VP of Medical Affairs' Message

Dear Physicians,
It’s hard to express in words the special and unique atmosphere we have at Saint Mary’s Health Care. We sincerely value and respect one another and foster exceptional teamwork throughout the organization. The medical staff leadership and management team are highly aligned and dedicated to offering effective, individualized, patient care for the mind, body and spirit.

Saint Mary’s encompasses more than 2,400 employees, a 344-bed, JCAHO-accredited teaching hospital, three fitness centers, five community outreach centers and affiliations with home health care, rehabilitation services, and the area's premier primary care network, Advantage Health Physician Network. We are also a member of Trinity Health, the country’s fourth-largest Catholic health care system. Our commitment to offer the latest technology and most highly skilled physicians in a holistic, patient-centered environment has made us a progressive leader in cancer care, neuroscience, orthopedics, diabetes and endocrine care, kidney transplants, and integrative health care.

Our partnerships with the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Van Andel Institute, and TGen provide world-class research capabilities and have created the opportunity for Saint Mary’s to expand in the area of clinical trials, primarily in oncology and neuroscience. Recognized by the National Cancer Institute, The Lacks Cancer Center at Saint Mary’s is among 14 new sites chosen to join a national network of community cancer centers offering expanded research opportunities and state-of-the-art cancer care. The new Hauenstein Center at Saint Mary’s brings together all outpatient and inpatient neuroscience services under one roof, and also boasts a new Level-II emergency, trauma facility, and critical care unit.

We are committed to bringing the most effective technological advancements to bear for the treatment and care of our patients. Saint Mary’s was an early adopter of Cerner, an electronic medical record (EMR) system. Since the implementation of EMR, we have seen decreases in morbidity, mortality, and the cost of care. We are also area leaders in robotic surgery with the use of the daVinci Surgical System. Our team of 15 surgeons have collectively performed over 1,000 daVinci-assisted surgeries.

Centrally located in the Heartside district of downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, Saint Mary’s is a vibrant organization with a bright future in health care. We are honored to have earned the Governor’s Award of Excellence and named one of West Michigan’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. I know you will appreciate the friendly, progressive atmosphere we have to offer at Saint Mary's Health Care.

Kindest regards,

David D. Baumgartner M.D.
Vice President of Medical Affairs