Sequoia Hospital Resumes Elective Procedures

REDWOOD CITY, CA (May 11, 2020) –  Dignity Health Sequoia Hospital has announced a gradual reopening of elective procedures. Emphasis in this first phase will be placed on medically necessary, time-sensitive procedures including surgeries, endoscopies, cardiac catheterization lab procedures, and interventional radiology procedures.

“One of the hardest decisions we have had to make in the face of COVID-19 has been halting scheduled procedures,” said Sequoia Hospital President and CEO Bill Graham. “We are excited to make elective procedures available once again. The safety of our patients and staff always come first. We won’t be able to provide every service right away—this will be a gradual process to ensure we are addressing the most urgent needs first and providing the safest care possible to our community.”

Like most hospitals, Sequoia paused scheduled procedures to reduce transmission of the virus and expand capacity for a surge of COVID-19 patients. Now that data shows the initial peak of the pandemic appears to be behind us, Sequoia Hospital has implemented detailed criteria for resuming scheduled procedures and other services, based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Surgeon General, American Hospital Association, and the leading national associations of nurses, surgeons, and anesthesiologists. Before scheduling procedures, there needed to be a sustained reduction in COVID-19 cases in the community, enough personal protective equipment to keep patients and staff safe, and testing capacity for all patients receiving care in our operating rooms.

In addition to these criteria, we continue to take significant steps to ensure it remains safe to provide and receive care at Sequoia, including a strict visitor policy, screening all patients for COVID-19 symptoms and ensuring they are wearing a mask, daily staff symptom monitoring, rigorous social distancing, isolating patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 from other patients at the hospital, enhanced cleaning and disinfection processes throughout the hospital, and adjusting operating room schedules to allow for additional cleanings after each procedure.

“The most critical thing to keep in mind is that you must never postpone getting care,” said Sequoia Hospital Chief Medical Officer Dieter Bruno, MD. “Neglecting symptoms and delaying your care may increase your risk of serious complications. Sequoia Hospital has been successfully managing infectious diseases alongside standard patient care since our inception. Our hospital and ER are always safe and ready to provide immediate care for urgent and life-threatening conditions.”

To learn more about Sequoia Hospital’s response to COVID-19, please visit dignityhealth.org/covid19seq.
 
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About Sequoia Hospital

Dignity Health Sequoia Hospital is an accredited, not-for-profit community hospital providing innovative and exceptional health care for generations of Bay Area residents. Sequoia’s Heart and Vascular Institute is a nationally known pioneer in advanced cardiac care. Sequoia has received national recognition from Healthgrades for superior patient safety and was named as one of America’s top 100 hospitals for cardiac care. Our Total Joint Replacement program is a designated Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement, and our Birth Center is consistently ranked as a favorite among Peninsula families. We are also known for our comprehensive emergency care and leading-edge tomosynthesis 3-D mammogram technology. Our state-of-the-art Pavilion combines the most advanced medical and surgical services with a unique healing environment, including private, spacious rooms and inviting garden areas. To learn more, please visit dignityhealth.org/sequoia. To support programs at Dignity Health Sequoia Hospital, visit the Sequoia Hospital Foundation.

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