We are committed to your health and safety.
At West Michigan Cancer Center, we are committed to serving our patients safely through the current COVID-19 healthcare crisis. WMCC continues to follow the highest level of precautionary care while monitoring the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local guidelines for the most up to date information. Our goal is to help you and your family stay healthy and safe while providing you the care you need. You mustn’t postpone the treatment you need to get healthy and stay well during this time.
Preparing For Your Visit
We continue to work diligently to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect our patients, caregivers, visitors and staff. Screening and masking requirements remain in place. Upon arrival, all persons are screened and required to wear a non-vented, cloth or surgical mask before entering the building. Visitors who have any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 are directed to return to their vehicle and contact their primary care provider for follow up.
On March 1, 2022, we relaxed restrictions regarding visitors. Patients may now bring up to three visitors with them to their appointments. There are no age restrictions so children may accompany adult patients.
Safety Precautions for WMCC Patients & Caregivers
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, we have implemented the following steps per CDC guidelines and state of Michigan directives:
- Patients, visitors and staff must wear a cloth and/or surgical (non-vented) mask upon arrival. If you do not have one, a mask will be provided to you.
- Patients, visitors and staff must undergo COVID-19 screening upon arrival. This includes answering a series of questions about coronavirus symptoms unrelated to your illness, possible exposure to others who may be infected and having a forehead (temporal artery) temperature taken.
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms.
People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Patients who are not cleared for their appointment due to potential coronavirus concerns should follow up with their provider by phone to discuss the next steps. The same is true for patients who do not have a scheduled appointment and are having any coronavirus symptoms or exposure.
Additional Prevention Measures
Along with regular cleaning and disinfection measures, additional steps have been taken to protect patients in treatment and our medical staff who work diligently to help patients. We have removed magazines, puzzles and hats from our waiting areas and exam rooms to prevent the spread of infectious disease. We have decided to keep our resource libraries stocked with informational brochures. However, we just ask that if you pick up a brochure, please go ahead and keep it. Do not return it to the resource library.
We have also made the difficult decision to suspend our volunteer activities until we feel that it is safe to resume them.
Our volunteers are a beloved part of the WMCC family and asking them to stay home during the height of the coronavirus outbreak is an unfortunate but necessary step to protect them and you.
WMCC strives to ensure patient and staff safety as a top priority throughout the year. Please review the following information regarding general COVID-19 prevention and symptoms. WMCC will continue to monitor the ongoing situation and guidance from the CDC. We will also coordinate with local health department officials and both Bronson Healthcare and Ascension Borgess to provide the best care possible for those who may become affected.
The CDC recommends prevention measures that are very similar to prevention measures for the flu.
- Hand washing: Wash your hands using soap and water for at least 20-30 seconds; especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing or providing care for someone with symptoms. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
- Avoid touching your face: It is very common for an individual to touch their face on a regular basis. It is important to avoid touching your face as this is a common way that viruses enter and leave your body. It is additionally important to avoid the T-zone – eyes, nose and mouth.
- Social distancing: If you are sick, it is important that you stay home, unless seeking medical attention, and follow good prevention etiquette. If you must be out in public, wear a cloth face covering and stay at least 6 feet away from other individuals.
- Cloth Face Coverings/Masks: Cloth face coverings or non-vented masks are recommended for everyone in public settings.
- Travel guidelines and restrictions: It is important to avoid travel to areas where an outbreak is widespread. Please check the CDC for travel guidelines.
- Cleaning: It is important to clean commonly touched surfaces. Standard disinfecting wipes appear to be sufficient (i.e., Lysol wipes). WMCC is committed to this practice throughout out normal daily cleaning protocol.
WMCC is following the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination in patients with cancer.
NCCN Guidelines as of 1/22/21:
- Patients with cancer should be a priority to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. They should be immunized when a vaccine becomes available to them. This includes patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It also includes those who have undergone surgery or will in the future.
- For cancer surgery patients, there should be at least three days of separation, either before or after, between surgery and vaccination.
- For patients receiving chemotherapy AND radiation therapy at the same time, the most ideal time to give the vaccine is unknown. With chemotherapy regimens different for every patient, we recommend that you talk to your medical oncologist. Your doctor can discuss your unique care plan. In the absence of data, the NCCN recommends vaccination when available.
- Immunization is recommended for all patients receiving chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy. This is our recommendation with the understanding that there are limited data on safety and value in these patients.
- Reasons to delay giving cancer patients a vaccine are similar to the public (for example, recent exposure to COVID-19) and cancer-specific factors.
- Cancer patients participating in clinical research trials should follow up with their research protocol nurse before scheduling vaccination.
- Cancer patients who have additional underlying health conditions should discuss vaccination with their primary care provider.
- Caregivers and household/close contacts should be immunized when possible.
The CDC recommends prevention measures that are very similar to prevention measures for the flu.
- Hand washing: Wash your hands using soap and water for at least 20-30 seconds; especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing or providing care for someone with symptoms. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
- Avoid touching your face: It is very common for an individual to touch their face on a regular basis. It is important to avoid touching your face as this is a common way that viruses enter and leave your body. It is additionally important to avoid the T-zone – eyes, nose and mouth.
- Social distancing: If you are sick, it is important that you stay home, unless seeking medical attention, and follow good prevention etiquette. If you must be out in public, wear a cloth face covering and stay at least 6 feet away from other individuals.
- Cloth Face Coverings/Masks: Cloth face coverings or non-vented masks are recommended for everyone in public settings.
- Travel guidelines and restrictions: It is important to avoid travel to areas where an outbreak is widespread. Please check the CDC for travel guidelines.
- Cleaning: It is important to clean commonly touched surfaces. Standard disinfecting wipes appear to be sufficient (i.e., Lysol wipes). WMCC is committed to this practice throughout out normal daily cleaning protocol.
COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations – Cancer Patients
WMCC is following the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination in patients with cancer.
NCCN Guidelines as of 1/22/21:
- Patients with cancer should be a priority to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. They should be immunized when a vaccine becomes available to them. This includes patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It also includes those who have undergone surgery or will in the future.
- For cancer surgery patients, there should be at least three days of separation, either before or after, between surgery and vaccination.
- For patients receiving chemotherapy AND radiation therapy at the same time, the most ideal time to give the vaccine is unknown. With chemotherapy regimens different for every patient, we recommend that you talk to your medical oncologist. Your doctor can discuss your unique care plan. In the absence of data, the NCCN recommends vaccination when available.
- Immunization is recommended for all patients receiving chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy. This is our recommendation with the understanding that there are limited data on safety and value in these patients.
- Reasons to delay giving cancer patients a vaccine are similar to the public (for example, recent exposure to COVID-19) and cancer-specific factors.
- Cancer patients participating in clinical research trials should follow up with their research protocol nurse before scheduling vaccination.
- Cancer patients who have additional underlying health conditions should discuss vaccination with their primary care provider.
- Caregivers and household/close contacts should be immunized when possible.
Donations
Community Donations – WMCC welcomes donations from the community to help protect our front line healthcare workers during the COVID-19 health crisis. New and unused items that WMCC will accept include:
- Disposable face masks
- New hand sewn masks for our patients and employees
- Crocheted ear savers/mask adapters
- N95 masks, sometimes called respirators
- Eye protection
- Face shields
- Safety goggles
- Disposable gowns
- Disposable gloves (non-latex only)
- Wipes: bleach or antimicrobial (example, Lysol)
- Hand sanitizer
- Tyvek suits
