Hospitals Postpone Elective Surgeries To Prepare For Coronavirus

CHICAGO — Local hospitals are delaying scheduled non-emergency surgeries to preserve medical resources for patients with the new coronavirus in response to guidance from the American College of Surgeons and the U.S. Surgeon General.

Chicago-are hospital chains joined health care providers in California, New York and Washington, which canceled elective procedures following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for areas hardest hit so far by outbreaks of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus strain.

"Guided by the trajectory of cases in Italy and other countries, it is very likely that the U.S. health care infrastructure and resources, particularly as it relates to care of the most critically ill patients, are likely to be strained over the coming weeks," according to a joint statement from Dr. David Hoyt, executive director of the American College of Surgeons, and Dr. Patricia Turner, director of its member services.

They advised hospitals to limit visitors to COVID-19 patients, shift any procedures feasible to outpatient settings and prepare space and staff to be ready for a "surge of critically ill patients."

Sharing the association's recommendation on social media Saturday, Surgeon General Jerome Adams emphasized each elective surgery brings possible coronavirus exposure to health care facilities, reduces stockpiles of personal protective equipment and taxes health care personnel who may be needed for COVID-19 response.

The CDC recommended that hospitals prepare to safely diagnose and manage patients with COVID-19, as well as the secondary impacts on the operation of health care facilities that could come with a severe outbreak.

"These include surges in patients seeking care, the potential for workforce absenteeism from personal or family illness, and effects from social distancing measures such as school closures," according to interim CDC guidance. "Health care facilities will likely need to adjust the way they triage, assess and care for patients using methods that do not rely on face-to-face care."

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"Based on the U.S. surgeon general directive and the American College of Surgeons guidance, NorthShore University HealthSystem has made the decision to postpone all elective, non-emergent cases effective immediately and until further notice to keep our patients and community safe," the health system said in a statement. All emergent or urgent surgeries and interventional procedures will continue as planned.

"We can confirm that we are moving to postpone elective surgeries," Advocate Aurora Health Media Relations Manager Brigid Sweeney said.

"We are asking our surgeons to consider rescheduling elective surgeries," Amita Health Communications and Media Relations System Director Timothy Nelson confirmed. "Because every patient is unique, we rely on our physicians to use their medical judgment to determine the need for surgery."

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Also postponing scheduled surgeries are Edward and Elmhurst Hospitals, Northwestern Medicine and Rush University System for Health, Crain's Chicago Business reported.

NorthShore is currently treating an undisclosed number patients with confirmed cases of COVID-19. The suburban hospital group Monday implemented new visitor restrictions. No inpatient visitors will be allowed, and people that accompany outpatient visitors must be screened before entry.

According to a list of answers to frequently asked questions on its website, the only labs that can run tests for the virus are at the Illinois Department of Public Health or the CDC after the local health department determines a patient meets testing criteria and provides an authorization code.