Spectrum Health has ramped up its planning for COVID-19 as the number of cases around the country grows. Director of Emergency Preparedness Julie Bulson tells WSJM News they opened their command center last week, and it’s in contact with all Spectrum hospitals.
“We’ve been meeting at least 12 hours a day every day during the week, really focusing on the intensity of the response at this point,” Bulson said. “Knowing that we now have cases across the United States and also a couple of cases in Michigan seems to really be escalating our response.”
How would Spectrum respond if someone showed up at one of its hospitals with coronavirus-like symptoms?
“We’re screening at all entry points within our facilities, really focusing on travel locations, if they’ve had any potential exposure to anyone that has traveled or has the disease, and then from an emergency department perspective and even in our ambulatory physician practices, at that point if they answered yes, we would place a mask on the patient and bring them into an isolated room.”
Bulson tells us there is one important thing for everyone to know.
“I would say the most important message is to not panic. 80% of the patients who end up with COVID-19 can actually stay at home and take care of themselves. They don’t need to be admitted into the hospital. Knowing that, if you’re not feeling well, please don’t go to work. Please stay home. Don’t go out into public.”
As for visitors to the hospitals, Spectrum is discussing new procedures.
“We’re actually looking at enacting some healthy screenings for visitors who come into our facilities. We’re trying to ensure that our visitors are only coming in a few entrances as opposed to several entrances so we can really control that traffic, [and also] making sure that people are healthy. So they would more than likely be greeted by somebody in one of our lobbies and asked who they’re going to go see, if they are feeling healthy, if they’ve had any travel exposure or COVID exposure, and then we’d be able to give them further direction based on what their answers are.”
Bulson says now is not the best time to be visiting someone at a hospital. If you can visit your loved one virtually, then do that. She also reminds everyone virtual screenings for coronavirus are being offered. Go to SpectrumHealth.org/Covid19 to learn about that program.
