As healthcare providers work to reopen and reschedule appointments, some patients awaiting or considering surgical procedures may still feel hesitant about returning to a healthcare facility. We also understand waiting for treatment might not be an option if you are in pain and eager to improve your quality of life.
To help you make an informed decision about scheduling your procedure, we wanted to make you aware of a joint statement from the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses and the American Hospital Association regarding recommended guidelines for healthcare providers to safely resume elective procedures.
Questions to Ask Your Provider
We understand you might have questions or concerns. We have compiled some suggested questions you can ask your physician before rescheduling your procedure.
- How do you determine if a procedure is safe to perform? What is required of the physician, the facility, and the patient in order for the procedure to be deemed safe to perform?
- Has your facility seen a decrease in patients admitted for COVID-19 infection?
- Will my procedure be performed in close proximity to COVID-19 patients?
- Does your facility have the appropriate amount of PPE to ensure that both the staff and patients will be protected from COVID-19?
- When it comes to testing for COVID-19, what is your policy? Will I be tested for COVID-19 before my procedure? Will my physician undergo testing before operating?
- If my procedure requires an overnight stay at your facility, how will that be impacted by COVID-19?
- Is there a safe space within the facility for my caregiver to wait for me as I undergo my procedure? Will they be allowed to see me in pre and post-op? If necessary, will my caregiver be given PPE to protect themselves from COVID-19?
Visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons websites for more resources, and remember to always consult your physician about any specific questions or concerns you may have.