(ASA) and the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses
(AORN) in calling for surgical facilities to establish Surgical Review
Committees consisting of leaders from surgery, anesthesiology and
nursing. The committees would serve as administrative bodies that
provide "defined, transparent and responsive oversight for triaging
surgical cases during the COVID-19 pandemic." The organizations felt
it necessary to fill gaps in national guidance on these urgent issues.
There remains a nagging ambiguity behind the term "elective sur-
gery." As of late last month, the Northern GI Endoscopy Center in
Glens Falls, N.Y., had voluntarily shut down with the expectation of
eventually reopening to perform emergent cases. Beth Hogan, MSN,
RN, CASC, CNOR, CGRN, the facility's clinical director of nursing,
acknowledges the gray area between cases that must be performed
and those that should be postponed.
Ms. Hogan says physicians must document why they decid-
ed to proceed or postpone planned procedures, partly to
protect themselves against future scrutiny from med-
ical malpractice lawyers or insurers who might
question the urgency of a procedure and withhold
payment. She's heard of physicians consulting
with peers to get a second opinion on whether a
procedure should be performed.
"The mandate to cancel elective procedures
doesn't mean there aren't still surgeries that need to
happen," says Ambulatory Surgery Center
Association (ASCA) CEO Bill Prentice. "There's a
clear expectation, I think, both on the part of CMS
A P R I L 2 0 2 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 2 3
• PERSONAL PROTECTION The coronavirus has forced facilities to pivot into self-preservation mode until
they can return to caring for patients.
