Ascension Starts Scheduling Procedures Delayed By COVID-19

RACINE, WI — Ascension All Saints Hospital is now scheduling non-emergent surgical procedures after hospital officials announced they're reintroducing a number of elective procedures at their Racine campus.

Officials said Ascension began postponing and canceling elective surgeries and non-urgent medical procedures on March 22 to help conserve resources and increase capacity for its system-wide response to COVID-19.

Ascension Wisconsin staff are now starting to contact patients to reschedule procedures that were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, using clinical judgment to prioritize scheduling for patients with the most urgent and immediate needs, officials said.

“It’s important we take careful and measured steps to ensure a safe and gradual return to providing full access to healthcare services, while also continuing to serve and support individuals in our community impacted by COVID-19,” Kristin McManmon, Ascension All Saints Hospital, president said in a statement. “During this transition, our community can expect expanded access to healthcare services with enhanced safeguards to ensure our health system continues to serve as a healing environment – where quality care is delivered with high levels of safety and compassion.”

Temporary visitor restrictions and screening protocols for people entering the hospital continue.

The health system also requires every patient scheduled for an elective or non-emergency surgery to undergo appropriate screening and testing for COVID-19 prior to their planned surgery date. Following their screening and testing, patients are asked to self-quarantine until their surgery.

Additional enhanced safeguards for in-person visits include:

Screening. All Ascension associates are screened for COVID-19 symptoms before they come to work, using screening tools designed to ensure they are healthy and symptom-free before entering or interacting with patients at Ascension care facilities.

Cleaning and disinfecting. Environmental services teams continue to perform rigorous disinfecting measures at all Ascension facilities.

Visitor Restrictions. Temporary visitor restrictions were put in place to protect patients and staff. As Ascension facilities begin to reopen for surgeries, procedures and appointments, Ascension Wisconsin will begin the process of revisiting and relaxing some of these restrictions as soon as it reasonably can do so while still maximizing the safety of patients and at the same time provide its patients with the optimal social and spiritual support for healing. Ascension All Saints Hospital visitor restrictions remain unchanged at this time.

Appointment scheduling. Ascension Wisconsin is offering staggered appointment times to reduce the number of patients with overlapping wait times.

Waiting room distancing. In accordance with CDC recommendations, all patients are asked to wear a mask or cloth face covering when coming to Ascension Wisconsin facilities. In addition to practicing social distancing within Ascension Wisconsin hospitals, clinics and offices, patients and visitors will notice that waiting areas have fewer people with special instructions posted for avoiding exposure.

Urgent care needs. Unless it’s an emergency, patients are asked to call ahead and not to arrive unannounced at Ascension care facilities. By calling ahead, individuals can learn about and follow the safety procedures for each facility and schedule a safe time to visit.

Offsite screening locations. Patients with non-emergency symptoms of respiratory illness are asked to call ahead before visiting Ascension care facilities. Ascension has set up separate specialty care sites designed specifically for patients with such symptoms to decrease the risk of infection at Ascension sites of care.

Operating room procedures. Ascension All Saints Hospital is taking special care in an environment most people already associate with sterile precautions.