The Cardiovascular Network of West Michigan is a joint operating agreement between Trinity Health Muskegon, Trinity Health Saint Mary’s and University of Michigan Health-West. The network has formed to provide choice and access to world-class cardiovascular care and is designed to leverage the expertise of University of Michigan Health’s Frankel Cardiovascular Center, one of the nation’s highest-rated centers for cardiology and heart surgery. Learn more about the CNWM network partners.
With Certificate of Need (CON) approval on March 25, 2021, the CVNWM is moving forward with launching a second open-heart surgery program for the Grand Rapids area. The network would become the latest innovative partnership to expand regional cooperation in advanced medical services.
Program Need
West Michigan — the fastest-growing region in the state — has seen an expanding need for advanced cardiovascular services. The Grand Rapids market is the largest in the state with a single open-heart program. This has been the case for decades, even as smaller communities, such as Lansing and Kalamazoo, are served by multiple providers.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. The members of the Cardiovascular Network of West Michigan believe our community deserves choice and options for the most advanced care, with access to the finest medical minds, sophisticated treatments, and groundbreaking clinical trials.
Procedures
Cardiovascular procedures will include coronary artery bypass surgery, cardiac valve repair or replacement, repair for birth defects of the heart, and other advanced services.
Patients
Cardiovascular patients will continue to receive the patient-centered care they have always experienced. Heart and vascular medicine physicians and services from each organization will continue to expand services through offices in Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Grand Haven, Holland, Ludington and Muskegon.
When advanced services such as open-heart surgery are required, patients will now have options close to home and within the same network.
Providers
The CVNWM will include physicians from all four of the hospitals. It is worth noting each of these organizations have effective collaborations already in place for cardiovascular care. The open-heart program at Trinity Health Muskegon has been in place since 1982 and is now staffed by Michigan Medicine surgeons. And Michigan Medicine physicians already provide electrophysiology services at Trinity Health Muskegon, Trinity Health Saint Mary’s, and University of Michigan Health-West.
Timing
To expedite the launch of services, the program will initially be based in existing space at University of Michigan Health-West in Wyoming. Later phases of the plan call for a dedicated facility.
Collaboration
Each of the organizations has recognized collaboration as a progressive way to expand access and choice in high-quality healthcare while finding ways to capitalize on their individual strengths and resources to create efficient and effective programs. In 2020, Trinity Health, University of Michigan Health-West and Michigan Medicine formed the Cancer Network of West Michigan to provide cancer patients with broader regional access to advanced, state-of-the-art, comprehensive diagnosis, treatment, and support.