Surgeries Could Be Delayed At Southwest General Due To COVID-19

MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, OH — Southwest General Hospital has changed its visitation policies and is considering delaying surgeries because of the uptick in COVID-19 cases locally.

Currently, the Buckeye State, and the northern portion of the state especially, is in the midst of a COVID-19 surge. Approximately 20 percent of all hospital patients are COVID-19-positive, according to the Ohio Hospital Association. In the intensive care units, things are even worse, with 1 in 4 patients testing positive for the virus.

Non-essential, elective surgeries at Southwest General that require an inpatient bed will be evaluated to see if they should move forward. Elective procedures may be rescheduled as a result. Emergency and outpatient surgeries will continue.

"With the rise of COVID-19 cases in Northeast Ohio, Southwest General is experiencing a high volume of hospitalized COVID-19 patients as well as patients with other medical conditions," the hospital system said in a statement.

The hospital is now at "orange level" restrictions, a Southwest General official confirmed Tuesday. New visitation policies went into effect Tuesday.

Here are the new policies:

For COVID-19 negative patients

• Hospitalized patients can have one visitor per day. The visitor must be 18 or older.
• Patients coming to the hospital for regular appointments or procedures cannot have visitors, unless they require special assistance, the patient is sedated or a provider has asked the patient to bring an adult with them.
• Emergency department patients can have on visitor, 18 or older.
• Prenatal appointment patients can bring one visitor, 18 or older.
• Maternity services, both labor and delivery, can have two visitors per day, both visitors must be 18 or older.
• Inpatient behavioral health services can have two visitors per day, both visitors must be 18 or older.

COVID-19 positive patients

• Only maternity ward patients can have visitors, with two 18 or older visitors allowed per day.
• All other departments will not allow visitors, unless it is a compassionate visit.