CLEVELAND — Editor's note: Video in the player above was originally published in an unrelated story regarding the Cleveland Clinic.
Citing the rise in COVID cases, inpatient capacity and staffing challenges, the Cleveland Clinic announced Wednesday they are extending the postponement of nonessential surgeries through Jan. 30.
This includes nonessential surgeries requiring a hospital bed -- as well as all nonessential outpatient / ambulatory surgeries -- at all of their Ohio hospitals.
“At this time, this postponement does not include our ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) or ambulatory endoscopy centers (AECs),” the Clinic said in a statement. “Essential, urgent or emergent surgeries, or those in need of surgery for cancer or transplant, will continue to be scheduled during this period. We will evaluate our scheduled surgical patients as the pandemic continues.”
Cleveland Clinic officials also urged the community to get vaccinated and use other safety precautions to help limit the spread, while adding the “majority of our patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are unvaccinated.”
On Tuesday, the Clinic notified 3News that all visitors would also be receiving a copy of the hospital’s “visitor partnership pledge.” Some of the highlights from the Cleveland Clinic's "visitor partnership pledge" include:
- Please do not visit if you are sick or someone in your home is sick.
- You must wear a mask covering your mouth and nose and wash your hands frequently for everyone’s health and safety.
- Throughout your visit to our hospital, please try to stay in the room with your loved one to prevent spread of infection.
- Please be respectful of our caregivers. Do not raise your voice or use profanity. We are all on the same team.
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