Pediatric services joint venture kicks off expansion of access to specialty care for patients in the Mid-Michigan region

ANN ARBOR and LANSING, MI - Sparrow Health System and Michigan Medicine, the academic medical center of the University of Michigan, today celebrated their joint venture to expand pediatric services offered through the Sparrow Children’s Center.

In an event at the Gathering Place at Sparrow, leaders of both health systems hailed the new collaboration as vital in allowing Mid-Michigan residents to receive world-class sub-specialty care without having to leave the area.

MBN was on hand for coverage of this event here are four PodCasts with audio from the celebration and follow-up interviews. 

“Phase one of this agreement involves pediatric services and will ensure that young Patients and their families have access to specialty care options close to home, right here at Sparrow,” said James Dover, President and CEO, Sparrow Health System, who welcomed and closed this celebration.  

“Our goal is that local families not have to leave the area for tertiary, or sub-specialty, care and this is one more step in making it happen. We want our young patients to be able to stay and be near the important people in their lives.”

C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, the only children’s hospital in Michigan ranked among the nation’s top children’s hospitals in every specialty evaluated by U.S. News & World Report, already provides pediatric cardiology, pediatric gastroenterology and pediatric surgery services through clinics at the Sparrow Medical Professional Building. The new relationship is expected to strengthen existing clinical partnerships and create additional pediatric specialty service availability in the communities Sparrow serves.

“With the help of Michigan Medicine, children in our area will receive sub-specialty care with the kind of depth that they can remain near the most important people in their lives. And that is something to celebrate, as we’re doing today,” said Stephen Guertin, M.D., Director of the Sparrow Children’s Center, and third in the order of October 3rd's program.

These expanded services will complement the care already provided by MSU and Sparrow employed physicians. This does not impact Sparrow’s existing relationship with MSU’s College of Human Medicine and College of Osteopathic Medicine.

In addition to expanded access to pediatric specialty care, hospital officials predict the collaboration will significantly enhance the patient experience and lead to more coordinated care for pediatric patients from around the region.

“Our shared vision of providing the highest quality care, as close to home as possible, has never been more evident,” said David Spahlinger, M.D., president of the University of Michigan Health System and executive vice dean for clinical affairs at the U-M Medical School, who was second to deliver remarks on the day.

“This pediatric joint venture is the most outwardly visible manifestation of our collaborations, and we are proud of what it means for the children and families we serve.”

The affiliation agreement also includes a minority investment by Michigan Medicine in Sparrow’s health plan, Physicians Health Plan.  

The affiliation agreement also signals an intention to work together on future opportunities that may be developed by teams of physicians and leaders from both systems.    

Both organizations will now appoint representatives to an oversight committee that will approve all proposed cooperative agreements, and to teams that will work on specific proposals. Also delivering remarks during that occasion was Ronald Hirschl, M.D.,Section Head, Pediatric Surgery, Associate Medical Director of Strategic Planning and Business Development, Michigan Medicine.

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About Sparrow Health System: Sparrow is mid-Michigan’s premier healthcare organization that includes hospitals in Lansing, Charlotte, St. Johns, Ionia and Carson City as well as Physicians Health Plan, Sparrow Care Network, Sparrow Medical Group and the Michigan Athletic Club. Sparrow is affiliated with Michigan State University’s three human health colleges and is the first health system to enter into partnership with the prestigious Mayo Clinic Care Network in Michigan. Through these partnerships and the dedication of our 10,000 Caregivers, Sparrow pursues a vision to be nationally recognized as a leader in quality and Patient experience. For more information, visit sparrow.org.

About Michigan Medicine: At Michigan Medicine, the academic medical center of University of Michigan, we advance health to serve Michigan and the world. We pursue excellence every day in our three hospitals, 40 outpatient locations and home care operations that handle more than 2.1 million outpatient visits a year. Michigan Medicine hospitals were ranked number 5 in the country by U.S. News and World Report for 2018-19. The U-M Medical School is one of the nation's biomedical research powerhouses, with total research funding of more than $470 million. More information is available at www.michiganmedicine.org