Spectrum Health Lakeland To Resume Select Surgeries, Procedures, And Appointments

lakelandhospital3-3
lakelandhospital3-3

Some surgeries, procedures, clinic appointments, outpatient therapies, and radiology studies are going to resume at Spectrum Health Lakeland. President and CEO Dr. Loren Hamel joined WSJM’s Jim Gifford to talk about the decision, which was based on predictive models showing the curve is being flattened for COVID-19 infections across the state.

“We’re working to look at those schedules and say ‘What are those things that are more important?’” said Hamel. He adds it’s important to get people back in with their doctors for procedures that are still vital to saving lives.

“We still have to figure out how we screen folks for colon cancer, or for breast cancer. Now, you can delay those a week or two, but you don’t want to delay those tests a half a year or a year, because we’ll miss diagnosing serious diseases.”

Patients will be contacted directly if their provider determines their appointment or procedure is appropriate to be rescheduled in the near future.

All Spectrum Health Lakeland walk-in clinics and emergency departments remain open to provide care for time-sensitive needs. Doctors are also doing virtual visits when needed as well. Health officials are also urging people facing medical emergencies such as chest pains or stroke symptoms to seek immediate treatment by calling 9-1-1 or going to the emergency room.