BJC, Washington University Physicians Suspending ‘Some’ Elective Surgeries

BJC HealthCare announced Monday that it is suspending some elective surgeries and other procedures to increase hospital capacity and ensure it has available staff.

In a letter from President and Chief Executive Officer Richard J. Liekweg and Dr. Paul Scheel, Jr., CEO of Washington University Physicians, BJC — which operates Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital — said positive COVID-19 cases are growing “exponentially” and admissions are at their highest level.

“Physicians are preparing now for how we will handle this inevitable surge of patients who we know will need our services,” they wrote.

Calling the decision to suspend some surgeries and procedures “drastic,” Liekweg and Scheel said an available room means nothing “if there is not a nurse at the bedside.”

“We could not be more proud of our physicians and caregivers — at the bedside and in supporting roles — and how they have stepped up to respond to the needs of our patients throughout this pandemic,” they wrote. “These are the people for whom health care is not a job, but a calling, and they are the ones we turn to in times of need. We made this decision in an effort to support our team members as best we can.”

BJC said there are “clear steps to take” that are proven to reduce the spread of the virus while awaiting a vaccine — face coverings, social distancing, frequent washing of hands and avoiding large gatherings.

“We know how tiresome and restrictive this is,” they write. “We are all collectively weary of these measures. But, they continue to be our best defense and we must dig deeper to stay the course while the vaccines continue to be developed and produced.”

Liekweg and Scheel said these steps “can have an enormous impact on the health and well-being of our community.” 

“From the beginning, we have said we are all in this together,” they wrote. “Now, more than ever, we need each other — for our health, for our safety, for our community.”