Open, Safe and Right Here. As our community begins to “reopen” in a phased approach, it is instrumental to understand and feel confident that one of the safest places to be in the community is in a healthcare setting. For St. Elizabeth Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Physicians, we were ready and prepared when COVID-19 came into our community and rest assured, we are just as prepared to “reopen” aspects of our care in the safest way possible as COVID-19 cases continue to decline. When scheduling or rescheduling an elective procedure or care, it is instrumental to understand, and feel confident, that one of the safest places to be is a healthcare setting. For information and resources on scheduling or rescheduling elective procedures, visit the ‘Quick Links’ section below to find specific information on scheduling safe elective procedures. St. Elizabeth is Safe & Prepared From a safety measure, we have no intention of relaxing these mandates in the coming months even if other areas of the community alter theirs. We will continue the following practices for the foreseeable future: Masks Will Remain Commonplace In light of data about how COVID-19 spreads, and what we have positively experienced at St. Elizabeth, we know that masking makes a tremendous difference in the spread of this virus. As such, we will continue to require everyone in our care sites to wear a face covering. Staff will wear medically appropriate masks, while patients and visitors are required to wear their own masks unless instructed otherwise by a staff member. Surgical masks and N-95 respirators are reserved for our healthcare workers and other first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance. Sanitization and Sterilization Given the nature of this virus, sanitization and sterilization are a top priority. We will continue to maintain the additional state-of-the-art sanitizing stations in all of our buildings. In the hospital setting, multiple times each day, we are deep cleaning patient rooms, including floors and ceilings. At least twice per shift, our environmental services teams are applying safe, CDC-approved germicide to common areas, lobbies, restrooms and elevators. These measures will ensure we’re eliminating any germs from our care sites. In the Primary Care and Specialty offices, exam rooms will be cleaned with sanitizing wipes after every patient. Waiting rooms and check-in stations will be cleaned every three hours or as needed following contamination. Video Visits We will continue offering access to video visits with 100% of our primary care physicians and most of our specialists. Video visits are a safe way for patients to get the care they need. EXPLORE VIDEO VISIT OPTIONS Temperature Screening & Masks We will continue to administer temperature checks to enter any hospital or office location. We will also require patients to be masked, clothed or homemade masks are acceptable. HOW TO MAKE A MASK Quick Links - Elective Procedures are Now Available Orthopaedic Procedures Heart & Vascular Procedures General Surgery Procedures Ophthalmology Procedures Thoracic Procedures Gastroenterology Procedures Urology Procedures Women’s Health Procedures Podiatry Procedures Find an Office Location Find a Hospital Location Find an Urgent Care Location Find an Emergency Room Schedule an Appointment Start a Video Visit Frequently Asked Questions Get answers to your questions about elective procedures. Is St. Elizabeth Healthcare completely open to perform elective surgery and procedures? St. Elizabeth Healthcare has implemented a phased recovery plan based on state recommendations, that includes performing more elective surgeries and invasive procedures over time. Procedures will be prioritized based on a patient’s need and health conditions. Same-day procedures began on May 6. Non-emergent and non-urgent inpatient (overnight admission) surgery and procedures began May 13 at 50% pre-COVID capacity. All procedures resumed on May 27. Each phase will be subject to state COVID-19 safety requirements and safety precautions, including temperature screening, masks for patients and staff, and the expanded decontamination processes. These safety measures will continue for the foreseeable future. What patients are scheduling priorities at this point? We will continue to prioritize emergency and urgent procedures, but we have resumed scheduling elective procedures. Patients whose elective procedures have been cancelled due to the pandemic will be given priority for rescheduling. Are patients allowed to bring a family member or friend with them to their procedure? Only the person receiving the procedure may enter the building. If the patient has a driver, the driver will be required to remain in the car until the patient procedure is complete, and the driver will be notified for pick-up. All patients will be temperature screened upon entry. All patients will be required to wear a face mask (their own or one will be provided) Which St. Elizabeth Healthcare facilities are available to perform elective procedures and surgeries? At this time: St. Elizabeth Edgewood and Florence hospitals will be open for elective and urgent procedures. Outpatient surgery centers in Edgewood and Crestview will be open for same day elective and urgent procedures. St. Elizabeth Ft. Thomas hospital will be available for only urgent or emergency procedures initially, and a timeline for this facility to return to its usual operations will be continually updated. Will St. Elizabeth perform elective surgery and procedures on patients with COVID-19 symptoms? We will not perform elective surgery on patients with documented COVID-19 infection or with similar symptoms. Surgeries will be performed once the patient is asymptomatic. Will patients whose surgery or procedure was cancelled during the COVID-19 influx be given priority scheduling? Yes. Patients whose elective procedures have been cancelled due to the pandemic will be given priority for rescheduling. Will patients be able to have visitors if in inpatient care? Yes. Please view our visitor restrictions, here. Is