The steps it will take to bring back elective medical procedures

The coronavirus put everything from routine colonoscopies to mammograms on hold. Phase one of the federal government reopening plan brings them back.

New guidance out Friday says state and local leaders should not make this call until there has been a reduction in COVID-19 for at least two weeks.

The head of the Florida Hospital Association told WINK News it’s too soon to say which hospitals in the state may be able to come back online faster than others.

“It is certainly something that we are watching very closely on a day-to-day basis,” said Crystal Stickle, the interim president of Florida Hospital Association.

Can you speak to what you’ve has heard from hospitals across the state in terms of what revenue loss this has created?

“In addition to having electives procedures be down, in addition to having to deal with significantly increased costs in procuring necessary items, you also have staffing that has had to be overtime hours that are being paid,” Stickle said. “So you have a lot of financial factors.”

How soon do you think a decision will be made on when some parts of the state can resume routine hospital functions?

“I believe the governor’s task force is having its first meeting in Fort Lauderdale today,” Stickle said. “We’re looking forward to what the outcome and roadmap for Florida looks like coming out of that first meeting.”

And the newest guidance for hospitals also says the number of ICU beds available and access to personal protective equipment will be a factor for reopening routine and elective hospital functions.