Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital (HHMH) is working in conjunction with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new order that allows hospital’s to resume scheduled elective surgeries, hospital spokeswoman Frankie Gallagher said in a press release.
HHMH will start to schedule elective surgeries May 4, beginning with outpatient cases, and lower risk inpatient cases. Cases that require extensive ICU admission, inpatient rehab or skilled nursing facility placement will be delayed until more restrictions are lifted in the state and county.
Strict protocols will be in place to address testing for COVID-19 for these surgical patients. Any patient scheduled for surgery that will be admitted as an inpatient following their surgery, will be tested for COVID-19. Test results will be available prior to the time of surgery. Patients testing positive will have their case rescheduled. If a patient has a negative COVID-19 test, but a positive screen for symptoms of COVID-19, they will be considered positive and their surgery will also be rescheduled when they are asymptomatic.
HHMH surgical personnel will continue to adhere to their strict infection control precautions including the use of N-95 masks and face shields in every case.
