The following has been sent to surgical admissions and surgeons offices on behalf of Dr. Will Orrom, Executive Medical Director, Surgery and Ambulatory Care.
An increasing number of elective surgical patients are presenting to hospital for their elective surgeries with flu-like symptoms and recent travel history.
With the prevalence of COVID-19 increasing in many jurisdictions, there is a very urgent need to have a clear screening of elective surgical patients before they arrive at the hospital for their procedure. https://medicalstaff.islandhealth.ca/news-events/coronavirus-updates
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, elective surgery patients should be advised not to come to hospital expecting their procedure to proceed if they have respiratory symptoms consistent with influenza or COVID-19 including fever, cough, malaise/fatigue, rhinorrhoea, sore throat, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest pain.
If patients are ill, elective surgeries will be postponed in consultation with the surgeon and anesthesiologist.
Patients who are ill/symptomatic of viral illness should be directed to contact 811 or seek advice from their primary care provider before attending any health care setting.
Any patient that is displaying flu-like symptoms who is not instructed to seek medical attention should stay home and reduce their contact with others.