Crouse Health to restart outpatient elective surgeries and procedures on Thursday

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Crouse Health says it plans to resume outpatient elective surgeries and procedures on Thursday, May 7, now that the state has allowed them.

Crouse said it had halted elective procedures on March 17, “several days ahead of a state mandate calling for cancellation for the safety of patients, staff and visitors” and to create capacity for COVID-19 patients.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on April 29 announced that 35 counties in New York have been approved to resume elective outpatient treatments. Onondaga County is one of them.

Crouse has been working with physician and administrative leadership from surgical services, cardiac services, neurosciences, interventional radiology, and infection control to develop a phased-in plan to resume elective outpatient surgeries and procedures, Dr. Seth Kronenberg, COO and chief medical officer of Crouse Health, said in a release.

The hospital’s restart plan has been developed with guidance from the New York State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Crouse has adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) available and has capacity to accommodate elective outpatient surgery volume, according to Kronenberg.

“The state lifted restrictions due to the low COVID-19 transmission rate within Onondaga County,” Kronenberg said. “As people resume activities, Crouse will remain prepared at all times in the event of increased COVID-19 activity in the community and surrounding area.”

Patients who had cancelled procedures are being contacted to reschedule, Dr. Tom Hartzheim, chief of surgery at Crouse Health, said.

“Resuming elective outpatient surgeries will allow patients access to necessary treatment for significant underlying conditions,” he added.

Under the state’s directive, patients scheduled for elective surgical procedures are required to be tested for COVID-19 three days prior to their procedure and “will be encouraged to limit contact with others between the test and their procedure,” Crouse Health said.