UW Medicine postpones elective surgeries to reinforce COVID-19 response

SEATTLE, Wash.-- UW Medicine announced on Saturday that it is postponing elective and non-urgent surgeries and procedures through March 31 in response to the state-wide and national concerns related to curbing the spread of COVID-19.

The move impacts surgeries at all UW Medicine healthcare facilities and takes effect Monday, March 16, for Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical Center – Montlake and University of Washington Medical Center -- Northwest (formerly Northwest Hospital & Medical Center) and Wednesday, March 18 at Valley Medical Center.

“Our mission is to safeguard and improve public health, and our highest priority now is to control the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Lisa Brandenburg, president of UW Medicine hospitals and clinics. ‘We regret the inconvenience this delay places on our elective surgery patients. We look forward to caring for their needs as soon as we can control COVID-19 and reduce the demand it has placed on our staff and resources.”

UW Medicine notified patients who have elective surgeries scheduled, and will reschedule the procedures as the COVID-19 pandemic is controlled.

Clinic Visits

UW Medicine officials say it's still safe for patients to receive care through the health system's primary and urgent care clinics. However, they are working to change appointments to telehealth consultations for patients in the UW Medicine Neighborhood Clinics in order to reduce the chances of exposure to patients and our health care workers. Some non-urgent specialty visits and procedures may be postponed until the outbreak has subsided. 

If you have questions, you're encouraged to call your healthcare provider, and let your clinic or urgent care center know ahead of time if you are experiencing any fever or respiratory symptoms.