidney doctor’s office in Grand Rapids at that time, which was associated with the Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center.
“I had been told I would probably want to get it done there just because it’s close to home,” Hannum said. “There are other options. We could have gone to the University of Michigan or Detroit or Chicago, but the ability to have the facility close to home was a big part of the decision.”
Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center marks its 50th anniversary this year. (Courtesy, Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center)
Marking a golden anniversary
The Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center in Grand Rapids marks its 50th anniversary this year. There are six such centers in the state of Michigan with Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center (formerly theMercy Health Saint Mary’s Kidney Transplant Center) being the only adult kidney transplant center on the west side of the state.
Since its opening in 1973, more than 2,800 kidney transplants have occurred, improving the lives not only of the patients but of their loved ones and caregivers.
“Our team takes great pride in reaching this 50-year milestone,” said Jill McNamara, MSN RN, Transplant services liaison for the Kidney Transplant Center. “One of the ways we are celebrating is to reflect on the patient stories that show our team just how many people have been touched by their care.”
Hannum admits he was one of those patients who benefitted from that expert care.
“You know sometimes you go in for procedures and they just start working on it and don’t really tell you what is going on. They might ask you what your name is to make sure they’re working on the right person,” Hannum said. “(The Trinity) nurses were fantastic at explaining ahead of time what was going to happen and why they were poking me for this and why they were asking me about that and the doctors were the same way.”
Hannum’s story
Hannum’s process started a couple of years before his surgery with doctors encouraging him to start compiling a list of potential donors. Having been a pastor for the past 25 years, Hannum, who is currently serving at Jenison Christian Church, has a network of contacts.
Left, Nathan Hannum with his donor, Kyle Hess. (Courtesy, Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center)
In 2022, the Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center became the only adult transplant center in Michigan to partner with the National Kidney Register (NKR), the largest paired donation program in the world. The NKR has the largest living donor pool, making the likelihood of finding a match potentially faster than other paired programs.
“I sent a big ask to my friends and family and said if you are still interested, here’s the number to call and I was fortunate that a lot of them did,” Hannum said. “There were at least two matches and I think there were probably more than that for me.”
Once a donor was found, the next step was a series of tests, blood and others, to assure there were no underlying issues. It was through those tests, Hannum learned he had prostate cancer. While appreciative that it was discovered, especially since Hannum had no cancer symptoms, the diagnosis was a setback for Hannum, but only a couple months.
Finally cleared for the transplant surgery, Hannum said the next biggest hurdle was scheduling. The surgery took place in December of 2021.
Utilizing technological innovations
Robotic live donor nephrectomy has created even more opportunities for live kidney donation. (Courtesy, Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center)
For patients like Hannum, Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center offer one of the latest technological innovations, robotic live donor nephrectomy. This process has created even more opportunities for live kidney donation. A live kidney donation is when a kidney is removed from one healthy patient and donated to a patient who has renal/kidney failure. Previously, these nephrectomies were performed laparoscopically, using small incisions, with the surgeon using his hands during the procedure.
“With a robotic procedure, we still make incisions into the abdomen, but instead of using two hands, a surgeon has four robotic arms available at one time to also control the instruments and camera,” said Joel Stracke, DO, surgical director of the Kidney Transplant Center. “The nice thing about this approach is that we are able to make the large incision needed to remove the kidney much lower on the patient’s abdomen – under the pant line.”
The robot not only offers remarkable precision during surgery, but studies have shown that following a robotic donor nephrectomy, patients experience less pain and less need for narcotics.
Feeling like your 15 years younger
Every person responds differently to their transplant, Hannum said, adding that in his case, aftercare was mostly routine.
“The moment I woke up from my surgery, I felt better and my wife even told me even before I said anything. She said ‘Your eyes are brighter, and your skin color is different and it’s just amazing,’” he said. “ I can’t describe what it was like to be out of the ‘kidney fog’ just when you wake up.”
While there have been bumps along the way, a year later, Hannum said he feels 100% better, adding that he has felt 15 years younger this past year, “which is pretty fantastic.”
“Our main priority is to provide our patients with individualized, compassionate and expert care,” McNamara said. “Over the last 50 years, our program has become one of the largest and most successful community hospital-based transplant programs in the country. As we look forward to the next 50 years and beyond, we will continue to focus on our patients and their families, offering advanced surgical techniques and innovative donor options that offer more hope to our patients.”
The Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center currently has six surgeons and five nephrologists. In 2022, it completed 102 transplant surgeries: 37 living donor recipients and 65 deceased donor recipients. There are approximately 300 patients at the center currently on the waiting list, 155 which were added last year.
