Personal Injury Law

Illinois Hospitals Open For Elective Surgeries & Outpatient Procedures

By Levin & Perconti

As Elective Surgeries and Outpatient Procedures Resume, Medical Mistakes Will Return

Most elective surgeries and non-emergent outpatient visits have been put on hold since mid-March, when the Illinois Department of Public Health recommended canceling these procedures in response to preventing the potential exposure to coronavirus. As of May, many Illinois hospitals have returned to scheduling and performing elective surgeries and procedures as officials say the COVID-19 curve is bending.

Most hospitals are starting with outpatient procedures before in-patient procedures are considered and are required to follow federal and state recommendations to determine the necessity of the surgery before it?s approved. A patient will then have a choice whether to proceed with the surgery. If a hospital system decides to reopen for these procedures and expand care, they should have a plan in place that will exceed expectations of infectious disease safety and minimize any risk of medical error.

Full post as published by Illinois Medical Malpractice Blog on May 21, 2020 (boomark / email).