Kaiser Permanente will join several California hospitals and delay non-urgent elective surgery in response to the current increase in COVID-19 cases in the state, Eyewitness News has learned.
Hospital officials say the decision has been made to free up staff to focus on supporting COVID-19 units, while ensuring Kaiser facilities have the capacity and staff to provide care.
“The exceptions to this interruption of operations are cancer and suspected cancer cases, as well as any situation where delaying surgery would negatively impact the patient’s medical condition, including pain,” officials said in a statement.
The postponement will last until January 10, and new elective surgeries will not be scheduled until the end of next month.
Patients affected by this change will be contacted directly by hospital officials.
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