COVID-19 Surgery Impact

Surgery schedules have been slashed by the CDC’s call for postponement of elective procedures.

"Surgery leadership (Chiefs of Surgery & Anesthesiology and OR Director) should convene daily to review future case bookings and provide defined, transparent and responsive oversight for triaging surgical cases during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Sue Smith, DCCS Partner Surgery Management Improvement Group

The American College of Surgeons (ACS), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) recently collaborated to release the following guidelines for triaging surgical cases:

Click:COVID-19 Elective Case Triage Guidelines for Surgical Care

Opportunities for the perioperative team while case volume is limited:

• Survey perioperative environment of care and initiate needed action

• Examine processes and identify opportunities to streamline

• Ensure compliance with regulations and standards

• Cross-train clinical and support staff

• Review/reorganize/consolidate inventory

• Revise/clean up preference cards

• Strengthen business analytics

• Learn and plan preparedness for future disruption

We are all in this together. The DCCS surgery team stands ready to help.

Sincerely, 

Sue Smith, DCCS Partner

Surgery Management Improvement Group