Annual Report 2006

The Community’s Health Care Coalition   

The Alliance for Health is a community coalition that relies on the power of partnership to accomplish its mission.  We bring together providers, insurers, purchasers of health care, government representatives, consumers and committed citizens to improve health, improve access, improve quality and improve the cost effectiveness of the health care system.   

With our partners, we uphold these values:  Accountability, Collaboration, Open Dialogue, Continuous Improvement, Inclusiveness, Honesty & Integrity. 

We lead the community’s discussion about health, helping to identify and prioritize health issues.  We are a catalyst in solving health issues due to our unique ability to convene diverse groups, ask key questions and develop support and consensus among our partners and the community we represent. 

Leadership – Board of Directors

Chair of the Board -  Rosa Fraga, WIN Services
First Vice Chair  -  Norman Felker – Michigan Community Blood Centers
Second Vice Chair  - Khan Nedd, MD – Infusion Associates NE
Treasurer - Win Irwin – Irwin Seating Company
Secretary -  Honorable Walter Urick – Oceana Co. Probate & Family Court

Richard Breon – Spectrum Health System
Netty Cove – Mecosta County Medical Center
Frederick R Deane, MD, MPH – Community Volunteer
Robert J Dugan, Esq – Rhoades McKee
Lawrence Emig – Osceola County Commission
David Gast – Steelcase Inc
Meg Goebel – Paul Goebel Group
Donald Hall – Oakview Medical Care Facility
Michael Harris, PhD – Ferris State University
James R Kenyon – Pinnacle Insurance Partners
Connie Larson – Eagle Alloy
Honorable Dennis B Leiber – Kent County Circuit Court
Harold Mast – Genesis Non-Profit Housing Corp & Kent Co Commission
Joyce Moore – Alticor, Inc
Donald Oetman – United Auto Workers, Region 1-D
Wendy Ohst – Muskegon County Dept of Employment & Training
Jeffrey Padnos – Padnos Iron & Metal Company
Thomas Peterson, MD – Spectrum Health Healthier Communities
Paul Ponstein, DO – Westshore Health Network
Kevin Seitz – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Roger Spoelman – Mercy General Health Partners
Carole Valade – Gemini Publications
Jennifer VanSkiver – Rockford Construction Company
Terri Weekley – Weekley & Associates
Robert Wolford – Grand Rapids Ophthalmology

 Accomplishments in 2006

· 25 new contributing members joined the Alliance for Health in 2006.  In all there were a total of 224 members.  22 current members increased contribution levels.

· Once in a Blue Moon celebrated its 10^th year as the Alliance for Health’s major gala and fundraiser at the Public Museum of Grand Rapids on March 14, 2006. Over $60,000 was raised to support our programs and activities.  The 2^nd Annual HILLMAN AWARD was presented in honor of exemplary dedication and commitment to continually improving our area’s health care system.  HILLMAN AWARD recipients were:

William E. Sprague, MD
Medical Health Care Advocate

Mary Free Bed Guild
Community Health Care Advocate 

Blue Cross Blue Shield/Blue Care Network of Michigan was the Presenting Sponsor, Holland Hospital was the Hillman Award Sponsor. Supporting sponsors included Grand Valley Health Plan, MPRO and Spectrum Health. PPOM was Ticket Sponsor and the Grand Rapids Business Journal was print media sponsor.  Corporate sponsors were:
 

 · The 2^nd Annual Chuck Zech Memorial Golf Outing was held and with 88 golfers participating, raised over $17,000.  Title sponsor was PPOM.  Game sponsor was Metro Health Hospital, with beverage station sponsors Delta Dental Plan of Michigan and North Ottawa Community Health System.  Water Bottle Sponsors were Saint Mary’s Health Care and Spectrum Health.  Media Sponsor was Grand Rapids Business Journal.  Also participating as Team Sponsors were:  Advanced Radiology, Aetna, Berends Hendricks Stuit, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Blue Care Network of Michigan, Grand Valley Health Plan, Grotenhuis, Kent Health Plan, Mercantile Bank and UAW Region 1-D.

