Wake Forest Baptist Health, Atrium Health, and Novant Health is rescheduling all non-essential surgeries, procedures, and ambulatory appointments, according to a joint press release by the hospital groups.
The hospital groups said the rescheduling is effective Wednesday until at least the end of April. However, any emergency and essential services will continue uninterrupted.
Non-essential appointments include physical and well-checkups, as well as mammograms.
“Rescheduling these appointments will minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19 among patients, visitors, and health care providers. It also allows each health care system to conserve critical resources and focus care on those that need it most,” Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center said in the joint release.
Wake Forest said patients who fall into the category will receive communication from their health care provider with further instructions.
Individual clinics will contact patients if their appointment needs to be rescheduled. Patients do not need to call the helpline or the clinic to change their appointment at this time. Anyone needing clarification should visit NovantHealth.org/coronavirus, the release said.
“As we navigate this situation together, we are all focusing resources to ensure that acute patients have the care and support they need when they need it,” said Julie Ann Freischlag, M.D., CEO of Wake Forest Baptist Health, Carl Armato, CEO of Novant Health, and Eugene A. Woods, President and CEO of Atrium Health in a joint statement. “We all care deeply for each and every one of our patients, our health care workers and those in our communities, and our health systems continue to work together and communicate daily with each other.”
Visit the company’s website for more information.
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