Infirmary Health has announced it will resume elective surgical procedures beginning Friday, May 1, following direction from Alabama State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris and Gov. Kay Ivey.
The resumption applies to procedures scheduled at Infirmary Health facilities across Mobile and Baldwin counties. All patients scheduled for surgery will be required to be tested for COVID-19 before their procedure date. Those who test positive or show symptoms will not be permitted to have surgery.
Patients scheduled for a procedure will be contacted by an Infirmary Health representative with instructions on when and where to receive their test. Patients with questions about scheduling are directed to contact their physician’s office.
To protect patients and staff, surgical teams have put new policies in place for pre-admissions, operating rooms and recovery areas, including increased sterilization between cases. All Infirmary Health employees, including admissions and ancillary departments, are required to wear masks and other appropriate personal protective equipment at all times.
Officials said patients should not delay an elective procedure out of concern about COVID-19 unless instructed by their physician, noting that postponing care could negatively affect a patient’s health. Infirmary Health’s restricted visitor policy remains in place, and more information is available through the health system.