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Worried About Undergoing Surgery During COVID-19? Let Us Put Your Fears to Rest.

Aug 19, 2020
Worried About Undergoing Surgery During COVID-19? Let Us Put Your Fears to Rest.
Whether or not to get surgery during COVID-19 was probably not a decision you expected or wanted to make this year. However, as we face the reality of living with the virus for at least several more months, we have to figure out ways to move forward. 

WORRIED ABOUT UNDERGOING SURGERY DURING COVID-19? LET US PUT YOUR FEARS TO REST.

Whether or not to get surgery during COVID-19 was probably not a decision you expected or wanted to make this year. However, as we face the reality of living with the virus for at least several more months, we have to figure out ways to move forward. 

Part of the work in our new reality is determining the best methods for resuming elective surgeries without increasing the risk of transmitting the coronavirus. At Integrity Spine and Orthopedics, we remain open to continue providing care and necessary medical treatments to our patients. If you need elective surgery for a spine or joint condition, but you’re worried about exposing yourself to the coronavirus, we completely understand.

The choice to undergo surgery during COVID is yours entirely. If you’re considering it, please keep reading our blog post. We want to let you know what we’re doing to ensure that patients can safely receive surgery and why postponing your procedure any longer may not be the right choice.

“ELECTIVE” DOESN’T MEAN “NOT NECESSARY”

Just because your surgery is elective doesn’t mean it’s not necessary for your health and well-being. Many patients who come to us for minimally invasive procedures are experiencing significant pain, lack of mobility and weakness from spine and joint conditions like a herniated discspinal stenosisdegenerative disc disease or a pinched nerve

If your condition is affecting your ability to function normally, and conservative measures haven’t been effective, then getting treatment sooner rather than later is vital. Putting off necessary surgery may cause adverse consequences down the road. Left untreated, spine and joint conditions could worsen and lead to long-term pain and debility.

At Integrity Spine and Orthopedics, our primary goal is to keep you safe and healthy while still providing the timely medical care you need to reduce pain and get back to doing the activities you love. Keep ready to learn how we plan to move forward and safely perform elective surgery during COVID-19.

HOW INTEGRITY SPINE AND ORTHOPEDICS IS REDUCING THE RISK OF EXPOSURE

At Integrity Spine and Orthopedics, we’re doing everything in our power to ensure our surgeries are being performed safely.

  1. Ambulatory surgery center (ASC). The majority of our elective surgeries are performed as outpatient procedures in the ambulatory surgery center setting, which significantly lowers your risk of exposure to the virus. Experts recommend that one way to safely resume elective surgeries is to separate infected patients from non-infected patients. Unlike a hospital, there’s no emergency room or ICU in an ASC where patients are being treated for the virus. Additionally, outpatient procedures don’t require overnight stays, which reduces the time you’ll be in prolonged contact with other people. And finally, ASCs treat fewer patients per day, which limits the number of people you’ll be exposed to. 
  2. Masks. We’re enforcing a strict mask requirement for all patients entering our facilities and waiting for their appointments. Additionally, our physicians and staff are wearing masks during all contact with patients. Masks can help stop the transmission of virus-carrying airborne particles to other people when we talk, sneeze, cough or laugh, especially in situations (like undergoing a medical procedure) where social distancing is difficult to maintain.
  3. Thorough sanitation. We’re performing thorough sanitation cleanings that adhere to CDC guidelines on all equipment and rooms before and after each and every procedure. We’re also performing sanitation cleanings in common areas where patients are waiting for their appointments. Our physicians and staff practice frequent handwashing with clean water and soap to reduce the spread of germs in our facilities. 

For more information on the precautions Integrity Spine and Orthopedics is taking to keep our patients, staff and physicians safe and healthy, read our update here:

An Update on COVID-19 Precautions 

SAFETY STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO PREPARE FOR SURGERY

Deciding to undergo elective surgery right now is a personal choice only you can make based on how safe and comfortable you feel. Now that we’ve told you the measures we’re taking to ensure your surgery goes smoothly, let’s discuss some precautions you can take beforehand to protect yourself even further.

  • If you’re able to, take the test for COVID-19. Many testing centers and clinics in Florida now offer drive-through testing for all patients, free of charge. Be sure to check whether or not you need an appointment first and if you need a doctor’s referral. 
  • Practice public safety measures. Wash your hands frequently, sanitize high-contact surfaces, wear a mask in public spaces, social distance and avoid gatherings of more than 10 people. By taking these measures, you can reduce your risk of exposure to the virus. 
  • Monitor yourself and others for sickness. If you decide to move forward with your surgery, closely monitor yourself and the people you come into contact with in the weeks and days leading up to your procedure. If you feel sick, or if you’ve been exposed to someone who’s sick, reschedule your appointment for no earlier than 2 weeks after being exposed to illness. This helps to ensure that your immune system is healthy and strong when you come in for your surgery.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our staff. We’re here to help make you feel as safe and comfortable as possible while getting you the medical care you need.

INTEGRITY SPINE AND ORTHOPEDICS IS OPEN AND READY TO TREAT YOU

At Integrity Spine and Orthopedics, we’re following all guidelines from the CDC and the Florida Department of Health to ensure that we can safely treat patients. If you still don’t feel comfortable coming to our clinics for an appointment, we do have some telemedicine options available. Please call us to find out more information about telemedicine appointments.

If you’re ready to move forward, call us at 904-456-0017 or fill out an online contact form to request an appointment. Please stay safe, and we hope you see you soon.