it safe to get an elective surgery or procedure right now? Yes. We are applying additional COVID-19 specific safety measures to enhance the quality and safety we are known for. These include: Pre-procedure COVID-19 testing for elective surgery and procedure patients. Your physician will talk to you about whether this testing policy applies to your procedure. Temperature and symptom screening prior to your appointment at our facilities. Supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) that meet or exceed state-mandated minimums. Visitor restrictions. Mask use for all St. Elizabeth staff and patients in our facilities. Enhanced and more frequent sanitizing procedures that exceed industry requirements. Social distancing in all areas of our facilities, including pre-and post-procedure areas. What types of surgeries and procedures are included? Over the course of this phased approach, all previously performed procedures will be allowed. Outpatient or same day procedures began on May 6. Inpatient procedures, which are procedures requiring at least an overnight stay in the hospital, began May 13. What safety precautions are being taken for elective surgeries and procedures? The number of surgeries and procedures per day will be monitored, to minimize risk and to comply with social distancing rules as we provide the safest possible environment for patients and staff. All patients will be tested for COVID-19 and that test must be negative before continuing with elective procedures. If a patient refuses to be tested for COVID-19, the elective procedure will not proceed without the test being performed and a negative result is received. For patients for whom COVID-19 testing is pending or a patient refuses testing, urgent/emergent procedures will proceed with enhanced COVID-19 precautions. The patient will be subject to additional protocols to effectively provide care and maintain the safety of all patients and staff. All patients will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms and exposures prior to arrival for their procedure. Patients will be asked to bring and wear a mask the entire time while in the facility. Clean cloth or other homemade masks are acceptable. If patients do not have a mask or have respiratory symptoms, they will be given a surgical mask to wear. At a minimum, all staff will wear surgical masks during all patient encounters and while working in our facilities. Prior to your appointment, you may receive instructions from your provider’s office regarding arriving and checking-in for your appointment in a safe, efficient manner. Only the patient will be allowed in the facility. Special cases will be considered as defined by staff on a case-by-case basis. All facilities performing elective procedures and surgeries will maintain adequate PPE to meet or exceed state minimums during each phase and beyond. St. Elizabeth will continue to perform diligent hand washing and have added extra cleaning precautions. Will patients need to wear masks? Because of how COVID-19 spreads and based upon our experiences at St. Elizabeth, we know that masks make a tremendous difference in preventing the spread of this virus. As such, we will continue to require everyone in our facilities to wear a face covering. Patients without respiratory symptoms may wear their own cloth mask if it provides adequate protection and is not soiled. Patients with respiratory symptoms will be given an isolation (surgical) mask to wear. Staff will wear surgical masks and/or N-95 respirators. Will patients undergoing elective surgery or procedures be tested for COVID-19? Yes. As part of the state guidelines to begin to perform elective surgery and procedures, all patients must be tested. Can patients schedule elective procedures? Yes. While we’re currently prioritizing patients for elective procedures or surgery based on need and prior case delays, patients can schedule elective surgery and procedures with their physicians. How are patients that had their elective surgery or procedure postponed due to COVID-19 being rescheduled? Each patient who had a surgery or procedure cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19 can expect to hear from his or her physician’s office. Provider’s office staff will work with you directly on getting your procedure rescheduled on a date that works best for you. Phased Opening St. Elizabeth will be rescheduling elective procedures based on the Governor’s phased approach. SEE THE PLAN Schedule A Procedure St. Elizabeth is right here to safely offer the care you need, close to home. FIND SCHEDULING INFORMATION What to Expect & How to Prepare for Your St. Elizabeth Office Visit A few things patients will want to know prior to making their appointment and coming into their Primary Care or Specialty office: There will be a limited number of in-person patient appointments per day to minimize risk and to comply with social distancing rules. Patients will be taken to an exam room directly after screening—no waiting rooms. All patients will be screened prior to appointment. Patients will be asked to bring and wear a mask the entire time while in the office. Cloth or other homemade masks are acceptable. If patients have respiratory symptoms, they will be given a surgical mask to wear. All staff will wear surgical masks during all patient encounters. Prior to your appointment, you may receive instructions from your Primary Care or Specialty office regarding arriving and checking-in for your appointment in a safe, efficient manner. Only the patient will be allowed in the office, no family members, except for children or patients who require a caretaker. We are performing diligent hand washing and extra cleaning precautions/sterilization. With all the precautions we have taken and will continue to take, we believe our hospitals and offices are the safest public spaces in the community. St. Elizabeth is fully prepared for a safe re-opening of non-urgent/emergent healthcare services, diagnostic radiology and lab services in hospital outpatient settings, elective procedures and elective surgeries.