· The Evaluation Board handled 78 projects seeking a Certificate of Need.  Proposals included significant hospital construction, new facilities and added beds for long-term care, replacement and upgrades for technology and new ambulatory care surgical centers.  22 substantive projects were endorsed, 2 were not endorsed, 15 non-substantive projects were endorsed, 19 files were closed with no review and 20 projects remained pending at year-end.  The total capital expense proposed by these projects was $607,325,600.

· The Planning Board issued several West Michigan Health Scorecards.  Health topics reported to the community included: emergency medical services and substance use disorders. 

· The West Michigan Business Group on Health is in the process of re-organizing and recruiting new members to serve on 4 work groups that will concentrate on various cost containing measures. These include (1) employer-provider strategies (2) data strategies, (3) employer-employee strategies and (4) employer-employer strategies. 

· The Business Group conducted the Annual Survey of Employer Health Plan Costs in cooperation with The Employers’ Association.  130 West Michigan companies participated. Of interest this year is that about 20% of respondents are now offering HSAs or HRAs.  59% made changes to their employee premium contribution and 67% increased the employee contribution. 

· The Business Group on Health participated in the nationally recognized eValue8  program that originated locally.  A partnership between businesses and health plans, HMOs and PPOs were evaluated and the annual Consumer Guide was updated.  This year, the HMOs were rated for quality and health improvement programs in the areas of coronary artery disease and diabetes.

· The Physician Advisory Group led an initiative for quality, physician measurement and interconnectivity. This resulted in the development of an application for a highly competitive Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Grant that was pending at year-end.  The group plans to promote the development of a West Michigan Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO. 

· The West Michigan Nursing Advisory Council celebrated Nurses Week with a gala attended by 300 nurses from throughout the region. Schools in the region have been increasing the number of nursing graduates – 523 RNs graduated in 2005/06 compared to 295 in 2001/02.  The emphasis for addressing the shortage is moving toward the need for additional faculty.  WMNAC is collaborating with the Office of the Chief Nurse Executive for the State of Michigan to develop new strategies including adding slots in fast-track master’s programs, recruiting faculty from clinical nursing and tapping into underutilized faculty capacity.

· Health Expo celebrated its 25th event, featuring 68 booths offering exhibits and health screening at Rogers Plaza Town Center.  Visitors were encouraged to walk “The Path to Health” and partake of the many screening and educational services available.  Student nurses from GVSU were available to consult with visitors and help interpret their screening results.  More than 1,300 flu shots were provided and 180 lung function tests.  More than 200 laboratory blood tests were provided at a reduced cost to participants. Additional screenings included blood pressure checks, pulse oximetry, hearing checks and blood typing.  The following organizations sponsored Health Expo in 2006:

 · The West Central Michigan Health Care Regional Skills Alliance (RSA) increased activities in several projects that address health care workforce needs, made possible through a WIRED grant award as one of 12 “innovations” through the West Michigan Strategic Alliance. Among the projects are a proposal to analyze the health care education system through a LEAN approach, development of the concept of a regional health career website to provide health career information to stakeholders, planning a pilot employer assessment process for employees, and expanding collaboration with different groups such as Intermediate School Districts, employers, educators and Michigan Works Agencies. Over $1.6 million was brought into the region through accelerated training grants recommended by the RSA Board of Directors. 

· First Friday Forums provided an excellent opportunity for the community to explore current key health issues. Forums were videotaped each month and broadcast on Grand Rapids Cable TV24.  Tapes and DVDs are available for loan to members. The following 58 organizations sponsored the 18^th season: 

· The news media frequently requests input and comment on many health care issues, as evidenced by numerous articles and interviews. 

· The agency is a member of the Statewide Advisory Council of the State Planning Project for the Uninsured. 

· The agency is involved on an ongoing basis with advisory boards of many area organizations including FSU’s College of Allied Health Sciences, GVSU’s Kirkhof College of Nursing and College of Health Professions, ACSET, Grand Rapids African American Health Institute, Kent Health Plan, Kent Intermediate School District, Kent County Medical Reserve Corps, Grand Valley Blood Program and several of the Standards Advisory Committees of the state’s Certificate of Need program.

Partners & Volunteers

Click here for a list of members (partners)
Click here for a list of volunteers.