MountainView Regional Medical Center to Resume Outpatient Surgeries and Elective Procedures on May 11, 2020
5/9/2020
Las Cruces NM, May 2020—Patients who have delayed surgery or other non-emergency procedures can now work with their physician to secure care as MountainView Regional Medical Center resumes outpatient elective services starting May 11, 2020.
The hospital is following Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s latest Public Health Order allowing elective surgeries and procedures. Safety remains the hospital’s highest priority.
Numerous precautions for infection prevention, access control, social distancing and patient flow are in place to maintain a safe environment of care. Everyone who enters the building, including staff, is screened, and all employees, physicians and patients are expected to wear masks. The daily number of procedures performed is being limited, and furniture in waiting areas has been spaced to maintain appropriate social distancing. Cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces and caregiving spaces has been intensified. Visitor restrictions for inpatients remain in effect, with exceptions for laboring mothers, pediatric patients, and end-of-life situations.
“As we reopen elective procedures, our entire MountainView team is working diligently to keep every patient safe,” said Karina McArthur, MD, FACS, ABOM, MountainView Chief of Staff. “Patients who delayed surgery or other non-emergency procedures can now work with their physicians to schedule necessary care as we resume elective procedures, surgeries and diagnostic studies.”
Non-COVID-19-care zones have been defined in the hospital, where patients who are screened, as negative for COVID-19, will receive care from dedicated staff. If, at any time, we are caring for COVID-19 positive patients in the hospital, those patients are grouped together in the same unit away from all other patients.
“As we resume more healthcare services, we are laser focused on patient safety and taking many steps to create safe care environments for all of our patients” said Derrick Cuenca, CEO. “We are looking forward to opening up services to care for our community. We have evaluated the public health order along with recommendations and considerations of the New Mexico MAT and want to ensure that we remain compliant with our governor's expectations. The safety of our patients and staff remains our top priority and we are working to ensure a safe environment for care as we take a measured approach to returning to elective and other non-urgent healthcare services.”
All patients, scheduling surgery or other invasive procedures, will be tested for COVID-19 in advance of the procedure. The hospital is closely monitoring its inventory of test kits, personal protective equipment, medications and other needed supplies, to ensure sufficient resources to support the number of patients in care.
At the same time, MountainView Medical Group physician practices are opening back up for in-person visits. Telehealth will continue to be available for visits, as needed. Clinic staff will be kept to a minimum to maintain appropriate social distancing.
The hospital’s plan to restart elective procedures, at the appropriate time, is made in consultation with the Board of Trustees, Medical Executive Committee and surgical leadership and follows all local, state and federal guidelines.
Anyone having questions regarding the resumption of these services is asked to contact either their Primary Care Provider or Specialty Care Provider.
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