Northwest Wayne News

The decrease in COVID-19 cases has led to Michigan hospitals resuming more profitable procedures, such as heart surgeries. 

According to Bridge Michigan, Michigan’s hospitals have been canceling procedures for nearly two months while emergency treatment of the coronavirus has been prioritized. Emergency procedures for other needs have continued throughout the pandemic, but elective procedures are still not permitted to be carried out. 

What is allowed, however, are procedures that are referred to as being "time-sensitive," such as diagnostic testing and heart procedures. 

McLaren Hospital surgeons have recently reopened their operating rooms, and as a result of the loosened restrictions on procedures and diagnosing, their imaging department had twice the weekly rate they had in April. 

Michigan's Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun explained that the governor’s executive order from March 20 was meant to give health care providers a great deal of discretion, offering treatment to those who desperately need it. 

“This wording is intended to be flexible, preserve clinician judgment and encourage consideration on an individual basis of which patient services can be safely delayed without resulting in a significant decline in health,” Khaldun told Bridge Michigan.

While strictly cosmetic procedures are still not allowed, there are now opportunities for most other treatments, especially if they affect the patient’s life or quality of life. 

“If you were experiencing discomfort five weeks ago, but now you’re taking opioids, that all impacts your health and well-being and mental health,” Ruthanne Sudderth, spokeswoman for the Michigan Health & Hospital Association, told Bridge Michigan. “No one should assume anything is excluded.”

Hospitals cannot all be expected to follow the same approach, however, to determine what is time-sensitive and what is not, and there will be some variation from hospital to hospital. 

What most doctors want patients to remember is that time-sensitive procedures are back on the table. When in doubt, calling your health care provider is the best way to get the answers you need.