Intermountain postpones all non-urgent surgeries due to COVID-19 surge

Photo: Courtesy of Intermountain

Due to a surge in COVID-19 cases, Intermountain Healthcare is postponing all nonurgent surgeries and procedures requiring a hospital admission in its trauma and community hospitals.

Staff are needed for the ICUs and acute care units, Intermountain said.

"Our teams are overwhelmed and we're running out of staffed beds for patients," Intermountain said. "We are at a critical point where we must take further action to support our teams and the safety of our patients."

WHY THIS MATTERS

COVID-19 cases have continued to significantly increase in Utah – resulting in consistently high volumes in hospital ICUs and acute care units across the system.

Intermountain is postponing all nonurgent surgeries and procedures requiring a hospital admission or postoperative inpatient monitoring in its trauma and community hospitals, as of September 15. This delay is expected to last several weeks.

"We will evaluate the situation on an ongoing basis. When feasible, consolidation of remaining surgeries or procedures may take place to help free up surgical teams to be redeployed in our hospitals," Intermountain said. "Nonurgent surgeries and procedures are those that can be reasonably postponed and do not involve a medical emergency."

The health system named over a dozen trauma and community hospitals where all nonurgent surgeries and procedures requiring a hospital admission are being postponed.

Rural hospitals, TOSH, and Primary Children's will continue to do nonurgent surgeries and procedures requiring a hospital admission, but these facilities may postpone some cases as needed depending on circumstances, Intermountain said.

THE LARGER TREND

The Delta variant and the unvaccinated are driving a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases nationwide.

This combined with a staffing shortage is overwhelming many hospitals. Some nurses who are mandated to get vaccinated have threatened to leave their jobs.

Earlier this month, President Biden took steps to increase the number of Americans who are vaccinated by mandating shots for healthcare workers and also for the private sector.

ON THE RECORD

"While this pause in surgeries may create challenges for some patients, it is a necessary and appropriate step given the sharp spike in hospitalizations for patients with COVID-19," Intermountain said.

"Any patient affected by the postponements will be directly notified by telephone. Postponed procedures will be rescheduled after the surge subsides. Intermountain will continue to provide care for urgent situations and emergency patients as it always does."
 

Twitter: @SusanJMorse
Email the writer: susan.morse@himssmedia.com