Beaufort Co. hospitals not yet canceling elective surgery, per S.C. governor’s advice
Update: On March 21, Beaufort Memorial Hospital announced it was canceling elective and non-urgent surgeries, citing a need to conserve medical equipment and protect patients and staff from exposure to COVID-19.
Beaufort County hospitals have not yet canceled scheduled elective surgeries and procedures to prepare for a spike in coronavirus cases, as S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster requested in a press briefing on Tuesday.
McMaster asked medical centers to “halt all elective and non-threatening surgical and medical procedures within the next 72 hours,” in an effort to conserve space and equipment for treatment of the growing number of coronavirus patients in the state.
Hilton Head Regional Healthcare facilities, including Hilton Head Hospital and Coastal Carolina Hospital in Hardeeville, are continuing to perform surgeries, CEO Jeremy Clark said on a Wednesday morning teleconference call with members of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and reporters.
In an emailed statement, Beaufort Memorial Hospital President and CEO Russell Baxley said he and his staff were reviewing McMaster’s guidance but had not yet canceled elective surgeries. “Our decision will be based on daily situational assessments, evidence-based medical recommendations, discussions with the state, and discussions with medical, infection prevention and surgical staff,” he said.
More than 11,000 surgeries are performed at Beaufort Memorial Hospital annually, its website says.
On Saturday, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams urged hospitals to curb elective procedures to limit the spread of COVID-19, preserve dwindling stocks of personal protective equipment and avoid unnecessarily taxing medical personnel.
One day prior, the American College of Surgeons had recommended that hospitals plan to “minimize, postpone, or cancel” elective procedures, but then co-signed a letter on Sunday warning federal officials of a need to balance caring for COVID-19 patients with providing other vital services.
“We agree that the crisis as it develops may require the curtailment of the least critical or time-sensitive hospital services, but any curtailment must be nuanced to meet the needs of all severely ill patients,” said the letter, from four major medical trade groups, including the American Hospital Association.
As of Wednesday afternoon, South Carolina health officials said there were 60 confirmed case of the coronavirus in the state. Six Beaufort County residents have tested positive.
Local leaders, industry groups weigh in on governor’s recommendations
Some members of local government in Beaufort County and the state hospital trade group said they hope hospitals follow McMaster’s request, which is not a mandatory order.
“We advise our hospitals to follow the directives given by public health officials and state and federal leaders,” said Schipp Ames, a spokesperson for the S.C. Hospital Association, in an emailed statement.
He said he is aware of South Carolina hospitals working toward rescheduling elective procedures, but the decision to do so “takes major coordination across the entire health system.”
Hilton Head Mayor John McCann said the governor’s request was “legitimate,” but that he hadn’t publicly expressed that to the island’s healthcare providers.
Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling said he wasn’t concerned that local hospitals have yet to cancel elective surgeries and that he trusts that hospital CEO’s decisions.
Yet, he added, hospitals may have to follow the governor’s guidance “at some point” as the number of coronavirus cases mount.
S.C. governor waives regulations, allows medical students to be used
In his Tuesday briefing, McMaster announced several new measures he is taking to support South Carolina hospitals preparing for an influx of coronavirus cases.
In an executive order, the governor directed the S.C. National Guard to coordinate with hospitals to make plans for building temporary treatment centers across the state.
Beaufort Memorial has created a drive-thru specimen collection site for coronavirus testing. Hilton Head Hospital has set up a tent outside its emergency room on the island’s north end to use to screening and triage if necessary, Clark said on the Wednesday call.
Daisy Burroughs, a spokesperson for Tenet Healthcare — Hilton Head Regional Healthcare’s parent company — said in an emailed statement that “all emergent and urgent procedures and diagnostics will proceed as scheduled.”
The healthcare group seeks “to balance the needs for care for those with chronic or other illnesses that require healthcare diagnostics or procedures and where delaying it could cause them to require emergency care a few weeks from now” — a time “when COVID-19 cases might be ramping up,” wrote Burroughs.
All area hospitals have instituted visitor restrictions.
Across the county, health officials are moving to conserve resources in the face of the pandemic. The Ohio Department of Health issued an order Tuesday ending “all non-essential or elective surgeries and procedures” that use personal protective equipment. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday he would sign a similar executive order.
McMaster said Tuesday he was waiving regulations to allow hospitals to use medical and nursing students in daily operations during the COVID-19 response. Questioned by reporters, State Epidemiologist Linda Bell specified students already “practicing in clinical settings” as part of their medical training could be used but didn’t say exactly what role they would play.
He previously said the state’s nursing and medical boards are expediting temporary licenses for out-of-state medical professionals.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
This story was originally published March 18, 2020 at 2:43 PM.
