How to get needed health care while helping hospitals overburdened by COVID-19 - Manistee News Advocate

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is reminding Michigan residents to choose the right place of care for medical needs. This comes as one way to help relieve the burden on the state’s health care systems.

MDHHS stated in a news release that health care systems in Michigan continue to be overburdened with COVID-19 patients, a majority of which are unvaccinated. From Jan. 15 – Dec. 3, 85.1% of COVID-19 cases, 88.1% of hospitalizations and 85.5% of deaths were among individuals who were not fully vaccinated. Hospitalizations for COVID-19 continue to be mostly preventable by receiving COVID-19 vaccines.

“We all need to do our part to get vaccinated and boosted to keep ourselves, our families and our neighbors safe,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive. “In addition to getting vaccinated, it is important to maintain your routine medical care so that any potential illness gets detected early and can be much more manageable."

Bagdasarian said in the news release that residents are being urged to continue seeking medical care — but avoid emergency departments unless there is a life-threatening condition.

"If you don’t have a primary care provider, now is a great time to find one through contact with your local health care system.” Bagdasarian said.

Illnesses can be treated at a variety of care settings depending on the severity of symptoms. People with life-threatening emergencies should seek care by calling 911 or visiting the nearest emergency department.

MDHHS recommended that people with the following ailments should call a health care provider, like their local physician’s office, for a virtual or in-person appointment or visit an urgent care provider for: