Safety of patients and staff is at the forefront of all decisions made and processes created during our healthcare system’s continual response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, we have reevaluated the COVID-19 pre-procedural testing process and made changes based on regional COVID-19 positivity rate, our PPE supplies (including N95 masks for OR staff), testing supplies, capacity, and demand.
Beginning Wednesday, July 7, only aerosol-generating procedures (AGP) will follow the established Pre-Procedure/Pre-Surgical COVID-19 Workflow for specimen collection. In addition to patients undergoing AGPs, all patients to be admitted or observation status, including all OB patients, will continue to need pre-procedural testing. If a case is boarded as general or anesthesia choice, continue to test for COVID-19. For example, cataract surgeries and colonoscopies will no longer require COVID-19 testing prior to the procedure.
In summary, the pre-procedural testing process should be utilized for all of the following:
- All procedures that require general anesthesia
- OB patients (active labor, C-section, induction)
- Patients admitted to either inpatient or observation status
- All procedures considered aerosol-generating procedure (AGP)
- Ear, Nose, and Throat procedures
- Laryngoscopy
- EGD
- ERCP
- TEE
- Bronchoscopy
- Provider discretion (e.g., patient recently exposed to COVID-19)
Updated resources for schedulers and proceduralists can be found on the COVID-19 For Providers Testing Resources website.