close up of doctor during surgery

05.04.20

Missouri Hospitals Resume Medically Necessary Elective Procedures

Expert

Dave Dillon Crop LR

Dave Dillon

Vice President of Public and Media Relations

Actions

Type

News Releases

Topic

  • COVID-19
  • Disease Management

Tags

coronavirus COVID-19 disease management news release

Hospitals throughout Missouri are beginning to resume many of the scheduled procedures they had postponed with the advent of COVID-19 in the state. Because the decision to halt this care was made collectively by the state’s hospitals, no state action is needed to resume these services.

“In Albany and the neighboring communities, there have been few cases of COVID-19 identified,” said Jon Doolittle, Regional President of Mosaic Medical Center – Albany and MHA Board Chair-elect. “However, we joined with the state’s other hospitals in significantly limiting our services to prepare for a surge and safeguard personal protective equipment.”

“We have used the last several weeks to modify processes and train staff to prepare for COVID-19 patients.” said Doolittle. “As a result of our shift in focus, patients have deferred care which would be in their best interests to receive as soon as is practical. We now are poised to restart some of that deferred care for our dear patients, and we remain ready to respond to any community outbreak of COVID-19 as we move through the phased restart of our economy.” Road to Reopening

Hospitals’ missions include individual and community health improvement. However, many hospitals have been unable to serve patients who need their services. Nearly 50% of individuals who normally would be receiving inpatient or outpatient care have had their care delayed.

Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, hospitals have expanded their capacity to address outbreaks, including training staff and converting more than 1,000 intensive care beds. These resources will remain as hospitals resume phased-in patient care, while ensuring their flexibility to address potential future outbreaks.

Reopening medically necessary elective procedures — from wellness checks and mammograms to colonoscopies and joint replacements — will help protect and improve the lives of patients. The suspension of some of these procedures could be done safely and without risk to the patient, but others may no longer be safe to postpone. This phased reopening will permit all Missourians to continue to receive the care they need and deserve.

“Hospitals, and the patients that need care, face growing harm through sidelined capacity,” said Charlie Shields, President and CEO of Truman Medical Centers, Inc. in Kansas City, Mo., and MHA Board Chair. “Thanks to the many mitigation steps taken across the state, we’re seeing the curve flatten. It is important at this time for the state’s hospitals to move to the next phase — and that includes limited reopening for hospitals that meet the criteria. As we proceed, hospitals will take every precaution to ensure the health and safety of our patients, visitors, employees, doctors, nurses and communities.”

Stay-at-home orders have contributed to individuals delaying necessary care. Statewide, hospitals have been reminding members of their community that lifesaving care is always available. MHA has launched a “Ready For You” campaign to encourage individuals needing emergency care, or experiencing common symptoms of dangerous conditions, to seek care immediately.

“Hospitals have made important changes to the delivery of care needed to address COVID-19,” said Steve Edwards, President and CEO of CoxHealth in Springfield, and 2019 MHA Board Chair. “Across the globe and across our state, hospitals purposefully reduced elective procedures to conserve PPE and to create capacity for a possible surge. As PPE supplies have grown, and the incidence of COVID-19 cases have stabilized, it is very important that we encourage patients with routine and emerging medical concerns to seek care. The impact of not seeking care may be every bit as consequential as the pandemic itself. Missouri hospitals are following best practices with an intense focus on infection prevention and overall safety. We will follow a phased-in approach mirroring other aspects of the state’s recovery — proceeding carefully and safely.”

Consistent with Gov. Mike Parson’s Show Me Strong Recovery Plan, MHA has provided all hospitals guidance on reopening for medically necessary care. Both the governor’s plan and MHA guidance encourage a cautious, locally driven approach to increasing nonemergent, non-COVID-19-related care. Three paramount considerations are included in the approach, including maintaining a flat trajectory of the virus, access to adequate levels of PPE and increased testing.

A safe, thoughtful and data-driven approach to reopening will help hospitals reduce harm to individuals that have been avoiding necessary care during COVID-19.

 


# # #
 

Back to Top