ST.
PAUL – To protect patients and staff and in order to conserve personal
protective equipment (PPE) and other equipment in Minnesota, hospitals and
health systems are taking action today to postpone and defer elective
surgeries and nonessential procedures. This is in line with an executive
order issued by Gov. Tim Walz March 19, as well as guidance from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). MHA sent a
letter to Walz and
Commissioner of Health Jan Malcolm March 17 requesting that this step be
taken statewide.
“We thank the governor for following the
recommendations from the CDC and professional medical organizations and
applying this policy across the state,” said Dr. Rahul Koranne, president and
CEO, Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA). “While this is a difficult
decision for the hospital and health system community, it is the right thing
to do in order to protect our patients and preserve supplies, equipment and
staffing for the most urgent and time-sensitive patient needs. We need to
make sure we can protect our front-line care teams with supplies and prepare
for the inevitable surge of COVID-19 patients. We recognize that this will be
very disappointing to our patients and we want to care for them, but this
protects their health as well. We will rely on our physicians to ensure that
surgeries and procedures that are lifesaving and needed for the health of our
patients will continue to go forward.”
The
CDC and CMS recommendations outline factors that should be considered for
postponing elective surgeries and nonessential medical, surgical and dental
procedures. Those factors include patient risk factors; availability of beds,
staff and PPE; and the urgency of the procedure.
Under
Walz’s executive order, Minnesota health care settings including hospitals,
health systems and ambulatory surgery centers will postpone nonessential surgeries
and procedures that can be delayed without negative consequence to patients
such as a threat to life, permanent disability including to teeth or jaw, and
spreading metastasis or a delay in cancer staging. Hospitals and health
systems will work directly with patients affected by this executive order.
“Patients
who have upcoming elective surgeries or procedures will be contacted by their
health care provider regarding their care plans in light of the postponement,”
Koranne said. “Concerned patients should contact their health care provider
with any questions.”
Hospitals
and health systems want all Minnesotans to practice diligent social distancing now in order to reduce
the number of cases in our state and reduce the surge of patients who will
need hospital level of care.
“If
all Minnesotans act together now, we may be able to reduce the surge that our
health system will see,” said Koranne. “Our hospitals, health systems and
care teams need your immediate help and proactive actions.”
Hospitals
and health systems want to emphasize for community members that if you are
concerned about your symptoms, call your health care provider. Your
provider will work with you to determine whether you should be tested for
COVID-19 and may only recommend testing if you meet certain criteria. You may
be asked to isolate at home and monitor your symptoms at the direction of
your provider.
Hospitals
and health systems also want to be sure patients are receiving the right care
in the right location. Based on your symptoms, you may not need to come to
a hospital or clinic. It cannot be emphasized enough: hospital care needs
to be preserved for those who are acutely ill. Patients should not visit the hospital
emergency department unless they are experiencing an emergency situation.
Your provider can help you determine if you should come in.
The
Minnesota Hospital Association represents Minnesota’s hospitals and health
systems, which provide quality care for their patients and meet the needs of
their communities.
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