
New York City Health + Hospitals has suspended elective procedures at its 11 hospitals, according to its CEO.
"We’ve made it clear that the only surgeries we will be doing are surgeries where they come in emergently such as car accidents or surgeries where somebodies health is directly affected such as when somebody has an infection," CEO Mitch Katz said.
Necessary and emergency surgeries continue however, but consistent with the governor’s request, elective procedures have been canceled, he said.
"We do have the extra 25% capacity the state has asked us for." Currently occupancy is at 65% in both ICU and in regular medical surgical beds, he said. "One third more patients than the patients we have would easily fit in without opening any extraordinary spaces."
Katz says the hospitals are already participating in "level loading," meaning moving patients from full hospitals to other hospitals with more capacity. He remarked that it’s been easier to move patients now because they are not as sick as they were in March or April, and the hospital system is moving them earlier in the process, he said.
Katz also added that they are committed to getting everybody in the 11 public hospitals vaccinated in three weeks.