Southern California Hospitals Postpone Elective Surgeries During COVID-19 Surge

Southern California Hospitals Postpone Elective Surgeries During COVID-19 Surge
A patient lies on a stretcher in a hallway in the overloaded emergency room at Providence St. Mary Medical Center amid a surge in COVID-19 patients in Apple Valley, Calif., on Jan. 5, 2021. Mario Tama/Getty Images
Updated:

Some Orange County hospitals have suspended elective surgeries as they struggle to keep pace with an ongoing pandemic that continues to push the boundaries of health care capacity.

Local health officials made the call to postpone nonessential procedures following a state health order that sought to more effectively prioritize patient care. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) directed health centers to categorize elective surgeries through a tier scale endorsed by the American College of Surgeons.
Michelle Thompson
Michelle Thompson
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Michelle Thompson is an editor and reporter based in Orange County, California. Her award-winning work has appeared in numerous major Canadian daily newspapers, as well as multiple U.S. publications.
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