Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced last week that health systems may begin working to resume some elective surgeries and procedures. Mercy Medical Center, UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids, Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa and Linn County Anesthesiologists do not yet have definitive timelines to share for our community. We can tell you, however, that we are in the planning process for resuming elective procedures. We know this information is of great interest and importance to those wanting to move forward with their healthcare.
It’s important to note that our planning is, and always has been, driven by guiding principles that prioritize the health and safety of our team members, patients and communities. As we consider restoring elective surgeries, we are looking at criteria such as the hospitals’ capacity to care for critical care patients; supply of personal protective equipment (PPE); pharmaceutical supplies; available blood supply; and the establishment of pre-surgical processes. A stabilized trend of COVID-19 cases in the community and the availability of testing are also important considerations.
As community healthcare providers, we are looking at all of these factors jointly to determine how best to proceed in a way that keeps patients, healthcare workers and the community safe. As we formulate and firm up these plans, we’ll continue to keep the community updated on timelines and other information relevant to the return of elective procedures.
