TRINITY HEALTH SYSTEM Suspends Elective Surgeries
Precautionary actions taken as the number of COVJD-19 cases in Ohio increases
(March 17, 2020) – As we continue to care for our communities during the COVID-19 outbreak, you have likely heard that the U.S. Surgeon General recently recommended that all hospitals across the country temporarily suspend elective procedures in order to maintain capacity and needed supplies for the anticipated increase in COVID-19 patients needing hospitalization.
Today, Governor Mike DeWine announced the decision that all hospitals in Ohio would implement this measure. The Ohio Hospital Association (OHA) has been working with Governor DeWine to accommodate this new process in a manner that is least disruptive to our scheduled patients as well as meets the growing need for coronavirus care. The OHA has released a document with full details about the new process, and you can read it here.
OHA states that if one or more of the following criteria are NOT met, the surgery can be postponed:
- Threat to the patient’s life if surgery or procedure is not performed;
- Threat of permanent dysfunction of an extremity or organ system;
- Risk of metastasis or progression of staging;
- Risk of rapidly worsening to severe symptoms (time sensitivity)
Prior to this announcement, Trinity Health System had notified their medical staff that we would be suspending these procedures beginning on Monday, March 23. We have adjusted our timeline to adhere to the recommendation made today. Beginning on Wednesday, March 18, Trinity Health System, along with all hospitals across the state, will start implementing this new, temporary process for postponing elective procedures. Our scheduling, surgery and access center teams have already begun working with our physicians to contact the impacted patients. Procedures scheduled on Wednesday will proceed as planned.
“We understand that this will cause some stress and anxiety with our patients,” said John Figel, Chief Medical Officer for Trinity Health System. “Please know that these actions are being taken to preserve resources so that if this virus increases as the experts are indicating it may do in the coming days, we will be prepared to care for our community members in the most efficient way possible. We apologize for the inconvenience and look forward to rescheduling any and all postponed procedures in the near future.”
Trinity Health System encourages you to avoid group gatherings of ten or more, wash your hands, avoid touching your face and let someone know if you are feeling ill. The Trinity ExpressCare is open 8 am – 8 pm if you feel you need evaluated. Always contact your primary care physician first before going to the hospital or ExpressCare. If you do not have a primary care physician, please call 844-TPG-CALL.
Please visit coronavirus.ohio.gov for the latest information related to COVID-19 in our state and cdc.gov for National information.
Trinity Health System is part of CommonSpirit Health, a nonprofit, Catholic health system dedicated to advancing health for all people. It was created in February 2019 through the alignment of Catholic Health Initiatives and Dignity Health. CommonSpirit Health is committed to creating healthier communities, delivering exceptional patient care, and ensuring every person has access to quality health care. With its national office in Chicago and a team of approximately 150,000 employees and 25,000 physicians and advanced practice clinicians, CommonSpirit Health operates 142 hospitals and more than 700 care sites across 21 states. In FY 2018, Catholic Health Initiatives and Dignity Health had combined revenues of $29.2 billion and provided $4.2 billion in charity care, community benefit, and unreimbursed government programs. Learn more at commonspirit.org.