HCA Healthcare is restricting some inpatient surgeries and procedures to free up space for COVID-19 patients, according to a press release.
The change will start on Saturday, July 11 at hospitals in Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte counties. HCA previously announced similar measures at some Pinellas County hospitals, which started on July 6.
Those hospitals were:
- Largo Medical Center
- Northside Hospital
- Palms of Pasadena Hospital
- St. Petersburg General Hospital
The following hospitals are working with surgeons to identify patients with procedures that can be postponed:
- Blake Medical Center
- Brandon Regional Hospital
- Citrus Memorial Hospital
- Doctors Hospital of Sarasota
- Englewood Community Hospital
- Fawcett Memorial Hospital
- Medical Center of Trinity
- Memorial Hospital of Tampa
- Oak Hill Hospital
- Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point
- South Bay Hospital
“The number of COVID cases in our hospitals are increasing daily, and we need to ensure that our caregivers and hospitals are in a position to provide safe, effective, and compassionate care to our patients. We will continue to monitor the situation closely, making adjustments as necessary,” said Ravi Chari, M.D., president of HCA Healthcare West Florida Division.
HCA said the change does not affect hospital-based outpatient surgeries or procedures, or those performed at HCA Healthcare Ambulatory Surgery Centers.
“Delaying surgical cases that can appropriately be postponed allows us to safely and quickly expand capacity,” explained Dr. Chari. “I want to emphasize that our ERs remain safe and open for anyone experiencing a medical emergency and we will continue to work with other healthcare providers and local and state government agencies to meet the needs of the communities we serve.”