On May 1, Arizona hospitals will be allowed to resume elective surgeries. Hospitals have been collectively losing millions of dollars since mid-March when Gov. Doug Ducey banned elective procedures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. But the week of April 19, Ducey announced that hospitals with the capacity to resume elective surgeries could do so on May 1 — even as the state waits to see what more, if anything, will change.
In a statement, Mayo Clinic CEO Dr. Richard Gray said Mayo is beginning to meet the needs of patients whose care has been deferred — and noted that care cannot be deferred indefinitely.
A spokesperson for Banner Health said they are eager to get to their own patients waiting for care, but that Banner has not yet determined when elective procedures will resume.
The Show spoke to KJZZ’s medical commentator Dr. Joseph Sirven to learn more about this move.