A rendering of the front of the new Southridge Behavioral Hospital which will be located near the corner of 64th Street and Byron Center Avenue. (Courtesy, Trinity Health)
The groundbreaking of new 96-bed freestanding inpatient behavioral health hosptial located near the corner of 64ht Street and Byron Center Avenue is scheduled for this summer as plans for the facility progress.
Southridge Behavioral Hospital is a joint venture partnership between University Health Services and Trinity Health. In June of 2022, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued a Final Order granting Havenwyck Hospital Inc., a subsidiary of University Health Services, a certificate of need approval for 60 adult psychiatric beds, allowing University Health Services and Trinity Health Michigan to move forward with plans for the new facility.
“We are excited for the future opening of Southridge Behavioral Hospital, because we know there is an incredible need for inpatient services in our community,” said Matt Biersack, MD, president of Trinity Health Grand Rapids. “The acquisition of the land and design development are key milestones to making our vision a reality. We are excited to break ground this year, when we will really begin to see the hospital take shape.”
Southridge Behavioral Hospital, which is scheduled to open in 2025, will accommodate up to 96 beds, which includes the 60 adult beds plus 24 geriatric beds previously approved by MDHHS. The facility will be located at 2145 64th St. SW near Trinity Health Medical Center in Byron Center. The location is just south of the City of Wyoming and Byron Center boundary.
The design of the new hospital incorporates modern, innovative, evidence-based care elements that focus on patient safety. Programming will be tailored to individual patient needs, with core psychiatric services and counseling supplemented by enrichment activities such as art therapy, music therapy, pet therapy, and outdoor activity.
The facility will employ approximately 170 full-time and part-time staff including physicians, nurses, therapists, mental health technicians, administration, dietary, and housekeeping personal.
The Southridge Behavioral Hospital is designed to tie into the growing network of behavioral health services in the area, including UHS-operated Forest View Hospital and Trinity Health Michigan’s new partnership with Network 180 to open a Behavioral Health Crisis Center for the rapid availability of assessment services on a walk-in basis.
For more about the Southridge Behavioral Hospital, visit www.soutridgebh.com.
Eliminating noncompete agreements would allow nurses to be better advocate for patients, according to some in favor of the ban on noncompete agreements. (Pxhere.com)
LANSING – The Federal Trade Commission’s recent announcement that it is considering a ban on noncompete employment contracts will improve wages of health care workers, as well as care for patients, according to a policy expert for the nation’s largest nurses union.
FTC Chair Lina Khan said such contracts are bad for workers and prevent wages from raising. In a press release announcing the proposed ban, it was estimated that the change would increase wages by $300 billion a year.
Noncompete contracts are agreements between employees and employers that typically bar workers who resign from taking new jobs in the same industry in the same geographical area for a set period.
The proposed ban, which would bar employers from entering or continuing a noncompete contract, is now in a question and comment period which will last until March 20.
Giving employees more flexibility
Economic Policy Institute President Heidi Shierholz said noncompete contracts are typically used to keep workers from a source of power: quitting and taking another job.
Shierholz said because noncompete contracts prevent people from resigning to work elsewhere, they keep wages low and contribute to a mismatch in the labor market.
“Noncompetes keep people locked in jobs that aren’t necessarily the best job for them,” Shierholz said. “Our whole economy works better when there are good matches between jobs and workers.”
Shierholz, whose institute is a liberal-think tank in Washington, D.C., said about 45% of jobs that require a college degree use a noncompete contract.
According to Bloomberg Law, 45% of primary care physicians are bound by noncompete contracts.
Local case heading to court
Last week, it was announced that Trinity Health Michigan and four surgeons have filed in federal court seeking to have noncompete contracts with Orthopedic Associates of Michigan (OAM). According to the lawsuit, the four surgeons, who worked for OAM, are being prevented from working at Trinity Health Grand Rapids (formerly St. Mary’s) due to noncompete contacts.
As reported by MiBiz, Trinity and the surgeons are alleging that “monopolistic behavior by OAM, which will seriously disrupt care for patients needing orthopedic surgery in Kent County,” and cost Trinity Health Grand Rapids millions of dollars, according to court filings.
According to the lawsuit, OAM, through mergers with other orthopedic groups, has about 64 percent of the market share. It is estimated that Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health) has about a 23 percent share with the rest held by private groups.
