Bassett Healthcare Network Postpones Non-Essential Surgical, Medical and Dental Procedures during COVID-19 Response

Bassett Healthcare Network announced today that in accordance with federal recommendations from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), all elective surgeries are being postponed during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes non-essential medical, surgical, and dental procedures at all Bassett Healthcare Network hospitals and outpatient surgical facilities. 

Urgent (e.g. cancer procedures) and emergency surgeries will continue to be performed.

CMS announced its recommendations March 18, 2020, and in its statement said, “As more healthcare providers are increasingly being asked to assist with the COVID-19 response, it is critical that they consider whether non-essential surgeries and procedures can be delayed so they can preserve personal protective equipment (PPE), beds, and ventilators.”

Bassett Healthcare Network Chief Clinical Officer Steven Heneghan said, “We have been calling patients to let them know we will be rescheduling non-essential procedures. This will help curb the spread of the virus and help assure our health care workforce is available to those patients who urgently need medical care. Delaying elective procedures also allows us to redistribute resources and focus on preparing for a possible sudden influx of patients due to COVID-19.”

Patients with questions regarding scheduled procedures may contact their practitioner.