With added precautions in place, Northwest Community Healthcare resumes elective procedures

Elective procedures have resumed at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights and other Northwest Community Healthcare facilities, the health care organization announced Tuesday.

The Illinois Department of Public Health allowed hospitals across the state to resume elective procedures on May 11 if certain requirements related to safety and availability of personal protective equipment were met. NCH met all of the guidelines and resumed elective procedures that day, officials said.

Cases are prioritized based on patient need and the number of COVID-19 testing kits available to the NCH system. Whenever possible, appointments are staggered to allow for social distancing in waiting, exam and procedure areas.

Typical tests and procedures NCH is starting with include mammograms, colonoscopies, knee replacements, sleep studies and interventional procedures, officials say. The system's goal is to ramp up to full capacity over several weeks, to ensure that processes are effective and employees and patients are safe, officials say.

"Everyone can be assured that all NCH facilities adhere to (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and IDPH requirements for patient safety, and that it is safe to come to our facilities for emergency or urgent care and for needed elective procedures," NCH Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Alan Loren said in a written statement.

All patients must have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours before the procedure. The pre-procedural testing site is at 500 N. Hicks Road in Palatine. Patients will be scheduled for their test with a specific date and time frame and then be asked to self-isolate at home until their procedure.

If the patient tests positive, their surgical procedure will be postponed and they will be contacted directly regarding COVID-19 care.

For adult patients, visitors will not be allowed in the facility, but will be communicated with remotely during the procedure and informed when they may return to pick up the patient. Pediatric patients may have one adult visitor in the facility throughout the procedure, but must wear a face mask while in the facility.

All patients and visitors older than two years old should come to the hospital with a face mask if available. If one is not available, NCH will provide one.