Researchers to discuss trends at annual Health Care Economic Forecast

Researchers from Grand Valley and Tulane universities will discuss health-related trends and costs during the 10th annual West Michigan Health Care Economic Forecast, scheduled for January 11 at the Eberhard Center, on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus.

Sponsored by Grand Valley's Office of the Vice Provost for Health, the event will run from 8-9:45 a.m. It is free and open to the public; RSVPs are requested online at gvsu.edu/vphealth. The event will be webcast live, and can be accessed via gvsu.edu/vphealth.

Economics faculty member Sebastian Linde, from the Seidman College of Business, and Kevin Callison, assistant professor of public health and tropical medicine at Tulane, will present the Health Check, which analyzes health care access, risk factors and demographic data from Kent, Ottawa, Allegan and Muskegon counties.

Jean Nagelkerk, vice provost for health, said the report serves as a tool to assist in shaping policy and planning for health care workforce, services and delivery systems.

Following their report, the following area health care leaders will discuss health trends.

• Robert Casalou, president and CEO of Mercy Health & Saint Joseph Mercy Health System

• Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO of Spectrum Health

• Dr. Rakesh Pai, president medical group and chief population health officer of Metro Health University of Michigan Health.

The Health Check report is made possible by a partnership among Grand Valley's Vice Provost for Health and Seidman College of Business, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Blue Care Network, and Priority Health.