Hospitals to resume elective surgeries on Monday

ATLANTA — Some metro hospitals are beginning to resume elective surgery.

As they do that, they're taking steps to make sure patients are safe.

Channel 2′s Carol Sbarge was live at Eastside Medical Center in Gwinnett County Thursday with a look at how they’re preparing to resume elective surgeries Monday.

The CEO says they never saw a surge in coronavirus cases here. As they treat the coronavirus patients, they do have in one area of the hospital, Monday they'll begin elective surgeries. That could be anything from a hysterectomy that is needed to orthopedic surgery.

Anyone entering eastside medical center immediately goes through screening. That includes have their temperature taken and answering questions about any possible symptoms.

“As long as they pass the screening, there will be masks when they enter the facility,” Trend Lind said.

CEO Trent Lind says high risk patients will be tested for coronavirus. He says when elective surgeries begin Monday there'll be a specific pre- op area with social distancing guidelines.

He says it's time for elective surgeries to resume.

Patients that are waiting for necessary surgeries have been dealing with a lot of pain, discomfort, really conditions that are worsening because their waiting to have that surgery.

“We use the word ‘elective,’ but in reality, what that really mean is that it's something that is scheduled. It doesn't mean (it’s) optional,” Dr. Stephen Higgins said.

Northside Hospital systems resumed elective surgery this week at its hospitals. They say patients are tested first to make sure they don't have coronavirus.

Another new change Monday back at Eastside Medical instead of no visitors, a patient will be allowed one visitor.

It's a huge emotional boost for those patients and helps to ease their fears.

Hospital in Gainesville bracing for peak of COVID-19 as hot spot forms in Hall County Hall County has the highest per-capita rate for confirmed COVID cases in north Georgia. While Georgia begins to reopen, the Gainesville area is just trying to breathe.

If someone scheduled for elective surgery tests positive for coronavirus, their surgery will be postponed.

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