Today Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy announced the expansion of our renowned Certified Duchenne Care Center (CDCC) Program with pediatric CDCC certification of the clinic at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital (HDVCH) in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

This is an exciting step for PPMD’s Certified Duchenne Care Center Program as it is the first certification in the state of Michigan and marks the 30th clinic currently holding certification in the US!

Rachel Schrader, MS, APRN, CPNP-PC, PPMD’s Vice President of Clinical Care and Education says the certification of Helen DeVos is a welcome addition to the CDCC network in bringing optimal Duchenne care to Michigan and the greater region:

“For many years, families felt they needed to travel to other states to access standardized care at a CDCC. We are pleased that the certification of HDVCH brings a CDCC to the state of Michigan as well as improves access to care for so many families who live in the region. The team at Helen DeVos is doing great work, and we are excited to recognize that and share it with the community.”

— Rachel Schrader, MS, APRN, CPNP-PC, PPMD’s Vice President of Clinical Care and Education

HDVCH is a growing center and currently serves a population of approximately 60 people living with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy.

Led by its two co-directors, Dr. Jena Krueger and Dr. Steven DeRoos, the HDVCH team is actively engaged in both the continued growth and development of its Duchenne program and in a variety of clinical trial opportunities, ensuring they can bring cutting edge therapies to their patients:

“We are proud to partner with PPMD and honored to receive the CDCC certification. Providing comprehensive, evidence-based, forward-thinking care is important, and we look forward to providing this next-level care to our patients across Michigan.”

— Dr. Jena Krueger, section chief of the pediatric neuromuscular clinic at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital

PPMD’s Certified Duchenne Care Center Program supports standardized, comprehensive care and services for all people living with Duchenne. Certification means centers maintain the highest standards in clinical and sub-specialty services, rapidly apply new evidence-based knowledge, minimize heterogeneity in clinical research outcomes, and comply with standards in clinical care that were established by the CDC’s Care Considerations. As part of its ongoing mission to end Duchenne, PPMD continues to insist that all people with Duchenne receive comprehensive care.

DeAnne Friar, a member of the PPMD Board of Directors and Grand Rapids local whose son receives care at Helen DeVos, shares:

“We could not be more thrilled that HDVCH is now a Certified Duchenne Care Center. It is comforting to know that we are getting the highest level of Duchenne care right here in Michigan.”

To learn more about PPMD’s Certified Duchenne Care Center Program, visit PPMD’s website. Click here to learn more about the history of PPMD’s Certified Duchenne Care Center Program and to access PPMD’s first published article on the program.