SUSSEX COUNTY, Del - Beebe Healthcare is moving forward with plans to gradually return to pre-COVID 19 operations. On Thursday the hospital hosted a virtual town hall featuring remarks from a number of physicians. The goal of the online forum: to shed light on what Beebe is calling a transition from "pandemic response" to "recovery". Specifically highlighting a return to carrying out elective surgeries and procedures.
Beebe Healthcare's President and CEO, Dr. David Tam commented on the necessity of bringing back such procedures. "Elective is not the same thing as unnecessary", said Dr. Tam. "People have had to go through waiting for procedures and surgeries that were important and critical to their health. Everything from hernia repairs, to hip and knee replacements," he added.
Reinstating elective procedures, however, will not be an instantaneous process. . According to the hospital's Chief of Surgery, Dr. James Spellman, this multi-phased approach involves seeing back-logged patients first, and those who can no longer delay treatment "on the basis of medical necessity".
These changes come as physicians within the hospital through partnerships with the state and the University of Delaware have tracked a decline in active COVID-19 cases throughout the state. In particular, these studies find that Sussex County has been experiencing a consistent downward trend for the last 14 days. This according to Infectious Disease and Travel Medicine Physician, Bill Chasanov.
"We are keeping a watchful eye on what’s happening within the hospital, the county, pockets within the county and also the state," he said. Chasanov also making it clear that while data may suggest positive strides “COVID-19 is not gone”. He and other physicians urging the public to continue social distancing practices.
"Doing those things even as we open up. Even as the weather changes. Even as we go to the beach. Even as we walk on the boardwalk are all critical to helping us stay with a flat curve that allows us to do the services, the surgeries, and the procedures that you have been waiting for us to open up to," said Dr. Tam.