Greater Cincinnati Hospitals Halt Elective Procedures

MEDIA CONTACT:

Christa Hyson, MPH
Senior Manager, External Relations
(513) 247-5254

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Greater Cincinnati Hospitals are Halting Elective Procedures

All scheduled, non-emergent invasive procedures in both inpatient and outpatient settings will be postponed

CINCINNATI, OHIO, MARCH 19, 2020 – To prevent the spread of infectious diseases, preserving personal protective equipment and hospital capacities, Greater Cincinnati Hospitals are halting elective procedures. This decision follows the guidance of state governments, the American College of Surgeons and the U.S. Surgeon General.

Postponing non-essential procedures also allows our region to utilize space (e.g., rooms and beds), preserve supplies (e.g., personal protective equipment and ventilators) and redirect personnel resources (e.g., providers and staff). Practicing responsible allocation of these resources will help us better prepare for a potential influx of COVID-19 patients.

A non-essential surgery or procedure is an action that can be delayed without undue risk to the current or future health of a patient. For example:

1. Threat to a patient’s life if not performed.
2. Threat of permanent dysfunction of an extremity or organ system.
3. Time sensitive situation.

Providers and schedulers are reaching out to patients directly to communicate next steps or reschedule services for a future date. While inconvenient, these are necessary steps to ensure the safety and preparedness of our region. For more information about a specific hospital’s or health system’s polices and updates please visit their website.

For more information about COVID-19 visit: https://healthcollab.org/covid-19/

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About The Health Collaborative: The Health Collaborative is a non-profit organization that leads data-driven improvements that result in healthier people, better care and lower costs. For more information about The Health Collaborative, visit healthcollab.org.