U.S. Air Force 1st Lieutenant Allyson Black (R), a registered nurse, is caring for COVID-19 patients in a temporary ICU (Intensive Care Unit) at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center on January 21, 2021 in Torrance, California. (Photo by Mario Tama / Getty Images)
PHOENIX – With the COVID-19 wave in Arizona slowing down for the first time in months, the state’s largest hospital system will resume cautiously for the first time this year.
“Due to the downward trends we are seeing in cases and hospitalizations, we have decided to resume partial elective surgery at Banner Hospitals on January 25,” said Dr. Marjorie Bessel, clinical head of Banner Health, said during a press conference on Friday. .
“Surgery that can resume includes those who are outpatients and those who do not require more than one night’s stay without ICU care.”
Banner discontinued elective surgery on Jan. 1 amid the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases and patients with serious complications.
“Our hospitals will look a little different if we continue to do some of the surgical procedures for patients who have been waiting more than three weeks to have their procedure done,” she said.
According to Bessel, depending on conditions, staff and other factors, some Banner facilities may decide that it is best to continue the moratorium.
However, procedures classified as ‘elective’ are still medically necessary, and delays can be dangerous.
“If they are delayed for too long, it could be medical problems that then require hospitalization or subsequent ICU care,” she said.
The number of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 inpatients at all Arizona hospitals dropped to 4,495 on Thursday, the lowest since Dec. 28. The number of ICU beds used by COVID patients dropped to 1,054, the second lowest since December 28th.
The hospital revival, which began in early November and was fueled by travel and gatherings over the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year holidays, culminated on January 11 with more than 5,082 inpatients, including 1,183 in ICUs.
“We are very pleased that we have reduced hospitalizations,” Bessel said. “However, it requires us to remain vigilant because there is still a lot of uncontrolled distribution within our communities.”
Banner’s models predict a slower recovery from the current wave than occurred after the summer.
“We do expect to reach levels of hospitalization before surgery, but not for another 10 to 11 weeks,” Bessel said.