2 more Syracuse hospitals curb elective surgery as coronavirus patients fill up beds
Updated Dec 11, 2020;
Posted Dec 11, 2020
Facebook Share
Syracuse, N.Y. – Two more Syracuse hospitals are cutting back on elective surgeries to free up beds for the growing wave of coronavirus patients.
St. Joseph’s and Crouse hospitals said today they are curtailing elective surgeries. Last week Upstate University Hospital halted all elective surgeries that are not urgent.
Coronavirus patients now occupy nearly 30% of the three hospitals’ 927 staffed beds used for routine, intensive and critical care, according to the Hospital Executive Council, a Syracuse planning agency.
Elective surgeries such as knee and hip replacements are major money-makers for hospitals. The state made all New York hospitals cancel these operations in March after the pandemic began. Hospitals were allowed to restart these operations in May.