Posted on April 14, 2023
Mary Free Bed Joins West Michigan Hospitals in Mask Policy Updates
As the COVID-19 pandemic heads toward endemic status, hospital systems across the U.S. are revisiting mask requirements within their facilities. These changes follow September 2022 guidance from the CDC announcing masking in health care settings is no longer needed unless transmission rates were high.
Earlier this month, Michigan hospital systems – including Sparrow Health System and University of Michigan ‘s Michigan Medicine – announced policy changes. Mary Free Bed will be joining hospitals in West Michigan to change mask policies for patients, visitors and staff.
Effective Friday, April 14, masking is optional for patients, visitors and clinical teams at our Grand Rapids hospital campus, West Michigan outpatient locations, and Mary Free Bed Orthotics & Prosthetic + Bionics locations.
The Mary Free Bed Sub-Acute Rehabilitation program will continue to require masks for patients, visitors and staff.
Updated Mary Free Bed Mask Policy:
To reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect everyone’s health:
- Masks are recommended but optional for entry into our facilities.
- We will provide you with a mask if you’d like one.
- Please refrain from visiting if you’re currently experiencing:
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Severe body aches
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fever
Feeling under the weather? Call us to learn more about virtual visit options at Mary Free Bed: 800-528-8989
In a news release from the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA), XX of hospital systems shared their new optional masking policies. MHA shared factors that helped influence the decision to change:
- The number of COVID-19 inpatients has drastically declined across the state.
- There are multiple effective ways to combat the virus, including vaccines and medical treatment.
- The desire to restore the powerful human connection when patients, caregivers and loved ones can see each other’s faces.
Please note, masking guidelines can change. Our policy is subject to change if COVID-19, flu or any other disease begins to spread rapidly through the community. Click here for to view our most current Patient Visitor Guidelines.
