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Syracuse, New York – The University Hospital of the Ustate is ending all elective surgery that is not urgent so it can make more beds available for a growing wave of coronavirus patients.
The upstate is so crowded that it is also putting adult non-coronavirus patients in empty beds at its Golisano children’s hospital.
Staff in the upstate informed today of the cancellation of elective surgery.
“It’s a tough decision that will hurt us financially, but it’s the ethical thing to do,” said Dr Robert Corona, CEO of the hospital.
Elective surgeries such as knee and hip replacements are the main sources of revenue for hospitals.
The state ordered all New York City hospitals in March to cancel these operations after the pandemic began. Syracuse hospitals weren’t inundated with infected patients like they are now. The loss of this company prompted many hospitals in the northern part of the state to lay off workers and reduce the wages of some employees.
The state allowed hospitals in Syracuse to resume elective surgery in May. But the state could order them to stop elective surgeries again if the outbreak of the novel coronavirus continues to escalate. The state recently asked hospitals in Erie County to cancel elective operations.
Crouse and St. Joseph Hospitals have not canceled elective surgeries. Officials at those hospitals said they were monitoring the situation closely.
Because it is understaffed, Upstate has told some pediatricians to start caring for adult patients.
“We use some adult pediatric beds, but we are still able to manage our pediatric patients safely,” Corona said.
James T. Mulder covers health and higher education. Got a news tip? Contact him at (315) 470-2245 or [email protected]
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