The Delaware Division of Health has cleared the way for some types of elective surgeries beginning today.
Guidance from the division stated that a cautious approach is being taken, due to a relatively high number of coronavirus hospital stays and some limitations on certain personal protective equipment, notably surgical gowns.
Earlier shortages of enhanced protective gear and fears of a surge in COVID-19 hospital stays led to hospitals and surgery centers to halt elective surgeries.
The go-ahead was given for some elective procedures under a Tier 2 designation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, due to concerns that some people wait too long to seek treatment during the pandemic.
An increase of ambulance calls from seriously ill people has also been reported by first responders.
If hospitalizations remain stable or drop and protective gear is readily available, the state can move to Tier 1, which allows all elective procedures.
All licensed health care facilities and health care providers may resume CMS Tier 2 elective and non-urgent medical procedures and appointments on May 20,.
Tier 1 guidance is as follows:
I. Delaware’s health care facilities and licensed health care providers shall exercise their independent professional judgment in determining what procedures are appropriate to perform, which appointments should occur, and which patients to see in light of widespread COVID-19 community transmission. The prioritization process, principles, and framework should be transparent to state government, health care workers, and the public.
2. Licensed health care facilities or health care providers resuming elective and non-urgent medical procedures shall have at least two week’s supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff, and as appropriate, for patients.
- The health care facilities and health care providers must be able to procure all necessary PPE for its desired services via standard supply chains.
- PPE requests to the Division of Public Health will be denied except to support community testing as appropriate.
- All health care providers and staff shall wear appropriate face coverings, to include cloth face coverings, surgical face masks or N-95 masks, respirators, and/or face shields.
- Patients shall wear a face-covering whenever possible.
3. Social distancing requirements must be strictly maintained in all settings where people must wait in order to minimize direct contact between individuals within the healthcare setting and use of non- traditional alternatives is encouraged (e.g., call ahead registration; waiting in a car until called).
4. All health care workers, patients, and others must be screened for COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival for shift or visit. Staff must stay home if they are showing COVID-19 symptoms.
5. All health care facilities and health care providers must plan for and implement enhanced workplace infection control measures in accordance with the most current CDC guidelines:
6. Any health care facility or health care provider that is unable to provide PPE for themselves, staff, and patients where appropriate shall immediately restrict operations to urgent and non-elective procedures and appointments.
