NMMC-West Point to Resume Elective Surgeries on Monday

WEST POINT, Miss.—North Mississippi Medical Center-West Point will resume elective surgeries on Monday, May 4.

“During this pandemic, we know many people in our community have delayed much-needed health care because they are fearful of entering a health care facility,” said Barry Keel, administrator at North Mississippi Medical Center-West Point. “Rest assured, our facilities, which were safe prior to COVID-19, are even safer today because of our diligence in hand hygiene, masking, screening of all entrants, protective equipment usage, cohorting and distancing of patients who are COVID-19 positive or presumed to be COVID-19 positive, as well as continuous sanitizing of facilities.”

Emergent and urgent surgeries, cases considered necessary in order to safe life or limb or to prevent an urgent condition from becoming an emergency, continued during Governor Reeves’ statewide executive order. However, his executive order postponed any and all elective cases until April 28.

Surgeons perform general, laparoscopic and robotic surgical procedures at NMMC-West Point. Surgical offices will be contacting their patients to reschedule appointments and patients may contact their surgeon’s office as well to request an appointment.

Special precautions will continue to ensure the safety of our patients and staff, including routine screening of physicians and staff involved in patient care. Also, all surgical patients and their designated visitor will undergo a COVID-19 screening upon arrival. Patients will receive an isolation mask. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own mask. Masks will be provided to those visitors who do not have one.  We will continue to observe social distancing within public areas.

“Beginning May 4, the hospital’s visitation policy is being modified to allow inpatient and outpatient surgical patients to have one visitor, such as the patient’s designated driver, before and after surgery,” said Pam White, NMMC-West Point chief nursing officer. “The visitation policies protect patients and staff from the spread of COVID-19.”

“We will keep our additional safety measures in place as long as needed to reassure the public that it is safe to access care at NMHS,” Keel said. “Our mission is to improve the health of the people of our region. We’re ready to resume services that fit the newest guidelines set forth by the state.”