Doctors at Habersham Medical Center are again performing elective and non-urgent surgeries and procedures. Those services were previously suspended due to COVID-19.
Hospital administrators say their decision to resume services was based on federal and state guidance. Projections indicate a lower than expected volume of COVID-19 in the region, which means less strain on healthcare resources.
Incoming HMC CEO Tyler Williams says the resumption of elective services is “critical” for the hospital. “Doing so will enable our hospital to continue providing exceptional healthcare to our community.”
Surgeries and procedures that can be scheduled in advance are the financial foundation for many hospitals. When the pandemic hit, that sudden loss of revenue had a significant negative impact on HMC. In early April, the already financially strapped hospital furloughed between 3-10% of its workforce. At the time, Williams stressed those numbers were fluid and would fluctuate.
The Habersham County Board of Commissioners approved an additional $5.2 million hospital bond issue to help offset expenses and manage cash flow during the pandemic.
Resuming elective procedures should help increase the patient load and, in turn, revenue.
“We will continue conserving critical supplies and exercise extreme caution against the threats associated with the COVID-19 pandemic,” Williams says.
HMC is now scheduling procedures. Its initial focus is on patients with more time-sensitive health needs. Patients who are scheduled and approved for procedures must meet specific requirements, including passing standard COVID-19 screenings and testing.
The hospital will continue to screen and mask everyone who enters the facility and maintain a zero- visitor protocol for the foreseeable future.
