Spectrum, Beaumont Health merge

Tina Freese Decker. Courtesy Spectrum Health

Spectrum Health and Beaumont Health solidified plans to create a new health system and named the board of directors and system leadership team.

The new health system will launch Feb. 1 and temporarily will be known as BHSH System.

“We are grateful for all of our physicians, nurses and team members. Their compassion, expertise and dedication have saved many lives during this pandemic,” said Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO of Spectrum Health, and future BHSH system president and CEO. “As we launch our new health system, we have a bold goal to transform health and are thrilled to unite our two great organizations. Together, we will leverage our complementary strengths to innovate and make a positive impact for our communities and their health. We look forward to working with our physicians, team members, patients, health plan members and partners across our state to provide health care and coverage that is accessible, affordable, equitable and exceptional.”

Julie Fream. Courtesy Spectrum Health

Beaumont Health Board Chair and incoming BHSH System Board Chair Julie Fream also said the partnership will enhance care for communities.

“Our focus, as we launch our new health system, is to continue to provide excellent health care and coverage in our communities,” she said. “We look forward to continuing to partner with our patients, team members and health plan members as we build a new organization designed to improve the health of the communities we serve.”

The BHSH System board of directors includes seven members appointed by Spectrum Health and seven by Beaumont Health. Decker also will serve on the board in addition to one more board member who will be named later in the year.

Other BHSH board members

Dr. Christopher Carpenter

Mark Davidoff

Doug DeVos

Dr. Marija Grahovac

Ronald Hall

Dr. Angel Hernandez

Philomena Mantella

Timothy O’Brien

William Payne

Robert Roth

Thomas Saeli

Michael Todman

Sean Welsh, vice chair

BHSH System leadership

Jason Joseph, chief digital and information officer

Matthew Cox, chief financial officer

Pamela Ries, chief integration officer

David Leonard, chief legal officer

Jeremy Harper, chief marketing and consumer experience officer

Nancy Susick, interim president, BHSH Beaumont Health

Loren Hamel, president, BHSH Spectrum Health Lakeland, and strategic adviser, BHSH System

Dr. Darryl Elmouchi, president, BHSH Spectrum Health West Michigan

Praveen Thadani, president, Priority Health

Open positions

Chief inclusion, equity, diversity and social impact officer

Chief integrity and risk officer

Chief people officer

Chief strategy officer

BHSH System will conduct internal and national searches to fill open and interim positions including the national search currently underway for the president of BHSH Beaumont Health. John Fox, current president, plans to leave Beaumont Health on Feb. 4.

“I am very proud of our Beaumont team members for their many accomplishments, and I’m especially proud of the compassionate, extraordinary care they have provided for our patients throughout this long pandemic. I’m confident BHSH System will become one of the best health care systems in the nation,” Fox said.

With the creation of the new health system, all patients will have ongoing access to the same sites of care, physicians, health providers and insurance plans.

“The tremendous talent within these two organizations will be a beacon for others who share this vision for a new health system and the positive change it will create,” said Sean Welsh, current Spectrum Health board chair and incoming BHSH System board vice chair.

More information about BHSH System is here.