Spectrum Health officials hopeful latest COVID-19 surge has peaked
Updated Apr 21, 2021;
Posted Apr 21, 2021
Pins that say I got my COVID-19 vaccine inside the COVID-19 vaccination clinic at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. The clinic, serving those who are eligible to receive the vaccine, opened as part of a partnership between the Kent County Health Department, Spectrum Health and Mercy Health Saint Mary s. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)Cory Morse | MLive.com
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GRAND RAPIDS, MI New COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations at Spectrum Health remain high, but officials say they’re hopeful the surge peaked last weekend and is now leveling off.
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Spectrum Health: Latest surge affecting more kids, younger adults
GRAND RAPIDS The most recent surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations has affected a younger demographic, officials from Spectrum Health say.
During a media briefing Wednesday afternoon, April 21, Spectrum officials said the average age of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in recent weeks is nearly a decade younger than the previous surge last fall.
“What we’re seeing during this surge is decidedly different from an age standpoint,” Spectrum Health West Michigan President Darryl Elmouchi said. “You’re all aware that during the initial part of the pandemic and, quite honestly, until we had vaccines, we saw an older demographic coming to the hospital who were ill with COVID.
and last updated 2021-04-19 22:31:44-04
MICHIGAN â The number of people in the hospital being treated for COVID19 reached an all-time high on Tuesday.
According to state data, 4,158 patients are hospitalized with confirmed cases of the virus, with 663 patients locally. There are 896 people in the ICU and 530 people are on a ventilator.
While the east side of Michigan is behind much of those numbers, doctors say West Michigan is nowhere in the clear.
âOur trend is still going in that upward direction,â said Dr. Joshua Kooistra, chief medical officer at Spectrum Health West Michigan.
According to Kooistra, Spectrum Health is nearing hospitalization records of their own. Currently there are 314 patients, with about a quarter in the ICU. Last November, the health system hit a high, treating 358 patients.
Grand Rapids Business Journal
Courtesy Spectrum Health
Grand Rapids-based Spectrum Health will expand its network relationship with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan by joining the Blue Cross Medicare Advantage PPO network beginning July 1.
Spectrum Health which is already a network provider for Blue Cross and Blue Care Network commercial plan members, as well as BCN Advantage Medicare plan members will welcome seniors with Blue Cross Medicare Advantage PPO plans to Spectrum Health physician offices and Spectrum Health’s 14 hospital locations in West Michigan.
This will enable Blue Cross members who have existing relationships with Spectrum Health physicians to seamlessly transition from their commercial HMO and PPO coverage to a Blue Cross Medicare Advantage plan.