Jefferson City hospitals resume elective procedures

May 4, 2020 at 6:55 p.m. | Updated May 4, 2020 at 9:57 p.m.

by News Tribune

Much of Missouri woke up to various amounts of snow Thursday morning, some with a mere dusting to multiple inches in northern portions of the state. The morning's gusty winds mixed with cold air and water droplets combined to make ice in the grassy hillside at St. Mary's Hospital on Mission Drive. The pump in the pond out front of the hospital was circulating water and gusting wind caused the spray to land on the grass, forming ice in this unseasonably cold October day. Temperatures are expected to rise over the next few days but dropping to freezing or below overnight.
Much of Missouri woke up to various amounts of snow Thursday morning, some with a mere dusting to multiple inches in northern portions of the state. The morning's gusty winds mixed with cold air and water droplets combined to make ice in the grassy hillside at St. Mary's Hospital on Mission Drive. The pump in the pond out front of the hospital was circulating water and gusting wind caused the spray to land on the grass, forming ice in this unseasonably cold October day. Temperatures are expected to rise over the next few days but dropping to freezing or below overnight.

Hospitals in Jefferson City have resumed elective procedures amid the coronavirus pandemic.

St. Mary's Hospital and Capital Region Medical Center both began performing elective procedures Monday after canceling them in March to prevent spread of COVID-19.

"At this time, we do feel it is safe to begin scheduling these procedures," Mike Baumgartner, SSM Health Regional President in Mid-Missouri, said in a news release. "Our primary focus will be on patients who have delayed non-urgent but essential treatment."

SSM Health is the St. Louis-based owner of St. Mary's Hospital in Jefferson City and St. Mary's Hospital - Audrain in Mexico.

Elective cases are generally regarded as not necessary to prevent permanent physical impairment, loss of life, loss of limb, loss of vision or life-threatening physiologic deterioration if deferred up to eight weeks.

"Criteria has been established to complete elective procedures as safely as possible, giving priority to the most serious cases," said Lindsay Huhman, director of marketing for Capital Region Medical Center. "We will continue to closely monitor the rate of COVID-19 infections in our service area; personal protection equipment available; and recommendations from local, state and national health organizations to expand or restrict elective cases moving forward."

SSM Health noted continued measures to help ensure patients' safety include universal masking of all patients, staff and visitors; testing all patients prior to scheduled procedures; screening all employees, visitors and contractors; grouping COVID-19 patients together within the hospital; and maintaining strict visitor policies.

Jefferson City Medical Group began scheduling some elective procedures last week.

This article was edited at 4:45 p.m. May 4, 2020, to add information.