State Rep. Nancy DeBoer (R-Holland) testified this week before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) in support of her $1.7 million direct funding request for Holland Hospital to expand advanced endoscopy services.

Joining DeBoer during testimony were Joe Bonello, Chief Clinical Officer at Holland Hospital, and Mark Pawlak, President of Holland Hospital.

“This funding would make a real difference for families here in the community,” said DeBoer. “Right now, too many people are waiting too long or traveling out of town to get the care they need. This investment helps bring those services closer to home, so patients can get answers sooner, start treatment faster, and spend less time worrying.”

The proposed funding would support the creation of a dedicated procedure room and the purchase of specialized equipment needed for advanced endoscopy, which is minimally invasive procedures used to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the digestive system, pancreas, liver, and more. Currently, many patients in the region face long wait times or must travel outside the area for care. 

“With the help from the state, not only would this program help us enhance care for the patients in our local area, but it provides an additional resource for the region for services and procedures that are actually quite difficult to get into,” said Pawlak. “There is a need for additional procedure space not just in Ottawa and Allegan Counties, but also the surrounding areas as well.”

“Advanced endoscopy is used to treat diseases identified during general endoscopy,” said Bonello. “Once something is detected, we can then go in and treat using advanced endoscopy techniques. The real advantage is that these procedures are minimally invasive, allowing us to avoid surgery.”

If approved, the funding would:

• Expand access to advanced endoscopy services in the Lakeshore community
• Reduce patient wait times and the need for travel
• Support continued physician recruitment and workforce growth
• Improve overall patient outcomes through earlier diagnosis and treatment

“Holland Hospital is a vital resource to the community’s health, and it is also an economic driver in the area,” said DeBoer. “Investing in the hospital is an investment in the long-term health and stability of our entire community. Patients deserve access to high-quality, timely care close to home.”