If you have a non-urgent procedure coming up at Windsor Regional Hospital, you might get a phone call.
The rising number of hospitalizations due to COVID-19 has led to a shortage of acute care beds, so the hospital is putting a pause on non-urgent and elective surgeries requiring an overnight stay.
The postponements take effect at 12:01 a.m. Monday. Affected patients will be contacted.
Day procedures are not being put on hold at this time. Emergency surgeries, cancer surgeries, and OBGYN procedures are not being cancelled.
"We will continue to reassess our capacity for surgeries based on volumes on a regular basis," said Chief of Staff Dr. Wassim Saad. "We are doing our best to keep bed capacity available as our patient volumes increase."
As of Friday morning, there were 37 COVID-19 patients at Windsor Regional Hospital. Seven of those people are in the intensive care unit. There are also 73 suspected cases of the virus in area hospitals.
"We know these measures are difficult and challenging for patients waiting anxiously for their scheduled procedures," said CEO David Musyj. "We appreciate everyone's patience and understanding as we implement these difficult and complex changes while we work to keep our local hospital system functioning and reduce the strain on our resources and staff."
