April 28, 2020 10:45 a.m.
Officials with Mercy Medical Center say they are ready to reopen for elective procedures and surgeries with a phased approach.
Last week Governor Kate Brown announced that hospitals could begin a limited reopening. Director of Communications Kathleen Nickel said she is pleased “that due to our continued planning and partnerships throughout the County, we are in a good position to meet these requirements and will be offering a limited number of cases starting on Monday May 4th”.
Mercy’s release said that under Phase 1 of the reopening, non-urgent and emergent medical procedures are allowed when certain criteria is met. That includes:
*Minimize the risk of coronavirus transmission to patients and healthcare workers.
*Maintain adequate hospital capacity in the event of a surge in COVID-19 cases.
*Support the healthcare workforce in safely resuming activities.
Nickel said starting on Monday, Mercy will re-open the main operating rooms with plans to run three OR’s and an endoscopy room. Nickel said they will slowly ramp up surgical cases to be at 40 to 50 percent of the pre-COVID volumes. On May 11th, Mercy will ask the State of Oregon to remove a waiver for additional surgical space so it can be partially reopened for endoscopy cases.
Nickel said Phase 1 of the Governor’s plan includes an expectation that all patients will be tested for COVID-19 prior to any elective surgeries. The release said Mercy has partnerships that will allow them to meet that requirement. Nickel said the Cow Creek Health Clinic, which received a rapid testing machine, has agreed to test at least five patients per day with the results coming back within six to eight hours or sooner. In addition, there is also a contract with Providence for testing that provides results back within twenty-four hours. Nickel said using these testing options will ensure that all patients are tested prior to elective surgery.
Outpatient services will also be available, according to Nickel including:
*Imaging – screening and diagnostic – mammograms, CTs, MRIs, Nuclear Medicine, and x-rays.
*Laboratory: Blood draws and testing
*Therapy: physical, occupational and speech.
*In the Heart Center: Cardiac rehab and stress tests and other studies
Nickel said a number of safety measures are in place throughout Mercy. That includes screenings when people enter, the use of masks, cleaning between patients as always, limiting the number of visits per hour and expanding waiting areas to allow for physical distancing.
Other phases of the Governor’s plans will include the ability for Mercy to provide more surgical procedures, according to Nickel.