BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — St. Joseph’s Hospital has been approved by the Office of Inspector General of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources to resume providing more urgent medical procedures beginning Monday, May 4, 2020.  This comes after elective surgical care was suspended due to concerns for patients and staff as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

St. Joseph’s Hospital, as part the West Virginia United Health System, Inc. (WVUHS), will meet the criteria of the Executive Order 28-20 by following the guidelines of the American College of Surgeons (ACS).  St. Joseph’s Hospital has established a Surgical Review Committee that will be responsible for determining what surgeries and procedures are appropriate to be performed and prioritizing those procedures.  This will allow for a phased-in approach to scheduling of surgeries while ensuring that there is adequate space, personnel and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for emergency and trauma cases. 

“We are taking carefully measured steps to ensure that medical services can safely resume here at the hospital and in our clinics,” said Skip Gjolberg, St. Joseph’s Hospital President.  “We know that it is crucially important that our patients’ health is protected and we are working to make the most-needed surgical procedures a priority.”

The hospital will continue to ensure safety for patients and staff by ensuring all staff have the necessary PPE and are wearing it correctly; requiring patients entering the hospital or clinics to wear their mask or one provided by the hospital; continuing the hospital’s no visitor policy; doing daily sanitizing of patient areas; and maintaining social distancing for everyone’s protection. 

“We encourage patients to contact their providers about any procedures that may have been postponed during this time,” said Gjolberg.  Patients can discuss their needs with their providers through telephone visits, video visits, by messaging them through their My WVU Chart account or at a scheduled in-person visit.  To access or set up a My WVU Chart account, visit MyWVUChart.com.  For a list of providers, call the Physicians’ Referral Line at 304-473-2200.