Coronavirus Latest: UMMS, LifeBridge Health, Johns Hopkins Postpone Elective Surgeries
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- All elective, non-emergent procedures through the University of Maryland Medical System are postponed beginning Wednesday, March 18 until April 1, as part of their COVID-19 response.
The University of Maryland Medical System/University of Maryland Baltimore, in coordination with the Johns Hopkins Health System is postponing the procedures to give additional capacity for UMMS hospitals to treat patients with the greatest need.
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"Consistent with our priority to protect our patients and staff, our decision is guided by the need to minimize the risk of exposing surgical patients to COVID-19, minimize the potential for high-risk exposure to surgical and peri-operative staff from unrecognized and asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19, minimize risk within the hospital environment from potential exposure consistent with social distancing principles, and ensure adequate availability of supplies and equipment that can be redirected to the care of COVID-19 patients," said David Marcozzi, MD, UMMS COVID-19 Incident Commander. "This is a rapidly-changing dynamic and we need to plan ahead. Emergent and urgent procedures as defined by a patient's care team that are necessary for a patient's health and time sensitive will continue."
The policy will be reassessed weekly for the next two-week period.
LifeBridge Health is also postponing elective surgeries indefinitely at its main hospitals and outpatient facilities. Surgicenters in Owings Mills and Ellicott City are excluded.
Johns Hopkins Medicine said elective procedures will be canceled for a two-week period beginning March 18.
For the latest information on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department's website or call 211. You can find all of WJZ's coverage on coronavirus in Maryland here.
