TidalHealth Peninsula Regional temporarily pausing elective surgeries, procedures requiring overnight stay

SALISBURY, Md. – TidalHealth Peninsula Regional officials announced on Thursday that there will be a temporary pause in elective, non-emergency surgeries that require an overnight stay starting Monday, September 13th.

We’re told this will be in effect for at least two weeks. All non-emergency, non-life-threatening surgeries requiring an overnight stay will be evaluated by a multidisciplinary clinical team, and those that can be postponed will be. Patients affected are being notified ahead of time by their surgeon’s office.

Officials say several factors have combined recently to put stress on hospital staffing levels and bed capacity at both TidalHealth hospitals in Salisbury and Seaford. Although the pause is only at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional, the same criteria is being evaluated daily at TidalHealth Nanticoke.

In addition to the Delta variant surge, TidalHealth and hospitals across the county are experiencing a significant shortage of nurses. We’re told a number have decided to leave the profession over the past several months for a variety of reasons. TidalHealth says it is taking action to support appropriate nursing levels today and is working with local nursing schools to increase the supply of newly trained nurses for the future.

“Patients who are ill with COVID are contributing to put stress and significant demand on the limited resources of the Emergency Department, hospital floors and the ICU, and the vast majority who are getting sick enough with COVID to require hospitalization are unvaccinated,” said Mark Edney, MD, MBA, President of the Medical Staff at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional. “The subject of COVID vaccination has unfortunately become politicized, but there are some truths based on available community data and on current medical science that are indisputable.”

Dr. Edney is also emphasizing the safety of the vaccine, as hundreds of millions of doses have been delivered worldwide with only a very small number of adverse reactions, which is seen with any vaccine deployment. He says he believes widespread misinformation and unfounded concerns not supported by the evidence are key reasons for low vaccination rates in the area. Wicomico County currently has a vaccination rate of 45%, with Worcester County at 66%, and Sussex County at 56%.

“What clearly is happening, however, is that unvaccinated people are getting COVID at an unprecedented rate, they are getting sick and are requiring hospitalization. This preventable stress on our already stressed healthcare system contributes to delays in care across the board, added Steve Leonard, PhD, MBA, FACHE, TidalHealth CEO. “These delays affect those seeking care in the emergency room for a variety of non-COVID emergencies, and with the pausing of elective procedures requiring a hospital overnight stay, now new delays for our friends and neighbors who need surgery.”

Dr. Edney also added “If you’re not vaccinated, get vaccinated, and if you are, encourage an unvaccinated friend, family member or loved one to get vaccinated,” added Dr. Edney. “It is the most community-minded thing anyone can do right now.”

TidalHealth officials say they will continue to evaluate the current staffing and capacity issues so that the suspension of elective procedures and surgeries requiring an overnight stay can be lifted as soon as it’s safe to do so.