Rome Memorial Hospital (RMH) on May 1 announced it is now ready to restart elective surgical procedures. In collaboration with its physicians, RMH says it redesigned workflows to test patients for COVID-19 before surgery. It is also designating separate entrances, elevators, units, and staff for patients’ “enhanced safety,” Mark Murphy, president and CEO of RMH, […]
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Rome Memorial Hospital (RMH) on May 1 announced it is now ready to restart elective surgical procedures.
In collaboration with its physicians, RMH says it redesigned workflows to test patients for COVID-19 before surgery. It is also designating separate entrances, elevators, units, and staff for patients’ “enhanced safety,” Mark Murphy, president and CEO of RMH, said in a release.
The hospital is now scheduling surgeries. Elective surgical procedures that are available at RMH range from minimally invasive spine surgery to laparoscopic hernia repair.
The hospital’s plan was developed in accordance with the guidance from the New York State Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American College of Surgeons.
“We now have the capability to do rapid on-site COVID-19 testing to test patients prior to a surgical procedure to minimize risks,” Murphy said. “In addition, our teams have refined our workflows and processes to enhance the hospital’s already stringent infection prevention strategies.”
These procedures include using drive-through specimen collection to test for COVID-19 prior to surgery, along with designating a separate entrance and elevator for patients to use on the day of surgery to limit their encounters with other people.
In addition, Rome Memorial Hospital is also assigning patients to a surgical unit on a different floor separate from patients who may be hospitalized with an infectious disease.
The hospital is also utilizing staffing patterns that ensure staff assigned to care for suspected or positive COVID-19 patients do not “float” into a unit caring for any elective-surgery patient.
“We have been consistently screening everyone who enters our facility, including patients and staff, for fever and respiratory symptoms. In addition, masks or face covers are required,” said Murphy. “This proactive approach has enabled us to successfully protect our patients, staff, and community through the COVID pandemic.”
RMH also assembled a physician council to “prioritize” patients who have been awaiting surgery based upon their “clinical indication,” according to Murphy.
“Because each patient’s surgical circumstances are unique, we have been working closely with our physicians to support them in determining the best timing of surgery,” he noted.
Oneida Health
Oneida Health on May 4 announced that it is resuming performing outpatient, elective procedures at its hospital.
The hospital will have to validate that those the people seeking the surgeries have met the criteria that the New York State Department of Health (DOH) released on April 29, Oneida Health said in a news release.
All patients who are scheduled to have an outpatient procedure will be required to have a pre-screening test for the coronavirus at the hospital’s drive-thru testing center, three days prior to their procedure. Patients will also complete a screening assessment on the day of their appointment. To limit exposure, Oneida Health is providing direct pathways to private rooms for surgical patients, “enforcing strict social distancing, proper PPE, and enhanced cleaning protocol to remain proactive.”
“While some hospitals in New York State have been heavily impacted by COVID-19 patients, we have not,” Gene Morreale, president and CEO of Oneida Health, said in a release. “When we have admitted a COVID-19 patient in our facility, we have isolated them to designated areas with dedicated staff. This has worked extremely well and as a result, all patients, both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19, have received exceptional care.”
In addition to capacity requirements, hospitals are also required to have an adequate supply of personal protective equipment (PPE), staffing, COVID-19 testing, and also establish a multi-disciplinary committee to “ensure appropriate prioritization” of elective procedures.
With the resumption of elective procedures, Oneida Health Hospital will also be performing non-urgent endoscopies in its hospital along with a range of surgical procedures in its ambulatory care center.
Oswego Health
Oswego Health is planning to reopen many of its outpatient locations starting May 18, with the expectation to resume elective surgeries on June 1, Dr. Duane Tull, chief medical officer, said in a May 5 news release.
“This allows us ample time to ensure the collection of more PPE and to increase our testing ability so that all procedures can safely proceed,” said Tull. “At present, Oswego Health has only had three positive COVID-19 patients in our hospital so the risk of proceeding with elective cases is less than surrounding hospitals with higher volumes. We are anxious to resume all of our surgeries and service, but we want to do this correctly. If we can procure adequate PPE supplies and testing, we may begin sooner, but all things must be done correctly and safely. Though the risk is reduced, we will not put either staff or patients at risk in any way.”