Henry Ford Health, Trinity Health Among Major Michigan Hospitals Transitioning to Optional Masks

Emergency Department staff from Trinity Health Livonia photographed removing masks following an announcement that many local hospitals would be relaxing their mask requirements for employees, patients and visitors. Courtesy photo.

(April 13, 2023 3:48 PM ET) After more than three years of caring for patients throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many of Michigan’s major health systems are making masking optional in most areas over the next week.

At Henry Ford Health, effective Friday, April 14, patients and visitors are no longer required to wear masks in Henry Ford Health facilities. Individuals who are immunocompromised and admitted to a hospital unit or visiting someone who is immunocompromised in a hospital unit is asked to continue to wear a mask. You should wear a mask if you have cold-like or COVID-19 symptoms and everyone is still welcome to wear masks if they choose to do so. 

Likewise, team members are no longer required to wear masks, except in inpatient hospital units where healthcare professionals care for immunocompromised patients such as oncology, transplant, and neonatal intensive care units. Patients can also ask their care team to wear masks if it makes them more comfortable.  

At Trinity Health Michigan, including Chelsea Hospital, the new masking policies go into effect on Monday, April 17.  At all Trinity Health locations, there will be optional masking for patients, visitors and colleagues at hospitals, outpatient facilities, home health, and physician offices, except for senior living communities.

Factors influencing the Michigan health systems to work together to make this decision include:

• The number of COVID-19 inpatients has drastically declined across the state.
• There are multiple effective ways to combat the virus, including vaccines and medical treatment.
• The desire to restore the powerful human connection when patients, caregivers and loved ones can see each other’s faces.

 COVID-19 has become an illness that, in most cases, will be treated like other respiratory illnesses, such as the flu. The virus will likely remain for years to come.

All health systems will continue to provide stations with free masks and hand sanitizer at entrances for patients, visitors and team members who choose to use them. Patients can also ask their care teams to wear masks.

Masking guidelines could be adjusted again if COVID-19, flu or any other virus begins to spread rapidly in the community.

Below are links to each health system’s website and a brief explanation of what’s changing and when:

Ascension Michigan

• Effective immediately: Ascension Michigan acute care and ambulatory centers have suspended the routine use of hospital-grade masks except in units providing care to special immunocompromised populations or patients with an increased risk of complications from COVID-19. These include intensive care units, oncology units/centers and transplant units.

Bronson Healthcare

• Effective Tuesday, April 18: Masking will become optional for patients, visitors, and employees at Bronson Healthcare hospitals and outpatient locations, except for those who exhibit symptoms of respiratory or infectious illness.  Masking will continue at Bronson Commons – a skilled nursing facility.

Corewell Health

• Effective Friday, April 14, at 6 a.m.: Optional masking for patients and clinical teams at all hospitals and locations, except long-term care and skilled nursing facilities and transplant clinics.

Covenant HealthCare

• Effective Monday, April 17: Masking will be optional for staff, patients, visitors, and volunteers at Covenant facilities with a few exceptions. Details available on the Covenant website.

Detroit Medical Center (DMC)

• Effective Friday, April 14: Masking will be optional for patients and staff at all Detroit Medical Center hospitals and locations.

Henry Ford Health

• Effective Friday, April 14: Masks will be optional at Henry Ford Health facilities except for inpatient areas where we care for immunocompromised patients.

Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation

• Effective Friday, April 14 at 7 a.m.: Masking is recommended but optional for patients, visitors and clinical teams at our Grand Rapids hospital campus, West Michigan outpatient locations, and Mary Free Bed Orthotics & Prosthetic + Bionics locations. The Mary Free Bed Sub-Acute Rehabilitation program will continue to require masks for patients, visitors and staff.

McLaren Health Care

• Effective Monday, April 17: Masking will become optional for patients, visitors, and employees at all McLaren Health Care hospital and outpatient locations, except for designated critical care units, Karmanos Cancer Institute facilities, subacute/outpatient rehabilitation facilities, and skilled nursing facilities.

Michigan Medicine

• Michigan Medicine updated masking guidelines on April 5.

Munson Healthcare

• Effective Friday, April 14: Universal masking will no longer be required in Munson Healthcare hospitals and clinics – with the exception of long-term care and skilled nursing facilities. In addition, the health system will return to its pre-pandemic visitation policy.

MyMichigan Health

• Visitors and patients are no longer required to mask in non-patient care areas, including common entryways, hallways and waiting rooms. Patient care areas are defined as any location in which patients are being screened, evaluated, treated or admitted.

Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services

• Effective Thursday, April 13: Employees and visitors are no longer required to wear a mask except in 24/7 patient care settings and specialty care units. Patients will continue to be screened/tested for COVID-19 at admission and are not required to mask unless endorsing symptoms of illness or diagnosed with COVID-19 infection.

Trinity Health Michigan

• Effective Monday, April 17:  Optional masking for patients, visitors and colleagues at hospitals, outpatient facilities, home health, and physician offices, except for senior living communities.