One of the country’s largest hospital networks said it’s canceling all nonurgent imaging services starting Monday to help quell the spread of COVID-19.
Missouri-based Mercy announced Friday that, as it prepares for an influx of patients from the pandemic, pushing back any nonessential radiology procedures is the next step in its preparations. This includes screening mammography, computed tomography lung cancer testing, any other nonurgent CT or MRI, ultrasound and plain film x-rays.
The decision is aimed at bringing the 40-hospital system into compliance with recommendations from the CDC and American College of Radiology, leaders noted in the March 20 announcement.
“This decision was not taken lightly but is necessary to safeguard our patients and coworkers from exposure while also helping our hospitals preserve personal protective equipment,” Mercy said. “In consultation with patients, providers will determine the best course of action to reschedule these services in order to meet the patient’s specific health needs.”
In addition, Mercy said it’s also postponing any elective, nonurgent surgical procedures—defined as those that can be rescheduled to a future date without “significantly impacting a patient’s health.” Officials said they planned to begin contacting patients soon, as their cases become eligible for postponement.
IBM Watson Health has named Mercy one of the top-five largest U.S. health systems the past four years. All told, the provider organization includes more than 40 assorted hospitals, 900 physician practices and outpatient facilities, and 30-plus imaging centers. Its services stretch across Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi and Texas, according to the system’s website.
Mercy certainly isn’t alone in taking this step. Others announced that they’re delaying nonurgent radiology services, including four-practice, Tacoma, Washington-based TRA Medical Imaging, and 12-hospital, Columbus-based OhioHealth. Multiple advocacy groups have also urged imaging physicians to take such actions, including the American Cancer Society and Susan G. Komen.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.