‘Elective surgery is essential surgery,’ says American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons has issued comments on elective surgery during the recent surge in COVID-19 cases stating, “Elective surgery is essential surgery.”
There is a misunderstanding that elective surgery is “an operation that may not really be needed,” the American College of Surgeons (ACS) said in a press release. While certain surgeries should be prioritized, most surgeries are essential, the ACS added.
In its statement, the ACS outlined the following:
- prioritization of emergency and elective surgeries;
- the effect of surgery and cancer screening delays; and
- the importance of access to surgical care during the recent surge in COVID-19 cases.
“Maintaining access to surgery is an essential part of quality patient care, whether the surgery is needed to cure a medical condition, address infirmity, extend life or contribute to patient well-being,” the ACS stated in the comments. The group added, “Decisions to adjust surgical services up or down should occur at a local level driven by hospital leaders including surgeons and in consultation with state government leaders. The decisions should be based on local case incidence, ongoing testing of staff and patients, aggressive use of appropriate [personal protective equipment] and physical distancing practices.”
Read the full comments at https://www.facs.org/covid-19/toolkits/elective-surgery.
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