PBRMC, Saint Francis resume elective procedures but will maintain visitor restrictions

Area medical facilities are in the process of resuming elective procedures, saying a decrease in area COVID-19 patients makes this possible, along with continued protective measures.

Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center announced Tuesday it will resume elective procedures beginning Monday, May 4. New rules regarding visitors are expected to be announced later this week. Currently, everyone entering the facility is required to wear a mask, with some exceptions, such as children under the age of 2 and those with trouble breathing or who are incapacitated.

Saint Francis Medical Center also resumed elective surgeries and procedures Monday and has kept visitor restrictions and other safety measures in place.

“Our top priority has always been focused on the safety and well-being of our patients, employees and the community we serve,” PBRMC leaders said in a press release Tuesday.

In compliance with state and federal guidelines, PBRMC is reserving at least 25% of hospital capacity for treatment of COVID-19 patients, so it will not deplete the hospital capacity or the PPE needed to cope with COVID-19.

If, at any time, there is a surge in COVID-19 cases, officials said, they will reevaluate the surgery needs and PPE supply.

“Physicians are deciding which surgeries to perform based on patient urgency, protective equipment” said Bryan Bateman, PBRMC chief executive officer. “Our entire facility is working together as a team to ensure we have all sanitary and screening precautions in place, so our patients and employees are safe.

“The environmental services team works hard daily to keep all surfaces disinfected and are truly unsung heroes in our journey to overcome COVID-19.”

Currently, PBRMC only has one patient in its care who is positive for COVID-19.

“This patient and any future positive admissions are placed in an isolation unit,” PBRMC officials said. “Throughout this pandemic, our employees and patients are thoroughly screened upon entering the facility as another method to ensure the safety of our patients and community.

“As a result, we have seen a decrease in new COVID-19 patients in our area and will continue to do our part to flatten the curve. We will be extremely cautious in choosing our elective procedures, so it preserves our resources to meet the needs of our community.”

While many medical facilities have experienced a slow down in non-emergency traffic during this time, PBRMC has not had to do furloughs, said Lacey McClintock, PBRMC director of marketing and community relations.

Some departments did decrease hours, and other steps were taken to manage staff, including flexible schedules, encouraging staff whose roles had changed during the pandemic to take vacation and reassigning personnel to other areas of the hospital.

Saint Francis Health Center - Poplar BluffDAR/Paul Davis

Saint Francis Medical Center also resumed elective surgeries and procedures earlier this week.

“We are taking a step-wise approach to resuming surgeries, which will allow us to continually monitor the COVID-19 situation while simultaneously serving the health care needs of our patients,” Dr. Maryann Reese, president and chief executive officer at Saint Francis Healthcare System said in a press release last week. “We believe the processes we have put in place will safeguard our patients, our providers and our colleagues.”

To date, Saint Francis has performed 993 tests, 75 of which have been positive.

Both hospitals are requiring COVID-19 testing of patients prior to surgery.

For Saint Francis patients, who require an overnight stay at the medical center, one visitor will be permitted. The visitor will be tested prior to the patient’s scheduled surgery.

They advise residents to contact physicians with questions about rescheduling missed procedures.