Doctors Say It's Critical To Keep Elective Surgeries During COVID Surge

Big and small hospitals across the state are working together to keep elective surgeries going during the surge in COVID cases.

Last week, Governor Stitt said he'd consider another elective surgery moratorium if the number of cases keeps going up.

Elective surgeries were halted for about a month in the Spring due to a rise in cases.

Due to patient deductibles being met later in the year, this is the time when hospitals are most busy with surgeries.

Doctors said the procedures may not be emergencies, but they can be crucial to a patient's care.

Most cancer surgeries, for example, are considered elective.

The Greater Oklahoma City Task Force hopes to have a plan in place for the governor’s office in the next week to show how elective surgeries can continue.

One potential plan includes using smaller community hospitals and specialty centers for post operation care to free up beds at larger hospitals.

“We are going to address a broad spectrum of the surgery so it will be triaged and organized for the whole state,” said Dr, Noel Williams, the Director of the Greater Oklahoma City COVID Task Force.