Effective Tuesday, Beebe Healthcare is pausing elective surgical procedures requiring an overnight stay in the hospital due to increased Covid-19 hospitalizations.
Beebe leadership is making this decision to continue providing safe, high-quality care to the influx of patients requiring hospitalization due to Covid-19 and unrelated serious medical issues, a release stated.
Beebe is joining Sussex County’s other hospital, TidalHealth, Nanticoke in Seaford in pausing elective procedures.
The number of patients hospitalized as a result of Covid-19 has continued to increase. More than 95% of hospitalized Covid-19 patients are either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated.
Beebe will monitor the surge and will resume elective surgeries requiring a hospital stay when conditions improve. Beebe is working closely with surgeons to ensure that patient care is prioritized as best as possible. Their surgeon’s office will contact patients whose elective surgeries are paused.
Beebe again urged the community to get vaccinated. The health care system cited the presence of the Delta variant and data that suggests catching Covid-19 with the variant results in more severe cases.
“At this time, as we build the level of vaccination nationwide, we must also use all the prevention strategies available, including masking indoors in public places, to stop transmission and stop the pandemic,” said David A. Tam, MD, CEO, Beebe Healthcare. “Everyone who is able, including fully vaccinated people, should wear masks in public indoor places.”