Noncompetes limit advocacy
The National Nurses Association, which is the nation’s largest registered nurses’ union, opposes noncompete contracts and similar agreements that prevent nurses from more easily leaving their jobs.
The Michigan Nurses Association, based in Okemos, is its state affiliate.
Brynne O’Neal, a regulatory policy specialist for the union, said noncompete contracts have consequences for patient care because nurses won’t be able to work locally for a period if they resign for any reason, including to protest unsafe patient conditions.
“Nurses are patient advocates,” O’Neal said. “That’s a very core part of their role.
“When employers hold nurses hostage as debtors, nurses can’t speak out about unsafe working conditions and can’t exercise the professional judgment required to provide safe and effective nursing care. Ultimately, patients suffer,” she said.
Other changes FTC is considering
In addition, the FTC is considering banning “training repayment agreement provisions” (TRAP) that require employees to repay their employers for training they underwent to work at the company unless they stay there for a set period of time.
O’Neal said TRAP contracts are a common way for employers to discourage employees from quitting, calling them “de facto noncompete clauses” because employees could incur major costs for leaving their job.
John Karasinski, the Michigan Health and Hospital Association senior director for communications, said the organization has no position about the possible ban on noncompete agreements but would like to see policy changes that bring more health care workers to the state.
The American Hospital Association declined comment on a possible ban, but pointed to a letter cosigned with other business groups which asked the FTC to extend the question and comment period to late April.
Shierholz said that if noncompetes are banned, workers who were subject to them will, over time, see their wages go up because they will more easily be able quit lower-paying positions and take ones with higher pay.
O’Neal, of the nurses’ union, said that a ban will allow nurses to more easily encourage safe patient conditions and keep their jobs.
Joanne Bailey-Boorsma contributed to this story.
Dan Netter is a journalist who started at Michigan State University in 2019. His interest in journalism includes policy reporting, identity reporting and a little bit of news design. Other places where Dan’s work has appeared include The State News and 101.9 WDET-FM. His favorite song is “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye.
Earlier this month, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (“MDHHS”) issued a Final Order granting Havenwyck Hospital, Inc., a subsidiary of Universal Health Services, certificate of need approval for 60 adult psychiatric beds, allowing Universal Health Services and Trinity Health Michigan, in a joint venture, to open a new freestanding inpatient behavioral health hospital in Byron Center, improving access to care for patients.
The new facility will be named Southridge Behavioral Hospital and will be located near Trinity Health’s current facility on 64th Street and Byron Center Avenue. Southridge Behavioral Hospital will accommodate up to 96 beds, including the 60 adult beds plus 24 geriatric beds previously approved by MDHHS. The new facility, to be located near the Trinity Health Medical Center in Byron Center, is anticipated to open in 2024. The hospital will employ approximately 170 full-time and part-time employees including physicians, nurses, therapists, mental health technicians, administration, dietary and housekeeping personnel.
“With CON approval of the 60 inpatient behavioral health beds, we are eager to start construction of the new hospital as expeditiously as possible,” said Diane Henneman, LCSW, Senior Division Vice President, Behavioral Health, UHS. “Trinity Health has a strong reputation as an anchor in West Michigan and we are thrilled to partner with them in bringing more accessible care to more patients – ultimately improving and saving lives.”
The design of the new hospital incorporates today’s modern, innovative, evidence-based care elements that focus on patient safety. Programming will be tailored to individual patient needs, with core psychiatric services and counseling supplemented by enrichment activities such as art therapy, music therapy, pet therapy and outdoor activity.
The new Southridge Behavioral Hospital will seamlessly tie into a growing network of affiliated behavioral health services in the area, including UHS-operated Forest View Hospital and Trinity Health Michigan’s new partnership with Network180 to open a Behavioral Health Crisis Center for the rapid availability of assessment services on a walk-in basis. Further, the new Southridge Behavioral Hospital will provide additional provider and patient choice in the market, specifically at an easily accessible location south of Grand Rapids.
“We look forward to working with UHS to enable the availability of more inpatient behavioral health options in our region,” said Matt Biersack, MD, President of Trinity Health Saint Mary’s. “It is a strategic imperative that we prioritize solutions for individuals in crisis presenting to local hospitals, including our Trinity Health emergency departments, as well as other referral sources. The new facility will be a receiving site enabling initiation of appropriate care, faster.”
In March 2022, an administrative law judge upheld an initial decision by MDHHS to award CON approval for development of the new behavioral health hospital. The Department issued the Final Order approving the project on June 6, 2022.
