Pine Rest Response to COVID-19
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Updated Thursday, July 23, 2020, 11:50 a.m. EDT

Access to Treatment During COVID-19

Teletherapy and Telepsychiatry

We have immediate openings for teletherapy and telepsychiatry for all ages. Most insurance providers, including Medicaid and Medicare, now cover these services and most are waiving copays, deductibles and other restrictions.

In addition, intensive outpatient therapy and some groups and classes are open via telehealth services during this time.

For information or to make your first appointment, call 866.852.4001 or visit pinerest.org/telehealth.

Virtual Walk-In Psychiatric Assessments

The Psychiatric Urgent Care Center is open daily for immediate psychiatric triage through telehealth services. Please call to get started.

For more information: Call 616.455.9200 or 800.678.5500; or visit pinerest.org/urgent.

To start an assessment: Call 616.455.9200 or 800.678.5500

Walk-In Psychiatric Assessments

The Psychiatric Urgent Care Center is open daily for immediate psychiatric triage. Please visit our urgent care center rather than going to an emergency room, when possible. Only one support person will be allowed. All patients and support persons will be screened for COVID-19 before entering the facility and provided a mask.

For more information: Call 616.455.9200 or 800.678.5500; or visit pinerest.org/urgent.

Inpatient Services

The hospital is open daily for inpatient treatment. All patients and support persons will be screened for COVID-19 before entering the facility.

Child & Adolescent Unit requiring COVID-19 testing before admission.

Please call for directions on how to get this testing completed.

For more information: Call 616.455.9200 or 800.678.5500 (answered 24/7), or visit pinerest.org/inpatient.

Partial Hospitalization Programs

Adult Partial Open

Adolescent Partial Open (Ages 13-17)

Please call to schedule an initial evaluation. All patients and support persons will be screened at the front door for COVID-19 before entering the facility. Masks are required. At this time, we ask that only one parent or guardian bring the child. On the first day, we require the parent/guardian stay for the initial assessment, which could take up to three hours. Adolescent’s mobile phones and devices should remain at home. Lunch is provided for adolescents.

Child Partial Is Not Open

We are not able to provide services for children under the age of 13 at this time. For children in need of this level of care, please call so we can help you find appropriate services.

For more information: Call 616.455.9200 or 800.678.5500 (answered 24/7), or visit pinerest.org/partial.

Residential Services

For referral or access to services, please call 616.281.0061.

Two architects examining the blueprints on construction site

Pine Rest Business Services During COVID-19

We continue to offer our expertise through a wide array of specialty services and programs.

 

Teleservices for Healthcare Organizations

Does your organization need more access to psychiatry or psychiatric consultations? Pine Rest Behavioral Health Solutions can help you during COVID-19 and beyond..

Telepsychiatry for Healthcare Organizations
Care Navigation / Assessment / Consultation

 

Employee Assistance Program & Crisis Response

Our team can help provide free access to teletherapy, virtual leadership trainings, virtual and telephonic critical incident response, and more during this crisis.

EAP & Crisis Response

 

Forensic Psychiatric and Psychological Services

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our forensic team is committed to remaining available and providing a comprehensive range of evaluation services via phone, video, and though in-person services when essential.  Each referral is considered carefully with considerations made to ensure excellent care is provided, timely feedback is maintained, and all state and federal mandates related to the COVID-19 pandemic are adhered to.

Forensic Psychiatric and Psychological Services
Pine Rest main entrance sign

Pine Rest COVID-19 Pandemic Response

As a leading provider of behavioral health services, Pine Rest has taken significant steps to continue serving patients with mental health and addiction challenges while doing everything we can to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Our top priority is the health and safety of our patients and employees.

Our dedicated COVID-19 Response Team includes our senior leadership team and is led by our chief medical officer, chief clinical officer, and infection control leader. We have implemented comprehensive health and safety protocols and response plans for all Pine Rest locations.

We are:

  • Accepting patients to our psychiatric urgent care center, inpatient, partial hospitalization and residential levels of care in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Patients are screened and required to wear masks during intake.
  • Patients admitted to inpatient and residential care are tested for COVID-19 symptoms upon admission
  • Using telehealth services for 100% of our outpatient therapy and psychiatry, and expanded telehealth services to provide services for all ages and expand hours of service
  • Using masks for employees in patient care areas to prevent spread of the virus
  • Educating employees and patients on the importance of social distancing both indoors and outdoors
  • Temporarily restricting visitors to all sites
  • Restricting family participation for child and adolescent programs to one adult (must be the same adult each day). We know this is difficult for families with loved ones in treatment, and we are making video options available for families to be able to connect with patients
  • Discontinuing site tours, public outings for patients in residential and outpatient care, and residential day passes
  • Using updated cleaning protocols to disinfect all surfaces frequently with EPA approved products
  • Requiring the highest level of risk prevention with frequent hand washing
  • Eliminating nonessential employee business travel and onsite support groups and events involving the general public
  • Supporting our employees with enhanced child care benefits so that they can care for patients even when schools are not in session
  • Giving employees detailed guidance on caring for patients, monitoring any symptoms they may develop, testing, and self-seclusion as warranted

Pine Rest will continue to monitor guidance from the CDC and state agencies and adapt our practices accordingly.

Because many of our patients are experiencing life-threatening conditions, we are doing everything possible to ensure we can continue treatment in all levels of care. We take that responsibility seriously, and we are using every precaution to provide a clean and safe environment for all involved. If patients and families make individual choices to delay treatment, we respect their decisions, but we will be here for those who need us.

We appreciate your support and understanding during these challenging times, and we wish you and your loved ones the best.

Mark Eastburg, PhD
President and CEO

Alan Armstrong, MD
Chief Medical Officer

Coping Tips From Our Staff

Fears around the coronavirus can take their toll and can cause us to feel sad, stressed, frustrated and/or angry. Our staff continues to provide tips and insights on how to manage the stress of the news, living under a stay-at-home order, providing leadership in your organization, and more. Some of these include:

Read More Coping Tips From Staff

IN THE NEWS

Pine Rest Report Predicts 32% Increase In Statewide Suicide Rates Tied To Pandemic

Provides tangible steps that can be immediately enacted by members of the public, policy makers, funders, payers, and healthcare leaders are included in a proposed response to mitigate behavioral health harms of COVID-19.