ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Editor's Note: This story has been updated with additional sourcing and links.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on March 20 ordered health care offices to stop performing elective procedures, in an effort to save medical supplies ahead of an anticipated surge in COVID patients.
According to the News Service of Florida, the order is scheduled to run through May 8, but hospitals and doctors have been asking DeSantis to scale back the restrictions on elective procedures.
DeSantis says he is in no rush to reopen the state but is expected to release plans on Wednesday.
A spokesperson for Blake Medical Center says they are actively working to solidify plans to safely resume elective procedures, assuming DeSantis’ mandate is lifted on May 8.
“Our target date is the 9th,” said Blake Medical Center’s Marketing Director Lisa Kirkland.
“But again, there’s just so much still in process, but we feel we have a good plan and a very safe plan.”
That plan includes testings before any procedure is done.
"Our intent is to have everyone that intends to have an elective procedure tested prior to having their procedure and then we will have the results back prior to the procedure," said President and CEO of Blake Medical Center Randy Currin.
Currin says they will continue screening people when they come into the hospital and set up a specific entry point for those coming in for scheduled surgeries.
Tampa General Hospital announced their plan Monday. They aim to resume its full schedule of elective procedures on May 11. Only difference now, is all patients who have surgeries will also be tested for COVID-19.
Sarasota Memorial Hospital says they too are gearing up to resume elective surgeries as soon as the Governor lifts the restrictions in Florida.
"We are currently testing all high-risk medically indicated patients for COVID-19 before non–elective surgeries and have developed a detailed pre-operative evaluation to ensure the safety of all patients and staff," a spokesperson for SMH said.
SMH also plans to expand testing even further as they start performing non-emergency surgeries.
"Our main focus is ensuring the safety of patients and staff, so we have a medical team working with government officials and hospitals throughout the Tampa Bay region on a model that will help all hospitals safely resume elective surgeries in the very near future."
A spokesperson for Doctors Hospital of Sarasota says they are confident that the numerous safety precautions they have in place and the planned COVID-19 testing of patients prior to surgical procedures will ensure the safety of caregivers and patients.
Doctors Hospital is planning to resume surgeries and procedures on May 11.
"We have been working with our physicians on the reopening plan and we are excited to once again provide patients with needed care that was temporarily postponed while our communities worked together to successfully flatten the curve," a hospital spokesperson said.
Manatee Memorial Hospital will also resume elective procedures on Monday, May 11. All patients will be tested for COVID-19 prior to their procedure.
What other people are reading right now:
- Pinellas County beaches reopening Monday with restrictions
- Governor DeSantis will make an announcement Wednesday about reopening Florida
- What will Florida restaurants need to do to reopen? A food safety expert weighs in
- Mile-wide asteroid to pass close to Earth on Wednesday
- Do your glasses fog up when you wear a mask? Here's how to fix that
- 2020 Atlantic hurricane season: This could be an active few months
- Hotlines, websites offer the latest on COVID-19
FREE 10NEWS APP:
►Stay In the Know! Sign up now for the Brightside Blend Newsletter