UPDATE: Kentucky can resume outpatient surgeries and invasive procedures May 6 under strict guidelines, according to Gov. Andy Beshear’s Monday press conference. As per Gov. Mike DeWine’s Monday press conference, the state of Ohio will open up more health care on May 1.
In mid-March, Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton issued an order to postpone elective surgeries in the state to help preserve the supply of personal protective equipment for first responders and health care workers and keep bed space open to care for patients with COVID-19.
“Because of Ohio’s hard work to flatten the curve and because of our health care system’s efforts to come together to meet community needs as a team, we have prevented the massive spike of cases that we feared,” said Gov. Mike DeWine in a release. “We must now begin the gradual, multi-phased process of reopening, and my first concern is the patients who have had procedures and surgeries delayed.”
Doctors and patients must review each case together and make a joint decision about whether or not to proceed with a surgery or other procedure in the current climate. New or other chronic conditions that have an impact on quality of life can also be evaluated. The new approach also “requires that patients be informed of the risk of contracting COVID-19 and the impact during the post-operative recovery process,” says a release.
“Resuming elective surgeries and procedures will take clinical judgment, and we will rely on our healthcare providers to make responsible decisions as we move forward,” said DeWine. “Patients must have the information necessary to make informed decisions and must pay greater attention to the effectiveness of non-surgical options.”
Kentucky is also moving forward with its Phase 1 Reopening Plan, allowing non-urgent/emergent health care services, diagnostic radiology and lab services to resume today. That includes services in hospital outpatient settings; health care clinics and medical offices; physical therapy settings, chiropractic offices and optometrists; and dental offices (but with enhanced aerosol protections).
Gov. Andy Beshear signed his executive order ceasing elective procedures on March 23 to limit the spread of COVID-19 and preserve hospital capacity.
On Sunday, when discussing the reopening of some health care facilities, Beshear said:
“Tomorrow is the first day since this virus hit that instead of adding restrictions, we are reopening some areas. We are starting with health care for some very simple reasons. First, people have not been able to go in to some types of visits and important appointments to keep themselves healthy. And people can grow unhealthy or have other issues that are unrelated to COVID-19.
“Second, we need to get our health care industry moving again because as we want to test more people we will need our health care industry to be operating at a greater level to make that happen. And third, in thinking about how to do this gradually in a way that protects people, in a way that we can always take a temperature as we move forward, health care is the place to start.”
The phased reopening of health care is the first step under Beshear’s new Healthy at Work initiative, which he says will help Kentucky businesses reopen safely when the time is right.
“From a public health standpoint, from a medical standpoint, we would probably prefer to wait even longer before lifting any restrictions,” Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner for the Department for Public Health, said. “But we’re trying to balance competing societal needs: people’s need to get back to work, people’s need to perform other important functions in society, people’s need to pursue their lives, with the need to keep people safe.”
Dr. Lynne Saddler, district director of health for the Northern Kentucky Health Department said, “Resuming certain health care services is part of the Governor’s Phase 1 Reopening Plan. Things may look at little different at your next health visit, so it is important to check with your provider on how you should prepare.”
This article appears in Apr 15 – May 5, 2020.
