Massachusetts hospitals will reduce their non-urgent scheduled surgeries starting next Monday due to staff shortages and longer stays of patients, largely due to the resurgence of Covid-19.
Coronavirus infections have risen again in Massachusetts in recent weeks, and the local health system has come under increasing pandemic-related pressures.
The lack of staff, mainly due to the pandemic, has led to the loss of about 500 beds (simple, surgical and ICU). At the same time, hospitals are receiving an influx of patients in need of complex treatments, which were delayed by doctors due to Covid-19.
The new guidelines, according to the New York Times, refer to hospitals that have less than 15% of their beds available and involve pre-scheduled surgeries that can be delayed without adversely affecting health. the patients. Postponement of surgeries does not concern urgent or serious cases.
New cases of Covid-19 have risen from an average of about 1,300 in early November to more than 2,800 now, and hospital admissions are up 47% from two weeks ago. As of Nov. 24, 740 Covid-19 patients were being treated in state hospitals, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
State Health Secretary Marilo Saunders said: “Covid-19 hospitalizations in Massachusetts remain lower than in almost any other state in the country, but health system challenges remain. “The new directive will ensure that hospitals can serve everyone, including those in need of treatment for Covid-19.”
Dr. Eric Dixon, president of the Massachusetts Association of Health and Hospitals and managing director of UMass Memorial Health, said: all state hospitals will continue to meet the needs of patients in need of urgent care “, ie to a large extent Covid-19 patients.
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