Novant Adopts Scoring System For Scheduling Medical Procedures

MANASSAS, VA — Novant Health UVA Health System Prince William Medical Center and Haymarket Medical Center have resumed doing "medically necessary, time-sensitive" procedures that were suspended in mid-March in response to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases across the region.

While virtual care options will continue and are encouraged, Monday's decision ensures patients who had their care delayed can resume their treatment, the hospital system said. Imaging, labs and other appointments to support these procedures have also resumed.

“We are not performing elective surgeries at this time, as we’re still seeing COVID-19 numbers grow in our health district,” Stephen Smith, MD, president and chief operating officer, Prince William Medical Center and Haymarket Medical Center, said Monday in a statement.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam lifted his ban on elective surgeries and other medical procedures at hospitals on May 1 after it became apparent that the state had avoided a hospital resource surge from the coronavirus crisis.

A March 25 order from Northam and Dr. Norm Oliver, the state health commissioner, aimed to preserve personal protective equipment for front-line workers in case Virginia saw a surge similar to New York City. The order did not apply to emergencies, procedures in which a delay would harm a patient, or outpatient visits in hospital-based clinics.

Smith said the hospitals hope to resume additional services over the next several weeks. “However, our top priority remains the safety of our team members and our patients,” he said.

Prince William Medical Center and Haymarket Medical Center will prioritize rescheduling patients with postponed appointments and procedures. Patients who fall into this category will receive further information directly from their health care provider.

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Each case will go through a review and scoring process by a panel of physicians. This will ensure that facilities have the resources available to handle these cases along with any potential rise in coronavirus cases in the community.

Both the Prince William and Haymarket hospitals have added safety measures, including patient and team member temperature screenings, universal masking, enhanced cleaning processes and increased resources to infection prevention teams. The health care system has also taken steps to ensure physical distancing, including lowering the number of patients in clinics at one time and reducing the use of waiting rooms.

The two hospitals require that all patients come to their appointments with a mask or face covering. Patients without a mask will be provided one upon entering the facilities.

The health care system has also opened a new Respiratory Assessment Center inside its Novant Health UVA Health System Urgent Care & Occupational Medicine in Bristow. The Respiratory Assessment Center is currently only for Novant Health UVA Health System Medical Group patients and Novant Health UVA Health System Urgent Care & Occupational Medicine – Bristow walk-in patients experiencing moderate respiratory symptoms. The center will not operate as a walk-in coronavirus testing site, the health care system said.

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• Northam To Allow Elective Surgeries, Dental Procedures In May
• Novant Suspends Some Procedures To 'Conserve Critical Resources'