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March 3, 2005Hospitals team up to boost pediatric servicesDeVos serves children in 37 countiesByRecord-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY - A new partnership between Munson Medical Center and DeVos Children's Hospital aims to make it easier for area children to obtain specialized pediatric services. Munson is one of 14 western Michigan hospitals teaming up with DeVos for Partners in Children's Health, an effort to help improve regional pediatric care. For this community, that will mean enhanced access to resources that complement local services, said Robert Sprunk, a Munson pediatrician. "This solidifies a relationship that has been ongoing," he said. "We have had a close relationship with DeVos and they are very responsive to our needs." Sprunk said local pediatricians long have provided quality primary care for children, but patients often receive out-of-town referrals for specialty pediatric services like heart and cancer care because Traverse City is a smaller community. The affiliation with DeVos will smooth those transitions with enhanced transfer and admission of Munson patients to the Grand Rapids hospital, Sprunk said. DeVos employs more than 100 specialists and serves children in 37 counties. The new alliance will provide opportunities for community education programs, increased pediatric specialty clinics and expanded professional education for local physicians and clinical staff. DeVos currently holds two northern Michigan pediatric specialty clinics each month and will add a third clinic with the possibility of more. Hospitals in Charlevoix, Kalamazoo, Holland and Zeeland also are part of the partnership, and more may join in coming months.
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