ASCA and Others Release Statements on Resuming Elective Surgery

Updated: April 17, 2020

Adherence by healthcare providers to previous guidance to postpone elective cases has created an enormous pent-up demand for surgery that must be addressed as soon as practicable. To that end, ASCA, the White House and some other healthcare organizations have each identified potential pathways for healthcare providers, including ambulatory surgery centers, to provide care to more patients as the COVID-19 pandemic recedes.

This guidance outlines important considerations that ASCs must evaluate before proceeding with postponed cases to ensure the safety of patients, their families and surgery center staff. These include patient testing, personal protective equipment (PPE) resources, infection control, social distancing and case prioritizations.

View the ASCA Statement on Resuming Elective Surgery as the Pandemic Recedes, the White House Guidelines for Opening Up America Again, and the Roadmap for Resuming Elective Surgery after COVID-19 Pandemic, prepared by the American College of Surgeons, American Society of Anesthesiologists, Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses and American Hospital Association, in the COVID-19 Resource Center.

Decisions on resuming elective surgery will be made state by state and may even vary within a state based on the presence of COVID-19. Surgery centers in states/geographic areas that have met the gating criteria for resumption of elective surgery, meaning a 14-day reduction in COVID-19 cases, may be able to resume performing elective procedures. However, it is critically important that ASCs follow state or local instructions that might place constraints on the care you can provide.

As always, we recommend visiting the ASCA COVID-19 Resource Center for valuable resources for ASCs and to find the latest information on the pandemic.