North Texas’ largest healthcare provider postpones elective procedures, including mammograms
The largest healthcare provider in North Texas, Texas Health Resources, has postponed all elective and non-essential surgeries and procedures because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The suspension includes non-essential patient care (than can be delayed without harm to the patient) and applies to Texas Health facilities and Texas Health Physicians Group practices until further notice. It’s the first time Texas Health has postponed such procedures in response to a public health crisis.
The Arlington-based company has 23,000 employees, including 6,200 physicians.
The measure, Texas Health chief medical officer Dr. Andrew Masica said, is an attempt to limit exposure to staff and patients to the COVID-19 virus while also helping preserve supplies.
“We have made this important decision to limit exposure to staff and patients, as there is now community transmission of the new coronavirus (COVID-19),” Masica said. “Performing nonessential care during this critical time unnecessarily brings people into our facilities while using critical supplies of personal protective equipment and workforce capacity.”
Physicians have been asked to review their currently scheduled surgeries and procedures and contact affected patients.
Urgent surgeries and procedures will continue to be scheduled as clinically appropriate. These are treatments that need to be performed to prevent significantly worse outcomes and increased health problems for patients in the near future.
Included postponed services include Texas Health ambulatory and outpatient settings, appointments for chronic condition follow-up, preventive services and screenings, ongoing treatments like physical therapy, non-urgent radiology exams and all imaging, including the cancellation of all screening mammograms.
Radiology departments will work with physicians to determine which imaging tests are essential. The system’s rehabilitation departments will work with physicians to determine essential physical therapy and support home health orders, according to a Texas Health release.
“It is our duty to take whatever steps necessary for the safety and well-being of the people in the communities we serve and for the people who provide care to them,” Texas Health CEO Barclay Berdan said in the release. “That means bringing the power of our entire system — all of our resources — to this fight.”
Texas Health previously significantly reduced the number of entrances used at its facilities across North Texas to funnel traffic to screening stations. No one with symptoms — except patients seeking care and those with appointments — is being allowed in its facilities. Patients are allowed only one visitor.
An information hotline (682-236-7601) and online hub hub are available at TexasHealth.org.
