What to Know About Surgery During the Pandemic
4/29/2021
The thought of having surgery for a nagging injury or lingering pain can make some patients feel uneasy. But, as many experts have said over the last few months, it is extremely important not to neglect medical needs during the pandemic.
Patients can feel confident seeking the medical care they need at DeTar Healthcare System. Numerous steps have been put in place to keep patients safe during their visits, including:
- Screening all visitors for COVID-19 exposure and symptoms before they are allowed to enter.
- Visitor restrictions reduce the number of people inside to enable social distancing and keep patients and employees safe.
- Face masks are worn by everyone inside the hospital – patients, employees and physicians.
- Caregivers are using appropriate personal protective equipment and washing hands before and after caring for every patient.
- Cleaning protocols have been enhanced with extra measures and increased frequency, including disinfection of frequently touched surfaces and all patient care areas.
- Waiting area seating designated to support social distancing.
Dr. Arturo Gonzalez, general surgeon with DeTar Medical Group, said “In my years as a surgeon, I’ve seen patients put off treatment out of fear or a hope that the problem would alleviate itself, and, more often than not, that waiting only increased the amount of damage caused by the initial injury or disease. I would encourage anyone experiencing a health concern to contact his or her physician as quickly as possible.”
Pre-surgery COVID-19 testing is required for patients undergoing procedures involving general anesthesia or aerosolizing procedures. Patients are asked to self-quarantine after receiving the test and before arriving at the hospital. Care for surgery patients is delivered in a non-COVID care zone in which all patients have tested negative for COVID and provided by a dedicated group of staff who only work in this area.
"Unfortunately, we have already seen patients with advanced disease, including cancer, due to avoiding care during the COVID pandemic. At this time, I believe that it is safer to get diagnostic and surgical care rather than delaying any further due to fear about COVID," added Dr. Mark Tullos, general surgeon with DeTar Medical Group.
DeTar Healthcare System’s current visitation policy allows patients two visitors at any given time; this includes surgical patient visits.
The DeTar Medical Group surgeons offer a wide-range of surgical procedures and specialize in laparoscopic surgery for both benign and malignant diseases. They also perform upper and lower endoscopy procedures for the evaluation and treatment of reflux disease (GERD) and other gastrointestinal problems. Dr. Gonzalez and Dr. Tullos are board-certified by the American Board of Surgery.
To schedule an appointment with a DeTar Medical Group surgeon, call (361) 576-9342. For more information about the hospital’s safety plan, click here.
Back