Yesterday,  Pennsylvania Gov. Wolf ordered the closure all non-life sustaining businesses in PA, but permitted ambulatory surgery centers and physician and dental offices to remain open, provided that they are not performing elective procedures or elective care.   This afternoon, the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health, Dr. Rachel Levine, confirmed what is meant by “elective” procedures.

According to the Secretary, whether a procedure is “elective” needs to be determined by the treating physician in discussion with the patient.  Specifically, the physician and the patient should determine whether the procedure “is semi-urgent and will need to be done or [is] really very elective.”  The Secretary confirmed that surgeries that are scheduled “1, 2, 3 or 4 months out” will generally need to be rescheduled.  (Link:  https://www.governor.pa.gov/live/, go to 3:47 minutes left on the video).

This guidance clarifies that ASCs in PA may stay open to perform surgeries that the treating physician and patient determine should not be rescheduled due to the patient’s medical condition.  The same reasoning appears to be applicable to procedures scheduled at physician or dental offices.

[View source.]