Orthopedic surgeon Benjamin Schwartz, MD, estimated that 85 percent of his patients wait-listed during elective surgery shutdowns still want to move forward.
Dr. Schwartz posted on LinkedIn about his case backlog and local guidance:
1. Dr. Schwartz has canceled 55 cases over the past two months.
2. An estimated 25 new patients were added to that waitlist during the shutdown.
3. Dr. Schwartz's office conducted an informal survey, finding that between 80 percent and 85 percent of patients wanted to move forward with their surgeries.
4. Dr. Schwartz operates at two hospitals in Massachusetts, as well as a surgery center in a bordering state. The surgery center has safely resumed cases.
5. One of the hospitals has instructed surgeons to book only "healthy" patients, and at half capacity, according to Dr. Schwartz. The other hospital — which is part of the same health system — hasn't offered a timetable on resuming surgeries, as Massachusetts hasn't officially lifted elective care restrictions.