West Virginia is beginning the first phase of reopening.
Governor Jim Justice said on Talkline Monday that the first step is allowing hospitals to resume elective procedures.
On March 14, the U.S. Surgeon General advised hospitals to “please consider stopping elective procedures.” Two weeks later, Governor Justice ordered a halt to elective surgeries.
Justice and health officials were concerned that hospitals could be overwhelmed by a surge in COVID-19 patients. Also, at the time, hospitals were in short supply of protective gear and testing capabilities.
Elective procedures are a significant revenue source for hospitals and without them, many have run into major financial problems.
“We need to get our hospitals back and functioning with the standpoint of elective surgeries,” Justice said on Talkline Monday. “These hospitals need those surgeries to be financially viable.”
Later in the day during his briefing he explained that hospitals would have to first justify to the state that they have enough equipment, supplies and staffing to continue to care for virus patients while also resuming elective procedures.
WVU Health System, the largest medical provider in the state, has laid out its plans to again start performing these procedures. “Our hope is to increase these prioritized surgeries in a measured and step-wise fashion by April 27,” said WVU Health System President and CEO Albert Wright.
Wright said WVU Medicine is now “in a much better position to start doing these critical, prioritized surgeries for these reasons:”
—The number of COVID-19 cases within the health system has been “relatively small and very manageable.” The surge has passed.
—Clinical policies and procedures for COVID-19 patients have been fined-tuned.
—WVU Medicine hospitals “have the capacity to care for these patients safely.”
—There’s been an “uptick in admissions” for people with chronic diseases who have had to postpone care.
—COVID-19 test capabilities “are very solid.”
As mentioned, there is an important financial component to restarting elective procedures, but there is also a serious health concern. West Virginia is an unhealthy state. Tens of thousands of our residents have chronic conditions. Their care can only be delayed for so long before they get worse.
Remember, one of the primary concerns when the virus first hit was that West Virginia hospitals could be overwhelmed. That has not happened, and it won’t happen if people continue to follow health advisories.
Restarting elective procedures at West Virginia hospitals is a responsible first step toward reopening the state.