Human coronaviruses infect the nose, throat and sinuses and cause cold-like symptoms: runny nose, headache, cough, sore throat, and sometimes a low-grade fever. The two symptoms that are most common in COVID-19 patients are fever, chills, lower respiratory disease (cough, shortness of breath) and loss of taste or smell. These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure. Learn more about symptoms from the CDC.
Your health is important so we don’t want you putting off care you need. In addition to calling us for an appointment, current patients can now access primary care and most of our specialty care providers via a Bronson On Demand Video Visit. Learn more here. If during the video visit it is determined you need to see a provider in person, you will be directed to the appropriate care location. Many insurance policies cover video visits. Check with your insurance provider to understand your coverage.
If you need care now and your doctor isn’t available or if you do not have a doctor, visit our Need Care Now page or call a Bronson Care Advisor 24/7 at (269) 341-7788.
Yes. All patients undergoing a surgical procedure at a Bronson facility are tested for COVID-19 within a 72-hour period prior to surgery. This ensures your safety as well as our staff’s safety. You will be contacted by Bronson to schedule the test as part of the pre-admission process. You will also be asked to self-quarantine from the time of your test to the day of your surgery.
If you are suspected to have COVID-19, or you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 but do not need to be hospitalized, you will be instructed to quarantine yourself at home to prevent the spread of the virus. The CDC provides guidance on what to do if your provider or public health official instructs you or a loved one to self-quarantine at home. Learn more.
You will also be asked to self-quarantine for 72 hours prior to a scheduled surgical procedure. This will help to reduce the chance that you will be exposed to someone with COVID-19 prior to your surgery.
Bronson is following the COVID-19 recommendations provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). There are some similarities with our preparations and precautions for SARS, Ebola, MERS, H1N1 influenza, and Zika so we had good plans in place for these types of situations. Bronson has a team that discusses prevention and preparation each day and monitors the latest information from the CDC. The team includes emergency preparedness members from each of our four hospitals, system infection prevention personnel and Bronson practice management. Our team is also working with state, regional and county leaders to address COVID-19 related needs.
Bronson continues to monitor our supply inventory to make sure there are enough supplies should there be a shortage due to an interruption in the supply chain.
In accordance with CDC guidelines, Bronson screens sick patients for travel history or connection with someone who recently arrived from the source areas, and we have protocols to isolate and treat suspected patients safely.
Coronaviruses are a group of related viruses, some of which infect humans and other types infect various other animals. Human coronaviruses are common and they cause upper respiratory infections that are usually not serious. They are described as common cold viruses that cause mild symptoms. COVID-19 is a different strain of coronavirus and is not the same as ordinary human coronavirus.
Everyone 5 years and older is eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19. For information about the vaccine or to schedule an appointment, click here.
According to the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved one drug, Remdesivir (VEKLURY), to treat COVID-19. In certain situations under an FDA emergency use authorization, health providers may be allowed to use other products not yet approved or approved for other uses to treat patients with COVID-19. Learn more.
The FDA has issued an emergency use authorization for antibody treatments to treat people at high risk for disease progression.
COVID-19 Antibody Treatments
Summary: Synthetic antibodies are drugs that we give to patients that lack a good enough immune response against COVID-19 infection. The use of these drugs has changed recently. This update explains the changes. No synthetic antibody treatment for COVID-19 replaces the superior protection we get from vaccines. Bronson strongly recommends that everyone stay fully immunized, including booster doses, to protect us from COVID-19.
Overview: Antibodies are proteins made by our immune system that help defend us against infection. Monoclonal antibodies are made synthetically to provide some defense against infections when our bodies do not have good immune protection. Synthetic antibodies are put into your vein and can temporary help your body respond to the infection. They can reduce and shorten the disease if given early in the infection.
If these drugs are given too late or the infection is already severe, they have little benefit. These drugs are meant to be given to patients early in the infection who are not severely ill, to prevent the need for hospital care.
The virus that causes COVID-19 has different variants or strains. A new variant of COVID-19 is called the Omicron variant. Antibodies are very specific for the variant they work against. There are three monoclonal antibody drugs for COVID-19. Two of them do not work well against Omicron. Only one, called Sotrovimab, is effective against Omicron.
Situation: The Omicron variant of COVID-19 is becoming the most common type across the US. Only Sotrovimab, will work against it. In the past, Bronson has offered all three synthetic antibody drugs to our patients. Starting December 31, 2021, Bronson will only give Sotrovimab because it is the only one likely to work.
Availability: The supply of Sotrovimab is very limited. Supplies are allocated to the state of Michigan and then further allocated to Bronson. The limited supply will impact availability for patients. Bronson will work to administer available doses in an equitable and ethical way to offer the most benefit to the most people.
Process: Your health care provider will use information about you and Bronson's evidenced-based checklist to determine what chance you have of benefiting from the drug. If you are eligible for this treatment, your healthcare provider will help you arrange your visit to the clinic where the drug is given. It takes about two hours to receive the drug, from start to finish. The goal of this treatment is to allow you to recover at home rather than have to go into the hospital. Remember that the supply of this drug is limited, so it is possible that you will not be eligible for it or that the drug is not available for you at that time.
The Bronson Health Foundation Rapid Response Fund has been created to support Bronson's immediate response to the fast-moving global spread of COVID-19. Click here for more information or contact the Bronson Health Foundation at (269) 341-8100, healthfoundation@bronsonhg.org or bronsonfoundation.com.
