Elective surgery in the time of COVID-19

Abstract

1. •

   The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a significant strain on the United States health care system.

2. •

   Healthcare workers are rapidly altering their professional responsibilities to help meet hospital needs.

3. •

   Surgeons have witnessed a dramatic change in their practices with rapidly decreasing elective surgery.

4. •

   Surgical leaders should develop a framework to help make decisions around elective surgery as information is evolving.

Fig. 1

Framework for evaluating guidelines for elective surgery during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic NOTES. Framework for establishing elective surgery guidelines during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic – as this is a rapidly evolving situation, stakeholders should repeatedly cycle through A-D as new information becomes available. A. Leaders should review and evaluate national, state, local, and society guidelines so that their surgeons and institutions are compliant. B. Leaders should leverage content experts within their institution such as disease content experts (e.g. surgeon), nurses, administrators, ethicist, and supply chain managers to help inform local guidelines and recommendations. C. All stakeholders should evaluate current and projected resources including workforce, PPE, and medical equipment (e.g. ventilators) and weigh availability versus disease burden D. Stakeholders should consider their patients immediate needs while being sensitive to national needs.