Spectrum Health Pennock is taking additional preparation steps to care for the community and keep patients and team members safe.

Starting March 24, 2020, you will notice a new screening tent outside of Spectrum Health Pennock’s Medical Arts Building. This is part of Pennock Hospital’s emergency preparedness plan, to allow for a designated place to screen patients who suspect they may have COVID-19. The tent is currently not in use. “The screening tent is designed as an extension of Pennock’s emergency department and it will only be utilized if patient volumes become too great for the existing emergency staff to handle within Pennock Hospital,” stated Steve Marzolf, Chief Nursing Officer, Spectrum Health Pennock.

 

Due to the limited number of tests available across the nation, patients exhibiting symptoms will be screened and either referred to the emergency department or sent home with instructions to care for their symptoms, as well as instructions to self-quarantine. Tests will only be administered to emergency department and in-patients meeting the criteria for testing and who exhibit severe respiratory conditions.

 

In accordance with the CDC, Spectrum Health recommends those with mild COVID-19 symptoms stay home and self-quarantine.

 

If you are unsure what to do, please call the COVID-19 screening hotline at 616.391.2380.
For more information about COVID-19, including information on symptoms and prevention, visit www.spectrumhealth.org/covid19.