YRMC approved to resume elective surgeries

YRMC is prepared to slowly reinstate elective surgeries starting May 4th

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Since the coronavirus pandemic, surgeries considered elective have been off the table for all Arizona hospitals.

On March 19, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey ordered all non-emergent surgeries to be postponed in an effort to preserve medical resources.

Surgeries classified as elective mean a patient’s life is not in danger, however, many patients would challenge that definition.

Yuma Regional Medical Center (YRMC) CEO, Dr. Robert Trenschel, D.O. says, “A hip replacement where the patient is in pain, can't get up and down very easily, and they’re in pain constantly throughout the day. I don’t know if they would call that elective. Someone with carpal tunnel surgery who’s hands are in pain, tingling and numb every day, I don’t know if they’d call that elective.”

In the 6-weeks without elective surgeries, YRMC calculates a financial loss of about $400,000 a day.

Over 1,200 patients have been placed on hold from undergoing elective surgeries at the hospital under Governor Ducey's executive order.

Dr. Trenschel said, “Physically and emotionally you get prepared for surgery, and then when they’re not allowed to have that surgery at the time when they were anticipating having it, that can be emotionally draining for them.”

Since the prevalence of COVID-19 in Yuma has remained relatively low, YRMC is prepared to slowly reinstate elective surgeries starting May 4.

Under the governor’s new guidelines, hospitals may resume these surgeries once they have enough PPE and testing available for all staff and patients

“We have about 1200 tests available right now. We’re going to test patients with PCR testing. We’re going to test our staff as well with serology to make sure they’re safe to deliver care. And everyone is going to have the appropriate level of PPE,” said Dr. Trenschel.