Raleigh General Hospital to Resume Elective and Non-Urgent
April 30, 2020
Process to resume procedures will be gradual, taking extra precautions to ensure safety of patients, employees
Beckley, W.Va. (4/30/20) – Raleigh General Hospital announced today that it is taking the appropriate steps to safely resume some elective and non-urgent surgeries and procedures that were previously rescheduled out of an abundance of caution amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The decision to reschedule procedures when clinically appropriate was made in accordance with federal and state guidance, and aimed to help preserve critical resources in the event of a surge of COVID-19 patients in the community. Today, current projections indicate a lower than expected volume of COVID-19 in the region, which means less strain on healthcare resources.
“Resuming these important services is an essential component of meeting our community’s health needs and advancing our mission of Making Communities Healthier,” said Matt Roberts, Chief Executive Officer of Raleigh General Hospital. “As this work gradually gets underway in our hospital again, we remain committed to conserving critical supplies, being vigilant in our fight against COVID-19, and ensuring that our facility is a safe place for all patients, providers and employees.”
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Raleigh General Hospital has continued to carefully follow guidance from federal, state and local officials, monitor the prevalence of the virus in the community, and evaluate supplies and resources – including personal protective equipment like masks, gowns, gloves and goggles.
The decisions about which procedures can safely move forward will be made only after assessing a comprehensive pre-operative checklist and evaluating potential risks. The hospital will initially focus on scheduling patients with more time-sensitive health needs, and those decisions will be made in partnership with the attending physician/surgeon/proceduralist. Patients who are scheduled and approved for procedures must meet specific requirements, including passing standard COVID-19 screenings. Surgical patients also will be asked to practice “safer at home” behaviors for seven days prior to their procedure to minimize potential exposure; check their temperature twice a day during this 7-day period and report temperatures over 100°F to their provider; and undergo testing for COVID-19.
Patients awaiting information about their previously postponed procedure can expect to hear from their provider or provider’s office to discuss rescheduling at the appropriate time.
Raleigh General Hospital will continue to screen and mask everyone who enters the facility and maintain a zero-visitor protocol for the foreseeable future. These important measures have had a positive impact on ensuring a safe environment, and they also are aligned with the federal government’s guidelines. Additionally, the facility has implemented new processes and procedures to further protect the health of patients, providers and employees. Visit RaleighGeneral.com to learn more.
As a reminder, if you are having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or go directly to the Emergency Room. If possible, tell the dispatch agent if your emergency involves symptoms possibly related to COVID-19.
About Raleigh General Hospital
A part of LifePoint Health®, Raleigh General Hospital, southern West Virginia’s leading medical center, has served the city of Beckley and surrounding counties since 1921. The acute care hospital offers a full range of services including trauma, obstetrics, advanced imaging, lithotripsy, interventional cardiac care, oncology, emergency, gastroenterology, and advanced wound care and hyperbaric medicine services. Additionally, we offer the following surgical services: general, orthopedic, vascular, spine, gynecology, ENT and podiatry. Each year, the hospital admits over 10,000 patients, delivers about 1,100 babies and treats nearly 50,000 people in its emergency department. Approximately 3,500 inpatient surgeries, 8,000 outpatient surgeries and 4,500 endoscopies are performed annually. To learn more about Raleigh General Hospital, visit http://www.raleighgeneral.com.