Methodist hospitals plan to resume elective surgeries
After pausing elective surgeries for two days to monitor rising COVID-19 cases, hospitals in the Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare System resumed elective procedures Wednesday up to 50% capacity, according to an email sent to hospital system employees.
Moving forward, surgeries will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, taking into account staffing and bed capacity. Dr. Shailesh Patel, chief medical officer at Methodist Olive Branch, said Wednesday the decisions about which surgeries would be performed were made by a group of physicians who evaluate the condition of each patient and determine whether a procedure can safely be postponed.
“We decided to hold off on elective procedures on Monday and Tuesday just as we were getting higher cases just so we could effectively take care of our patients,” he said. “Every case is looked at. Every patient situation is looked at.”
Hospitals typically see an increase in patient volumes during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
As of Wednesday, there were 205 COVID-19 patients hospitalized across the Methodist system, 77 of whom were in intensive care unit beds.
Baptist Memorial Hospital-memphis has postponed surgeries requiring an overnight hospital stay. Other hospitals in the Baptist system are performing all scheduled surgeries, a hospital system spokesperson said this week.
As of Wednesday, there were 160 COVID-19 patients hospitalized at Baptist Memphis, 34 of whom were in ICU beds.
Corinne Kennedy covers economic development, soccer and COVID-19’S impact on hospitals for the Commercial Appeal. She can be reached via email at Corinne.kennedy@commercialappeal.com or at 901297-3245.