Guidelines for resuming elective procedures

Timing of reopening:

There should be a reduction in the rate of new COVID-19 cases in the relevant geographic area for at least 14 days. Facilities should have appropriate numbers of intensive-care unit and non-ICU beds, personal protective equipment, ventilators and trained staff to treat all non-elective patients without going into crisis mode.

Testing within the facility:

Facilities should use available tests to protect staff and patients whenever possible. They should implement a policy addressing requirements and frequency for patient and staff testing.

Personal protective equipment:

Facilities should not resume elective surgeries unless they have adequate PPE and medical surgical supplies with respect to the number and type of procedures that will be performed.

Case setting and prioritization:

Facilities should create committees to prioritize case scheduling.

Preoperative:

Providers should consider using telemedicine for preoperative exams. Face-to-face components can happen on the day of surgery.

Post discharge:

Patients should ideally be discharged home and not to nursing homes.

Collection and management of data:

Facilities should reevaluate their policies around COVID-19 testing, resources and other clinical information.

Risk mitigation surrounding second wave:

Facilities should have social-distancing policies for staff, patients and visitors in nonrestricted areas that include the number of people who can accompany patients and whether visitors in periprocedural areas should be further restricted.