Kaiser Permanente will join several hospitals in California and postpone non-urgent elective surgeries in response to the current increase in COVID-19 cases across the state, Eyewitness News has learned.
Hospital officials say the decision was made to release staff to concentrate on supporting COVID-19 units, while ensuring that Kaiser facilities have the capacity and staff to provide care.
“The exceptions to this surgical discontinuation are cancer and suspected cancer cases, as well as any situation in which the postponement of an operation will have a negative effect on the patient’s medical condition, including pain,” officials said.
The postponement will last until January 10 and new electives will not be planned at the end of next month.
Patients affected by this change are contacted directly by hospital officials.
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