Texarkana's two hospitals are undergoing preparations to offer elective surgeries as COVID-19 restrictions are easing.
"Wadley Regional Medical Center has elected to make a certification to the state of Texas that allows us to perform all surgeries and procedures needed for our patients. We are working with our physicians to ensure the reopening of these vital services complies with the highest clinical standards," Thomas Gilbert, Wadley president, stated in a press release.
Gilbert said Wadley will ensure "necessary preparations are made to care for our patients in a safe, controlled and professional manner. This includes expanded hours, new cleaning procedures, and enhanced protection protocols," according to the release.
"Wadley Regional Medical Center continues to be prepared for patients with health emergencies, whether COVID-19 related or not," Gilbert said.
CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System is preparing to resume elective procedures and surgeries by the end of April, according to a press release.
"CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System has secured the personal protective equipment (PPE) and excess capacity necessary to safely care for the full spectrum of medical conditions and patient needs that we have worked so hard to address in our community," the release states.
St. Michael is expanding its surgery scheduling to include evening and weekend availability for patients' convenience and to ensure it is ready to provide care that has been delayed.
"When we discuss the procedures that have been delayed or deferred, we are often talking about a patient's quality of life," said Jason Rounds, president of CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System. "And that means quality of life many years into the future, as some of these procedures will extend a patient's life.
"Getting back into our operating rooms with these patients is crucial to their health. However, safety is a cornerstone of our care now and it always has been. We must ensure our patients, associates and physicians are safe, and that does not change. That has been a core belief of CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System since the very beginning," Rounds said.
CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System practices infection prevention every day. In addition, the system recently announced that it is offering antibody testing for some patients, associates and physicians. This new screening tool allows the hospital to test these groups for antibodies related to the COVID-19 virus, helping it to identify how each patient should receive care and how to keep its caregivers safe.
CHRISTUS St. Michael continues to have these following precautions in place:
They include: limiting visitors, screening everyone and conducting temperature checks, isolating COVID-19 patients, screening and temperature checks for associates and physicians; requiring everyone to wear masks and using telemedicine to treat active COVID-19 patients so their caregivers and support staff limit the number of times they enter their rooms.
"CHRISTUS St. Michael is answering the call to help our community today and tomorrow. In all that we do, we are devoted to keeping patients, their families, our caregivers and our associates safe. And we are here when you need care. We are ready," Rounds said.