November 19, 2020 – Intermountain Healthcare (Salt Lake City, UT) is taking steps to conserve intensive medicine resources and help reduce hospital capacity amid surging cases in the state. As surge plans are activated at Intermountain hospitals in response to rising cases, some surgeries that require an inpatient admission after surgery but can be safely postponed may be delayed.
This will free up space and beds, preserve supplies, and free up caregivers to treat COVID-19 and non-COVID patients who need health services, Intermountain says.
Affected patients will be notified directly.
“While this may be disappointing for some patients, it is a necessary and appropriate step given the sharp spike in hospitalizations for patients with COVID-19,” says Intermountain.
Intermountain is asking Utahans to mask up, social distance, wash hands, and stay home when sick to help slow the spread of disease. Utahans are also asked to limit family gatherings for Thanksgiving to those living in their immediate household.