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Screening available to anyone in Michigan  

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., March 6, 2020 – Spectrum Health is offering free screening for the novel coronavirus COVID-19 to those who have symptoms and may be concerned they have the virus. The purpose is to prevent the spread of illness by enabling people to seek the information they need from their homes, while making it easy and convenient for them.  

“We want to provide a community health service for people who may have symptoms and are concerned about the virus, while allowing them to stay at home and prevent the spread of illness,” said Darryl Elmouchi, MD, MBA, chief medical officer, Spectrum Health System, and president, Spectrum Health Medical Group.  “The first step is to call to schedule a free virtual screening visit through our Spectrum Health Now service. The virtual screening visit will let people know if they need further evaluation.”   

Callers to the hotline will be scheduled for a virtual video visit and assisted with downloading the Spectrum Health Now app. During the virtual video visit, individuals will be asked a series of questions about their condition by a Spectrum Health provider who will advise whether they need to seek additional care. The patient may select the caregiver of their choice if they need further evaluation. It is not necessary to be a Spectrum Health patient to use the service and receive the free screening. Spectrum Health is offering this service to individuals in the state of Michigan.  

The health system is advising people in Michigan to take the following steps from home: 

What is Spectrum Health Now?

The Spectrum Health Now app gives consumers access to a health care provider directly from their smart device, allowing them to schedule and conduct a virtual visit all in one place. Telemedicine is typically used for low-acuity conditions such as rashes, sinus problems or the flu. The free COVID-19 virtual screening has been added to its offerings specifically for this public health situation.