News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Livingston Regional Hospital continues to add new elective procedures each week after a smooth reopening.
Marketing Director David Cox said the hospital has a phase-in plan in place.
“We’re phasing back in through a three-phase process,” Cox said. “Some elective procedures like colonoscopies and things of that nature are phasing back in right now. We’ll continue to approve more-and-more services going forward.”
Hospitals around the region began doing elective procedures at the beginning of May after the state relieved some stay-at-home restrictions. Cox said Livingston Regional’s process, so far, has been smooth.
“It’s going well,” Cox said. “We just want to make sure we maintain our level of PPE and keep an adequate supply, but everything is going well and we are scheduling surgeries.”
Since health concerns remain from COVID-19, Cox said some extra precautions are being taken as patients begin returning for elective surgeries.
“All of our surgery patients are having to be COVID tested as part of the pre-op for their surgery,” Cox said. “That helps us keep our hospital as a safe environment for our patients and employees.”
Cox said as the patients see the precautions taken with them gives them confidence they are entering a safe environment. In addition, the hospital is still restricting visitors.
“We are under a still under a no visitor policy,” Cox said. “We do have the ability for patients to make phone calls, Face Time, and things of that nature to be able for patients to see and talk to their loved ones.”
