Trends in West Michigan health care are looking good overall,
according to two Grand Valley State University economic experts. Hari
Singh, professor of economics in the Seidman College of Business, and
Paul Isely, associate professor and chair of economics in the Seidman
College of Business, shared information about the West Michigan health
care economic forecast in Loosemore Auditorium January 6.
Isely said health care employment in Grand Rapids is growing at
a good rate compared to the rest of the country. “Physician assistant
and nursing jobs are good and getting better than projections from a
year ago,” Isely said.
Isely explained that numerous factors are driving the cost of
health care up, like overuse of the emergency room and uncompensated
visits. He said living healthier lifestyles and encouraging better
prenatal care for mothers are two main ways to bring costs down.
Singh said one of the key factors in their forecast is that
health officials report that overall confidence in the health care
system is high, at about 88 percent.
The event also featured area health care professionals who gave
predictions for health care in 2011. Those panelists included Richard
Breon, CEO of Spectrum Health; Michael Hampton, vice president for
Raymond James and Associates; Dominic Siciliano, president of West
Michigan Area Health Underwriters; and Susan Sevensma, director of
medical education at Metro Health Hospital.
The event was sponsored by Grand Valley’s Vice Provost for
Health, Seidman College of Business Alumni Association and the
Alliance for Health.
DOWNLOADABLE AUDIO:
* Paul Isely said overall, the health care forecast for West
Michigan in 2011 is positive (audio).
* Isely said there is an increase in the need for physician
assistants and nurses in West Michigan (audio).
* Isely said many things continue to drive the cost of health
care up (audio).
* Isely said one of the biggest drivers in increased cost is low
birth weight babies (audio).
