MERCY HEALTH SAINT MARY’S, SPECTRUM HEALTH AND UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN HEALTH-WEST provided an update on the West Michigan Health System's COVID-19 response. Dec 3rd 2021, Full Video.
On Friday, December 3, 2021 12:00 PM Mercy Health Saint Mary’s hosted a hour long media briefing with Spectrum Health and University of Michigan Health-West provided an update on West Michigan's COVID-19 response and what the community will be seeing going into the holiday season. The update included information on hospital capacities, including the “new patient profile” (census, percentages of those vaccinated on vents, impact of surgeries, visitation, etc.), information on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, impact of COVID-19 variants in West Michigan and updates on therapies available to treat COVID. Representatives from the Grand Rapids Chamber shared information regarding expectations for businesses during the current surge in COVID rates. The regional health care representatives also spoke about staffing and capacity, updated thoughts on alternative care sites, vaccination and masks, "booster", equipment and supply, federal support, status of testing. They also stated increasing threats of violence towards health care workers, finally they described current sights and sounds in their ICUs. Speakers includes Dr. Matt Biersack, President of Mercy Health Saint Mary’s; Dr. Darryl Elmouchi, President of Spectrum Health; Dr. Peter Hahn, President and CEO of University of Michigan Health-West and Rick Baker, President and CEO of the Grand Rapids Chamber.
