Medical school leaders are continuing to monitor developments surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic with a focus on the safety of our patients, employees, and students.
This week, the Rapid Response Team at WMed was activated in response to the coronavirus pandemic to assess its impact on the medical school and coordinate response. The team includes senior leaders, Kalamazoo County Medical Director William Nettleton, MD, MPH, and WMed infectious disease physicians, among others. The team is meeting at least twice daily to monitor the rapidly changing situation.
Based on the latest recommendations from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the following WMed events occurring through April 3, 2020, have been canceled.
- Class of 2020 Match Day - Friday, March 20, 2020
- Spring Evening Faculty Meeting - Tuesday, March 31, 2020
- Research Day - Tuesday, March 31 and Wednesday, April 1, 2020
- Second Look Day - Friday, April 3, 2020
WMed Health, the clinical practice of the medical school, will continue to follow direction from the CDC regarding patient screening and diagnosis. All patients who are scheduled in WMed Health’s clinics with symptoms of cough and fever must wear a surgical mask while in our facility. At the Oakland Drive facility, a greeter will be stationed in the first-floor lobby to distribute surgical masks to patients who are presenting with symptoms of cough or fever. All COVID-19 testing is coordinated through the local Health Department and the state of Michigan.
Additionally, the medical school is discouraging and limiting visitors at all WMed campus locations and facilities. This includes sales and pharmaceutical representatives, vendors, business associates, family members, friends, and other guests.
To ensure that members of the WMed community returning from recent travel do not pose an unanticipated risk to others, WMed leaders have asked that all employed faculty, residents, fellows, staff, and students who travel outside of Southwest Michigan report their travel before returning to WMed for work or classes.
At this time, there are fourth-year students from other medical schools that are scheduled to come to WMed for elective experiences as visiting students through June 2020. If these students still desire to come to WMed the medical school is permitting the visits but the students will undergo an appropriate health screening by the medical school’s Office of Occupational Health. No other additional visiting students will be scheduled until further notice.