Spectrum Health and Pennock Hospital Continue to Provide Wide Range of Care During COVID-19 Pandemic

April 27, 2020

HASTINGS, Mich., April 27, 2020 – While COVID-19 has become the focal point of everyone’s life in recent weeks, there are many patients suffering from other health conditions that require immediate attention. Spectrum Health continues to provide care for a multitude of health concerns and wants the community to know its hospitals and clinics safely and effectively serve all patients every day.

“We have seen an increase in the number of patients who are not seeking medical attention as quickly as they should for serious conditions such as chest pain, stroke symptoms or gastrointestinal issues to name a few,” said Joshua Kooistra, DO, chief medical officer, Spectrum Health. “When they finally come in, their condition has worsened significantly and can be life-threatening.

Kooistra encourages patients experiencing a medical emergency to call 911 or visit the emergency department.

Routine care appointments are still taking place; your providers are available and ready to care for you. “For routine, acute needs, such as seasonal allergies, diabetic care, minor cuts or burns, pelvic pain and more, contact your doctor’s office by phone or through MyHealth. You should still feel comfortable and safe contacting your providers office about anything you would have prior to COVID-19. Our team is here and can help determine the most appropriate type of visit,” explained Douglas Smendik, MD, regional division chief at Spectrum Health Pennock.

Smendik explained the team approach Pennock providers are taking while clinics remain consolidated, to decrease exposure, further reinforcing that clinics are taking necessary safety measures to keep patients and team members safe during in-person appointments. “It’s been really nice to have the Middleville, Hastings and Gun Lake clinic providers together under one roof treating patients. This has helped us collaborate and provide a team-based care approach during this COVID-19 crisis. The Lake Odessa and Ionia providers also have this approach at the Ionia Integrated Care Campus,” Smendik stated. Same day appointments are available for patients, and all Pennock clinics are accepting new patients.

To increase safety and limit unnecessary exposure to COVID-19, Spectrum Health Pennock has implemented several measures at the hospital and clinics:

Extra cleaning throughout all facilities and frequent cleaning of high touch areas while adhering to rigorous quality and safety practices and infection prevention guidelines.
Team members wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure patients and colleagues are safe.
All employees and patients are screened before they enter the building and a very limited number of visitors are allowed.
Everyone is required to use hand sanitizer and put on a mask upon entry. In hospital and clinic settings, face masks are required in hallways, common areas and clinical spaces.
Social distancing floor signage to maintain CDC guidelines.

To ensure the safety of all patients as well as physicians and team members, patients being treated for COVID-19 are isolated in the hospitals. Spectrum Health Pennock team members have been trained on safe practices to prevent the spread of infection and are prepared to screen and test patients as needed. The ongoing preparation for serious diseases has prepared the Spectrum Health team for this public health situation.

“One of the hidden dangers of a pandemic is that necessary care unrelated to the pandemic is delayed, and patients suffer as a result,” said Kooistra. “We want patients to know we are here for them and our clinics and hospitals are safe environments to receive care.”

At this time, it appears social distancing has factored into a slower surge of patients in West Michigan than has occurred in the Detroit area. This means the COVID-19 surge will likely come later and last longer. As a result, Spectrum Health is working with providers to review deferred surgeries, procedures and radiology studies to determine if any are essential to a patient’s health, safety or welfare given this longer time frame for rescheduling. They will determine which patients should not be deferred to a later date given their health status.

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:
Janine Dalman
Marketing & Communications
Office: 269.945.3651
Mobile: 269.908.7063
Email: Janine.dalman@spectrumhealth.org