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Procedures Surge Past Pre-COVID Levels at Bone & Joint Institute

August 24, 2020

At the height of COVID-19 in the United States, half of Americans said they were postponing needed medical care because of COVID-19. One-third of those people said they were planning to get that needed care in the next three months.

The wait is over.

Since the Bone & Joint Institute at Hartford Hospital reopened in mid-May, orthopedic surgeons have performed close to 550 procedures through July — 30-plus cases more per month than before COVID-19. Likewise, the 140 spine procedures in that same period represent 10 more cases per month than pre-COVID.

If you and your doctor determine it’s time for surgery, you are choosing one of the safest states and safest hospitals in Connecticut for your surgery.

“You are safer from COVID-19 having surgery at the Bone & Joint Institute than you are going to the grocery store,” said Dr. John Grady-Benson, the Bone & Joint Institute’s medical director.

In mid-August, Connecticut’s seven-day moving average positivity rate of 0.7 percent stood as a fraction of the nation’s 6.5 percent positivity rate, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. The state’s combination of social distancing, universal masking, good hand hygiene and community spirit is working.

Because of that, you do not have to delay your medical care. But you also should know how Hartford HealthCare is working to keep you safe:

  • Non-COVID Units: The Bone & Joint Institute is among Hartford HealthCare’s non-COVID-19 units, which means no COVID-19 patients are treated in the same facility.
  • Enhanced disinfecting: We’ve increased the cleaning frequency for all high-touch surface areas (such as counters, doorknobs) with EPA-approved disinfectants.
  • Between-cases cleaning: We do a complete cleaning between each patient, and we clean and disinfect all patient care equipment (blood pressure cuffs, pulse oximeters) after use on each patient.
  • Patient testing: All patients must receive a COVID-19 test three to five days before their procedure, followed by period of self-isolation until the day of the procedure so you do not become infected. If your test result is positive, your procedure will be postponed.
  • Employee testing: Every Bone & Joint Institute employee is screened for symptoms before each shift.
  • Hand hygiene: Good hand hygiene is essential for our colleagues, patients and visitors. We’ve added more sanitizing stations with effective alcohol-based, germ-killing products.
  • Visitor screening: If you bring a family member or friend to a procedure, both of you must go through a screening process that includes temperature and symptom checks when you enter the facility. If you both test negative, you can enter wearing masks. Your escort can wait in modified areas. No visitors under age 16 are allowed in a room.

For more information on enhanced safety precautions at Hartford HealthCare during COVID-19, click here.

For more information about the Hartford HealthCare Bone & Joint Institute at Hartford Hospital, click here. 

Not feeling well? Call your healthcare provider for guidance and try to avoid going directly to an emergency department or urgent care center, as this could increase the chances of the disease spreading.

Click here to schedule a virtual visit with a Hartford HealthCare-GoHealth Urgent Care provider.

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