Grand Rapids Business Journal

A 1-year-old alliance designed to fill an advocacy and support gap for second-stage manufacturers in Michigan is finding its footing amid the disruption of 2020.

Experts in the field of health care, as well as those in the design and construction of hospital systems, have been talking for many years about maximizing existing care space and expanding outpatient facilities and telehealth options, but COVID-19 exposed many flaws in hospital systems and brought these issues to the forefront of hospital innovation.

Spectrum Health is inviting area providers and the community to discuss advancements in cancer diagnosis, treatment and innovation at the Spectrum Health Cancer Center 2020 Oncology Symposium.

ALLENDALE — Students at Grand Valley State University were ordered Wednesday to hunker down for two weeks due to a spike in coronavirus cases linked to the West Michigan campus.

A pathogen control technology maker in Grand Haven is partnering with Corning to scale its clean air products line.

CVS opened two more COVID-19 test sites in Grand Rapids.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services notified the Kent County Health Department it will conduct aerial spraying in high-risk areas in 10 counties throughout the state to combat further spread of the deadly disease Eastern equine encephalitis.

Spectrum Health is launching one of the Midwest’s first curbside vaccination programs.

Bronson Battle Creek is making plans to significantly expand access to inpatient behavioral health services by 2022.

SpartanNash announced select Family Fare and D&W Fresh Market pharmacies in West Michigan now offer free COVID-19 testing.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services released its first findings from the North Kent County Exposure Assessment, a public health investigation to learn about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) levels in the blood of people in northern Kent County due to well water contamination.

A clinic that offers applied behavior analysis services opened its first clinic in West Michigan and ninth location in the state.

Grand Rapids residents Dawn Hoiem and Evan Koch are on a mission to raise Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness in Michigan, even amid COVID-19.

Metro Health-University of Michigan Health became the first health care system in West Michigan to offer the newest generation of minimally invasive robotic surgery in an outpatient setting.

In an effort to help stem the economic pain being experienced by Michigan’s small businesses and their employees, Health Alliance Plan, through its annual rate filing with the state Department of Insurance and Financial Services, requested approval to reduce premiums for its small employer group market.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a new executive order reopening Michigan’s gyms and pools in regions where they previously remained closed to halt the spread of COVID-19, according to a statement from her office.

A local university received its largest academic grant of $1 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration to fight opioid misuse.

A hospital group in Kalamazoo announced the opening of its expanded surgical care services.

Holland’s Big Lake Brewing announced a $2,500 donation to Holland Hospital in proceeds from sales of the brewery’s specially crafted Healthcare Heroes beer.

Veteran health care leader Ingrid Cheslek was recently appointed to chief operating officer of Mary Free Bed.

In a cooperative effort with the Michigan Dental Association, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan will donate $1 million for the procurement and distribution of emergency personal protective equipment to support dentists and patients statewide amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Mercy Health Muskegon recently earned Stewardship Center of Excellence designation from the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

LANSING — The state on Friday fined six Michigan businesses thousands of dollars for allegedly not protecting workers from the coronavirus, in what was described as an initial round of citations as regulators confront a five-fold increase in safety complaints during the pandemic.

Five Michigan organizations came together to make $575,000 available for health care providers to develop solutions to suicide, especially among populations experiencing health disparities. 

Baxter Community Center is hosting a community-based doula program following the hiring of Kiara Baskin, the initiative's first program manager.