Winneshiek Medical Center will resume performing elective surgeries

Posted: Sun, Apr 26, 2020 11:30 AM

On Monday, Winneshiek Medical Center will resume select surgeries and procedures that had been previously deferred. The move follows Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds' proclamation allowing such surgeries to resume.

A WMC news release says, "All proposed cases will go through a review committee, which will consider:

•    Risk to the patient if the surgery/procedure is delayed or not performed
•    COVID-19 test availability
•    Personal protective equipment (PPE) availability/inventory
•    Number of hospital beds available to handle a possible COVID-19 surge
•    The current status of COVID-19 in our area
•    Other relevant factors unique to the patient

Said Dr. Kevin Locke, one of the COVID-19 physician leaders at Winneshiek Medical Center, "As we move forward, the safety of our staff and patients is Winneshiek Medical Center's top priority...Taking all these factors into account, we can safely and responsibly expand needed care for patients."