Wellington Regional Medical Center (WRMC) has resumed certain elective surgical procedures after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that he is allowing the re-opening of elective surgeries. WRMC suspended elective surgeries on March 23 to better protect patients, visitors and staff from COVID-19. During the suspension of the surgeries, cases considered emergent were still performed at the hospital.
The surgery team at Wellington Regional is working with physician offices to accommodate the scheduling of surgeries and procedures that were postponed due to COVID-19, or that may have recently become a health priority. Patients are encouraged to contact their surgeon or physician for more information.
“I want to assure the public that we are doing everything we can to protect the health and safety of patients and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Pam Tahan, CEO of Wellington Regional Medical Center. “Rooms that have contained a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patient are terminally cleaned when the patients is discharged.”
To give patients greater piece of mind, the hospital implemented additional safety protocols that include: screening temperature checks and health questions being asked at entry points before anyone is allowed to enter the hospital; deep cleaning and disinfection; suspended visitation; as well as practicing appropriate social distancing. WRMC’s enhanced cleaning and sanitizing protocols also include the use of UV light sterilization as a further method of disinfection.
At the current time, WRMC continues to restrict visitation at the hospital. Surgical patients need to be dropped off at the main entrance. Loved ones are asked to wait in the car during the surgery or return home and the hospital will contact them with updates and when the patient is ready to be picked up to return home. The only exception to the visitation restriction is that one adult will be permitted in the hospital to support laboring or recently delivered mothers.
“We know the visitation restriction can be inconvenient, but we are following the CDC and the Florida Department of Health recommendations to help reduce the potential spread of COVID-19,” Tahan said. “Our top priority is to ensure that we are providing a quality experience for patients where they can feel safe during their hospitalization.”
Wellington Regional Medical Center is a 233-bed acute care hospital. To learn more about the hospital, visit www.wellingtonregional.com.
