Green Bay Reporter

A not-for-profit health system that includes a level II trauma center is resuming non-urgent elective surgeries that were deferred on Jan. 17 because of an increase in COVID-19 patients.

ThedaCare, which offers primary care, comprehensive cancer treatment plus stroke and cardiac programs, continued to provide acute care for emergent and chronic conditions while non-urgent elective surgeries were paused, a Jan. 17 press release said.

The pause came because of a record number of coronavirus patients in ThedaCare’s seven hospitals, the press release said. There were nearly 95 coronavirus patients admitted as of Jan. 17.

“Because of the tireless work of our physicians, nurses and caregivers, ThedaCare can safely manage our communities’ COVID-19 cases and is in a position to begin resuming non-urgent elective surgeries, which where paused on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022,” a Jan. 31 press release said.

A trend that’s expected to continue in coming weeks is a rise in the number of people who need inpatient hospital care, “followed by a decline in the number of patients admitted,” the press release said.

“Resuming non-urgent, elective surgeries that were previously deferred is a positive step forward as we continue to care for a significant number of COVID-19 patients in our hospitals,” Dr. Michael Hooker, ThedaCare vice president and chief medical officer-acute care, said in the press release. “We are grateful for the purposeful planning, and rapid response from our teams, that allows us the ability to reintroduce services and provide safe access to care for our patients.”

Procedures will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, with ThedaCare monitoring the situation and adjusting surgery plans as needed.

“ThedaCare has implemented the following safety precautions: All surgery patients will be tested for COVID-19 prior to the procedure,” the press release said. “Screeners will continue to be present at all ThedaCare hospitals, checking patients, visitors and team members upon entrance. Masks will continue to be required by all team members, patients and visitors in any public setting on ThedaCare campuses."

Visitor restrictions at ThedaCare locations can be found online.