US Air Force 1st Lt. Allyson Black (R), a registered nurse, takes care of COVID-19 patients in an improvised ICU (Intensive Care Unit) at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center on January 21, 2021 in Torrance, California. (Photo by Mario Tama / Getty Images)
PHOENIX – As Arizona’s COVID-19 winter wave abates for the first time in months, the state’s largest hospital system will cautiously resume elective surgery for the first time this year.
“Because of the downward trends we see in cases and hospitalizations, we made the decision to partially resume elective surgery in Banner hospitals on January 25,” said Dr. Marjorie Bessel, Banner Health’s Chief Clinical Officer, at a press conference Friday. .
“Operations that can be resumed include outpatient surgery and operations that require no more than one night without ICU care.”
Banner stopped 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 as we continue to perform some of those surgical procedures for patients who have been waiting for more than three weeks for their procedure,” she said.
Bessel said that depending on circumstances, the workforce and other factors, some Banner facilities may decide it is best to continue the moratorium.
However, procedures classified as “elective” are still medically necessary and delays can be dangerous.
“If delayed for too long, they can lead to emerging medical problems requiring hospitalization or subsequent ICU care,” she said.
The number of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients across all Arizona hospitals fell to 4,495 on Thursday, the lowest number since Dec. 28. The number of IC beds used by COVID patients has fallen to 1,054, the second least since December 28.
The hospital spike, which began in early November and was staged by trips and meetings over the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year holidays, peaked on January 11 with more than 5,082 patients, including 1,183 in ICUs.
“We are very pleased to have a few fewer hospitalizations,” said Bessel. “However, it does require that we remain vigilant as there is still a lot of uncontrolled spread within our communities.”
Banner’s models predict a slower recovery from the current wave than after a summer peak.
“We do expect to reach the pre-peak hospitalization level, but not for another 10 to 11 weeks,” said Bessel.