Grand Rapids Hospitals Enacting Visitor Restrictions

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Jan. 8, 2020 – Working to meet the challenge of caring for the community amid an influx of respiratory illness, Grand Rapids hospitals are asking those who are ill to refrain from visiting hospitalized friends or family members. One of the most important tools in fighting the transmission of infection is limiting exposure.
Michigan is among the hardest hit states for respiratory illnesses this season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Respiratory illnesses, including RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), can be especially dangerous to the young, frail or elderly.

Visitors are asked to respect the following restrictions:

If you are ill, please refrain from visiting the hospital
All visitors are expected to be healthy and the hospitals are taking active steps to protect patients, staff and visitors.

A healthy visitor is someone who does not have the following symptoms:

Fever, greater than 100.4 F
Cough
Sore throat
Runny nose or congestion
Vomiting or diarrhea
Rash or draining sores
Only healthy visitors may visit patients in the hospitals or outpatient locations

Anyone with the above symptoms should consider a video visit with a provider, an appointment with their primary care physician or an urgent care visit.

These restrictions apply to visitors at Mercy Health Saint Mary’s, Metro Health – University of Michigan and all Spectrum Health hospitals and are effective until further notice. The measures are designed to protect vulnerable patients, as well as staff members. The hospitals will continue to monitor the situation and stay in contact with clinical leaders at health systems across the state to collaboratively and effectively address the situation.

###

Contacts:

Beth Cranson
Spectrum Health
616.540.0813
elizabeth.cranson@spectrumhealth.org

Amy Rotter
Mercy Health
616.260.5101
amy.rotter@mercyhealth.com

Jamie Allen
Metro Health – University of Michigan
616.252.5033
jamie.allen@metrogr.org

Steve Kelso
Kent County Health Department
616.632.7274
steve.kelso@kentcountymi.gov

People are at the heart of everything we do, and the inspiration for our legacy of outstanding outcomes, innovation, strong community partnerships, philanthropy and transparency. Corewell Health is a not-for-profit health system that provides health care and coverage with an exceptional team of 60,000+ dedicated people—including more than 11,500 physicians and advanced practice providers and more than 15,000 nurses providing care and services in 21 hospitals, 300+ outpatient locations and several post-acute facilities—and Priority Health, a provider-sponsored health plan serving more than 1.3 million members. Through experience and collaboration, we are reimagining a better, more equitable model of health and wellness. For more information, visit corewellhealth.org.

Contact:
Beth Cranson
Media Relations Manager
Office: 616.391.2603
Mobile: 616.540.0813
Email: elizabeth.cranson@corewellhealth.org