EXCLUSIVE: Aurora Begins Plans To Resume Postponed Non-COVID Procedures
By Mark Belling, WISN-AM
Only days after I reported that COVID-19 patients are making up only a tiny percentage of the current population at Advocate Aurora hospitals in Wisconsin, the company is beginning plans to resume procedures for non-COVID patients.
I have learned a number of Aurora physicians were told late last week the company is preparing to resume non-COVID procedures, although no date has been given. A myriad of critical procedures have been postponed including knee and hip replacements, physical exams, cancer screening, many outpatient cancer treatments, colonoscopies, pain management and a number of other serious procedures. Many of these were postponed in fear of hospitals being overrun with COVID patients. In fact, according to today’s figures, there are only 373 COVID patients in all hospitals in Wisconsin combined.
Most mainstream media outlets have chosen not to report on the shrinking COVID patient load, even as many people complain about they’re being denied access to health care. The question isn’t even being raised by reporters to Governor Evers’ Health Secretary Andrea Palm. Many doctors at Aurora and other large chains are furious about the orders to stop seeing patients and suspend procedures. Many hospital chains have laid off staff even as the anticipated surge of COVID patients failed to materialize.
Mark Belling
April 20
