Nash UNC Health Care to Postpone Elective Surgeries

Due to a rapid and significant rise in COVID hospitalizations, all non-urgent “elective” surgeries that require an overnight stay in the hospital after surgery will be postponed indefinitely, effective Thursday, August 23. 

Urgent and emergent surgeries will still be performed, as will outpatient surgeries.  Patients will be contacted by their care team if their case is to be rescheduled. 

“We are seeing a rapid influx of patients needing hospitalization from COVID,” said Dr. L. Lee Isley, president and CEO of Nash UNC Health Care.  “This decision to postpone elective surgeries is to ensure the safety of our patients as well as prioritize resources and staff for the urgent and emergent medical needs of our community.”

Nash UNC Health Care states that no surgery or procedure will be postponed that would cause harm to the patient.

“Our surgeons and care teams are reviewing their cases carefully and evaluating which non-critical surgeries can be postponed,” says Isley. “Conditions will continue to be closely monitored and discussed with medical staff leadership, including Department of Surgery chair Dr. Bennie Jarvis and Surgical Services Governance chair Dr. Eddie Hasty, on a biweekly basis to continuously assess ability to resume elective procedures.”

Nash UNC currently has 31 COVID patients, with 7 in critical care.  This is an increase of 17 admitted patients in just five days.

“The virus and the circumstances are much different from what we fought through in 2020 and early 2021. Given the contagiousness of the variants, most people no longer know if and when they were exposed.  As an industry, we are now seeing many patients who are otherwise healthy, but experiencing severe illness from this virus.  Our COVID Task Force and staff are preparing plans for a significant surge of COVID patients.  In addition to wearing masks and practicing hand hygiene, we ask that if you have not gotten vaccinated to please do so for the protection of yourself and others,” said Isley.

Vaccines are available at the Nash UNC Walk-In Vaccine Clinic at Nash Day Hospital on the days and times listed below.

• Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 am – 4:00 pm (Please note: the clinic is closing at 12 noon on 8/24 for an off-site vaccination event)

• Wednesdays from 12 noon – 6:00 pm
• No appointment is necessary, if you have questions or would like to make an appointment for a specific time, call Nash UNC's Community Vaccination Line at (252) 962-8624.