Sixth annual health forecast set

Health care professionals and economics faculty members will present trends and predictions about the state of health among residents in West Michigan at an annual summit.

Nearly 500 people are expected to attend the sixth annual West Michigan Health Care Economic Forecast, set for Friday, January 9, at the Eberhard Center.

The event is sponsored by Grand Valley State University’s Office of the Vice Provost for Health, Seidman College of Business Alumni Association and the Alliance for Health. It will begin with a breakfast at 7:30 a.m., presentations at 8 a.m.

Jean Nagelkerk, vice provost for Health, said the annual health check forecast is intended to inform policies and community decisions about health care services, costs and delivery systems that would best suit the needs of residents.

The 2015 Health Check Report was led by Grand Valley economics professors Paul Isely and Sonia Dalmia, with colleagues Leslie Muller and Kevin Callison. Information for the data cost averages for the study were provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield and Priority Health. New to the report this year is a section on women’s health. 

A panel of experts will follow the Health Check Report and discuss West Michigan health care trends.

Panelists are Mike Faas, president of Metro Health; Dr. Karen Kennedy, Browning Claytor Center, Mercy Health Saint Mary’s; Chris Priest, senior advisor to Gov. Rick Snyder; and Dr. Corey Waller, Center for Integrative Medicine, Spectrum Health.