Beacon is Open and Ready to Serve

Yes, we are open and ready to serve. Our hospitals – Beacon Children’s Hospital, Beacon Granger Hospital, Community Hospital of Bremen, Elkhart General Hospital, Epworth Hospital, and Memorial Hospital – remain open 24/7 with highly skilled teams to care for you and your family.

Outpatient appointments are also available at our 70+ Beacon Medical Group locations and Beacon outpatient departments. Please call your physician for more information.

All Beacon Health System hospitals remain open 24/7. Outpatient departments and Beacon Medical Group locations are also open for appointments during their adjusted office hours.

Beacon Health & Fitness locations are currently open as of May 26.

The Health Information Management department (Medical Records) is restricting in-person medical record requests until June 1. Learn how to request your medical records electronically.

Our enhanced safety measures for patients and staff include, but are not limited to:

• Symptom and temperature screenings for all individuals
• Masks for all individuals; patients may wear their own or wear one that we provide
• Limited number of patients and staggered appointments
• Ensuring physical distancing standards
• Disinfection of equipment and contact surface areas in-between patients
• Extra cleaning of common areas and surfaces, including waiting areas

Patients may call a Beacon Medical Group office to schedule an in-office appointment. Or, if appropriate for your needs, you may schedule an online video visit — telehealth appointment — with providers through Beacon Connected Care. Many of our Beacon Medical Group doctors now offer video visits, so you can see your doctor from the comfort of home using your smartphone or computer. Many of our patients are now choosing this convenient option.

Please call a Beacon Medical Group office to learn if an online video visit may be right for your needs. Many of our Beacon Medical Group doctors now offer video visits, so you can see your doctor from the comfort of home using your smartphone or computer.

Yes, if appropriate for your needs, you may call your Beacon Medical Group doctor’s office to schedule an online video visit – telehealth appointment. You can see your doctor from the comfort of home using your smartphone or computer. Many of our patients are now choosing this convenient option.

Please be aware that Beacon Health System offices are following enhanced safety measures. Individuals coming for an appointment will receive a symptom and temperature screening. Patients may wear their own masks or one that we provide. Social distancing standards are in effect for all offices. Our team will let you know if you need to follow other specific precautions or instructions prior to your visit.

Waiting room seating is spaced to maintain physical distance between individuals. Or, patients may choose to wait outside or in their car if medically able.

Or, call a Beacon Medical Group office to learn if an online video visit through Beacon Connected Care may be right for your needs. Many of our Beacon Medical Group doctors now offer video visits, so you can see your doctor from the comfort of home using your smartphone or computer.

It’s important for you to continue to receive care, even during this time. At Beacon, we are doing everything we can to provide the safest possible environment for everyone.

Please call your Beacon Medical Group provider regarding your specific health needs. Your provider may schedule you for an in-office appointment or, if appropriate for your needs, an online video visit through Beacon Connected Care. Many Beacon Medical Group doctors now offer video visits, so you can see your doctor from the comfort of home using your smartphone or computer. Many of our patients are now choosing this convenient option.

In general, essential travel includes going to and from a doctor’s office, traveling for emergencies and picking up a prescription. Call your Beacon Medical Group provider if you have questions about an upcoming appointment, to schedule an in-office visit or to schedule an online video visit through Beacon Connected Care.

For primary care or a minor illness, call your Beacon Medical Group provider for guidance on your specific health needs. If you don’t have a doctor, our MedPoint Urgent Care locations remain open and are caring for patients for minor health concerns such as allergies, rash, stomach flu, pink eye and more. If you believe your condition is life threatening, call 9-1-1 or visit the nearest Emergency Room.

For anyone with a minor health concern that does NOT include a fever, cough, sore throat or other respiratory symptoms:

• After check in patients may return to wait in their vehicle until we are ready to call them back to the exam room.
• Patients’ family members, drivers or friends should wait in the vehicle to minimize visitors in our reception areas.
  • A parent may accompany a minor patient under age 18.
  • Patients with children who cannot wait in a car alone will be asked to return to their car until the patient is called back.

If you are experiencing symptoms of Coronavirus including a fever, cough, shortness of breath, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat or other respiratory symptoms, new loss of taste or smell, call the AnswerLine at 855.523.2225 from 8am-8pm. You will be guided to the next best step(s) based on your situation. If you are having problems breathing or your symptoms are life-threatening, call 911 immediately.

Call your Beacon Medical Group provider to have your appointment rescheduled. Your provider may schedule you for an in-office appointment or, if appropriate for your needs, an online video visit through Beacon Connected Care.

Call your surgeon’s office for guidance on rescheduling your surgery.

If you are having problems breathing or your symptoms are life-threatening, call 911 immediately.

If you are experiencing symptoms of Coronavirus including a fever, cough, shortness of breath, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat or other respiratory symptoms, new loss of taste or smell, call the AnswerLine at 855.523.2225 from 8am-8pm. You will be guided to the next best step(s) based on your situation.

You may also call your doctor’s office directly. Call volumes may be up, so we appreciate your patience in advance. Your physician will ask you a few screening questions. Depending on your answers, you may be referred to a testing site or follow self-quarantine measures.

Information from the CDC about Coronavirus symptoms, testing, precautions and more can be found on our COVID-19 website.

Please let us know if we can help you understand your bill, navigate insurance questions or need assistance through CarePayment. Visit beaconhealthsystem.org/pay-your-bill or call:

• Beacon Medical Group Billing - 574.647.1610
• Community Hospital of Bremen - 574.546.2211 (available Monday-Friday, 7 AM – 5:30 PM)
• Elkhart General Hospital and Memorial Hospital Patient Accounts - 574.285.4684 or 833.383.2820

At this time, no visitors are permitted at Beacon Health System hospitals except under special circumstances:

• Parents may visit their child on pediatric and newborn units.
• One coach or partner may visit each patient on labor and delivery units.
• Patients coming in for surgery can bring 1 visitor. For outpatient procedures, the 1 visitor should be the driver.
• For procedures that result in an inpatient stay, 1 visitor may stay until the patient is out of recovery, but cannot accompany them to an inpatient room.
• All efforts will be made to allow visits to loved ones near the end of life.

All visitors who meet the above criteria must be over the age of 18, in good health, and will be subject to a health screening. We encourage family and friends to connect with hospitalized loved ones using digital and video options such as texting, instant messaging, FaceTime, Skype or Google Duo.