Resumption of Elective Surgeries

Following Monday’s announcement from Governor Cuomo, Catholic Health has resumed all elective surgeries at Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, Sisters of Charity Hospital, Kenmore Mercy Hospital and Mount St. Mary’s Hospital. St. Joseph Campus will be performing outpatient elective surgeries only at this time.

QUESTIONS ABOUT A POSTPONED PROCEDURE? 

For questions regarding a surgical procedure that may have been cancelled or postponed, please contact your surgeon’s office. For other questions, please contact the Catholic Health HealthConnection Call Center at 716-447-6205, or HealthConnection@chsbuffalo.org.

STATEMENT ON POSSIBILITY OF HOSPITAL VISITATIONS 

With the state’s elimination of yellow and orange zones this week, Catholic Health is also actively working on a plan to safely resume hospital visitations for family and friends, however, visitation currently remains suspended. Once details are finalized, an announcement will be made in the near future.

While a family member or designated contact is not able to remain at the hospital throughout the patient’s elective surgery, communication procedures are in place, including text messages and phone calls, to provide continual updates on the patient’s status before, during, and after their surgery. The patient’s surgeon will also provide an update following the surgical procedure. If the patient requires a hospital stay, a member of our care team will communicate regularly with the patient’s designated contact. iPad devices are also available for virtual visits.  

GUIDELINES FOR RESUMPTION OF ELECTIVE SURGERY 

To ensure patient safety, Catholic Health is following all Department of Health (DOH) guidelines for the resumption of elective surgeries, including testing all surgical patients for COVID-19 within five days prior to their scheduled procedure.

In addition, all patients who are admitted to a Catholic Health hospital, for whatever reason, must undergo a COVID-19 test, regardless of symptoms. All patients who test positive will be placed in a designated patient care unit or ICU bed separate from other patients. While each Catholic Health hospital has a small number of COVID patients, the health system continues to transfer the majority of its COVID patients to the Sisters of Charity Hospital St. Joseph Campus. 

All Catholic Health hospitals will continue to follow rigorous infection control measures, including: mandatory masking and appropriate personal protective equipment for all associates and providers, enhanced cleaning and sanitization procedures, and daily COVID-19 screening for anyone who enters the buildings.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during these trying times. Providing quality care in a compassionate manner to our patients remains our top priority.