1959

Community Chest and Council of Social Agencies merged to form the United Community Services of Kent County. This organization had two divisions - United Fund and Planning.

1962

Health Council (organized in 1948) merged into the Planning Division of United Community Services and standing Health Steering Committee created within the Planning Division, concerned primarily with voluntary and public health services.

1963

Merged City of Grand Rapids and Kent County Health Departments into one unit.

1965

Hospital and Related Facilities Planning Unit organized by the United Community Services Planning Division; concerned particularly with hospital and nursing home facilities.

1966

Hospital and Related Facilities Planning Unit awarded federal Hill-Burton matching funds for facilities planning.

1968

Hospital and Related Facilities Planning Unit and 1962 Health Steering Committee merged to become the Areawide Comprehensive Health Planning Unit (ACHPU). ACHPU designated under the new comprehensive health planning legislation (Section 314 (b) of Public Law 89-749).

1968

Developed master plan for Kent County Medical Care Complex (Kent Community/Kent Oaks Hospitals).

1969

West Shore Health Planning Council became operational, planning for Mason, Oceana and Muskegon Counties.

1970

Kent County Health Care Facilities Study Committee (Hillman Commission) appointed by the Areawide Comprehensive Health Planning Unit.

1971

Neighborhood Health Services planned and organized in Grand Rapids.

1971

Bachelor of Science in Nursing program planned for Grand Valley State University.

1972

ACHPU became separately incorporated from the United Way of Kent County (formerly United Fund and Community Services) and name changed to West Michigan Comprehensive Health Planning Unit (WMCHPU). West Shore Health Planning Council (Mason, Oceana and Muskegon Counties) merged into WMCHPU to form a twelve county service area.

1972

Michigan Certificate of Need and Federal Section 1122 laws enacted and WMCHPU designated area review responsibilities.

1972

Merged duplicative blood banking services in Kent County; Grand Valley Blood Program organized.

1973

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) systems planning initiated, enhancing rescue extrication, communications, EMT training, and special trauma services.

1973

School dental disease programs developed and implemented in cooperation with West Michigan District Dental Society.

1973

West Central Michigan Hospital Council organized.

1974

Areawide burn care services network planned.

1974

Regional poison center established and funded at Spectrum Health Blodgett Campus.

1974

Feasibility for first area HMO established.

1974

Merged psychiatric programs in Muskegon County; secured public millage support.

1975

New health planning legislation enacted, (Public Law 93-641, The National Health Planning and Resource Development Act of 1974), replacing the comprehensive health planning law (P.L. 89-749).

1976

WMCHPU designated as official health systems agency for West Central Michigan and name changed to the West Michigan Health Systems Agency (WMHSA).

1976

Kent County EMS organized.

1978

First Annual Health Expo sponsored to provide health screening, education and resource awareness.

1984

Labor Task Force on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention organized to educate union members.

1986

National Health Planning and Resource Development Act and federal funding expired.

1986

First regional AIDS Committee organized by the West Michigan Health Systems Agency.

1988

WMHSA changed name to the Alliance for Health, made organizational modifications and eliminated geographic limitations.

1988

Michigan Certificate of Need (CON) law revised and the Alliance for Health continued designation as review agency for West Michigan.

1989

Initial monthly First Friday Forum sponsored to engage discussion and debate about current health issues.

1989

Commission on Future Directions in Health Care, an autonomous body asked by the Alliance for Health to review future needs, concluded that competition in health care has a very limited role, and that cooperative planning at the local and areawide level is very much needed.

1991

Special Ad Hoc Committee, chaired by Judge Stuart Hoffius recommended the Alliance for Health continue to participate in the State Certificate of Need process.

1992

West Michigan Trauma Network organized by Alliance for Health responding to physician and hospital requests.

1992

Fitness West Michigan organized as regional arm of Governor’s Fitness Council.

1993

Special Kent County Area Health Care Facilities Study (Hillman Commission), chaired by U.S. District Judge Douglas W. Hillman, commissioned by Alliance for Health to prepare comprehensive review of hospital plans in the greater Grand Rapids area and to make appropriate recommendations for the future. The far-reaching recommendations provide a blueprint for the community.

1994

Value Improvement Partners (VIP) Project created to evaluate the effectiveness of area health plans. This evolved into the nationwide eValue8 program, now coordinated by the National Business Coalition on Health.

1995

West Michigan CMH System organized through merger of Lake, Mason and Oceana Community Mental Health.

1996

West Michigan Occupational Health Initiative organized to develop cooperative standards.

1997

Public Inebriate Shelter planned for Kent County.

2001

Kent Health Plan Corporation incorporated as a community coalition to provide health care coverage for the uninsured in Kent County.

2002

West Michigan Nurses Advisory Council became a part of the Alliance for Health, initially focusing on the area’s nursing shortage.

2004

West Central Michigan Health Care Regional Skills Alliance (RSA) organized in partnership with 5 area Michigan Works! Agencies, working to develop and maintain a system to assure a supply of qualified employees for health care employers and systematically provide health care careers for displaced workers.

2006

WIRED West Michigan selected the RSA to align the workforce development and education systems around the emerging skill requirements of the health care sector.