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Dryden Hospital Planning For Resumption Of Surgeries

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There is no set timeline for the Dryden Regional Health Centre to resume scheduled surgeries.

The Ontario government is allowing hospitals to start preparing for the resumption of surgeries and procedures.

DRHC Chief Executive Officer Doreen Armstrong-Ross says a lot preparation is needed.

Armstrong-Ross says there are strict and comprehensive provincial guidelines and checklists that must be met before they can re-start.

That includes having a stable supply of personal protection equipment.

The hospital must ensure the safety and security of all staff and patients including physical distancing.

The facility must also have a safe transition plan for the discharge of patients.

Another measure is maintaining no more than 85% capacity.

Armstrong-Ross says “We are a 42 bed facility. So we can’t have more than 35 patients in, including the surgeries, to leave that bed capacity for any additional COVID patients that may come in.”

She stresses the re-start will be a coordinated effort with their regional partners.

“Other than our two surgeons that live in Dryden, our general surgeons, most of our surgeons come from other communities and of course their working on the same processes in their home hospitals. So it’s going to be a very coordinated, measured, thoughtful approach.”

Armstrong-Ross says she doesn’t anticipate any delay, noting visiting specialists are booked one year in advance.

She adds the hospital has an extensive waiting list for surgeries right now.

“Looking at our waiting lists for our other departments. Obviously our waiting lists for rehab, diagnostic imaging, different tests that were non-essential are piling up. And then using a real ethical framework, prioritize what’s going to be done as we ramp up services again.”

A multi-disciplinary committee in place to help guide the hospital through the process over the next couple of weeks.

Armstrong-Ross say they hope to resume surgeries sooner rather than later because the community has done a great job to flatten the COVID-19 curve.

To hear more from Doreen Armstrong-Ross, visit the Audio link below.

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Plan In Place To Resume Surgeries In Ontario

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Ontario has opened the door for the resumption of surgeries.

Health Minister Christine Elliott says they have released a comprehensive roadmap to help hospitals begin planning for the gradual return of scheduled surgeries and procedures.

The timelines for when hospitals will resume surgeries and other procedures will vary as each hospital meets the criteria set out by Ontario health.

That includes:

-A stable number of COVID-19 cases
-A stable supply of personal protection equipment
-A stable supply of medications
-An adequate capacity of inpatient and intensive care unit beds
-An adequate capacity of health human resources
-The availability of post-acute care outside the hospital that would be required to support patients after discharge

Elliott says the criteria will ensure hospitals take a measured and responsible approach that allows for more life saving surgeries, while also preserving our continued ability to respond to COVID-19 outbreaks or surges.

She adds it prioritizes the health and safety of patients and health care workers, while maintaining plans to support long-term care homes.

The framework also sets out the criteria for prioritizing surgeries such as:

-A patients condition
-The type of procedure a patient requires and whether options for non-operative treatments exist
-The associated risks of delaying a patients surgery
-The resources required in terms of personal protection equipment, medications, intensive care unit beds, and other care requirements needed after an operation.

Hospitals will need to assess if there is adequate staffing, equipment and other resources to resume scheduled care.

The assessment will be revisited on a weekly basis to reflect changing needs and requirements.

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Province Not Ready To Restart Surgeries

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Ontario’s Health Minister says they are working on a plan to reschedule elective surgeries that were put off because of the coronavirus.

Christine Elliott says they can’t offer the procedures until they see data that shows we are beyond the peak of cases.

“We want to make sure that we’re not going to have increasing pressure on our hospitals with COVID-19 cases before we can start opening up those surgeries. But it is one of the top issues that we are dealing with right now because we know it’s so important for so many people.”

Elliott notes she understands patients are getting frustrated.

“Starting to deal with that plan for the surgeries that can proceed, that have been postponed. Cardiac care and cancer care probably being at the top of the list. I know this has been very disturbing for many people who want to get on with their surgery.”

Elliott also acknowledged a report that stated over 30 people died during the pandemic because they were unable to get their cardiac surgery.

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Province Still Waiting On Surgery Restart

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Ontario’s Minister of Health says her government is working with health officials to look at when cancer surgeries may be able to be resumed.

Christine Elliott says they are in talks now but won’t be able to list surgery restrictions until Ontario is no longer seeing large numbers of COVID-19 cases.

“But we are planning for them already and as soon as the Chief Medical Officer of Health gives us the indication that the peak has passed than we will be starting those surgeries again immediately.”

Elliott says they don’t have a time frame in mind for lifting the restrictions.