Non-Essential Surgeries, Procedures and Ambulatory Appointments to be Rescheduled

Wake Forest Baptist Health, Atrium Health and Novant Health are coordinating together to prepare for and respond to the possibility of increasing cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spreading in our communities.

Following the guidelines from the U.S. Surgeon General and the American College of Surgeons, Wake Forest Baptist Health, Atrium Health and Novant Health are rescheduling non-essential surgeries, procedures and ambulatory appointments, effective Wednesday, March 18. Any emergency and essential services will continue uninterrupted.

Rescheduling these appointments will minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19 among patients, visitors and health care providers. It also allows each health care system to conserve critical resources and focus care on those that need it most.

Patients who fall into this category will receive communication from their health care provider with further instructions. If patients have specific questions, they should reach out to their health care provider to understand how this decision will impact their appointment or procedure.

“As we navigate this situation together, we are all focusing resources to ensure that acute patients have the care and support they need when they need it,” said Julie Ann Freischlag, M.D., CEO of Wake Forest Baptist Health, Carl Armato, CEO of Novant Health, and Eugene A. Woods, President and CEO of Atrium Health in a joint statement. “We all care deeply for each and every one of our patients, our health care workers and those in our communities, and our health systems continue to work together and communicate daily with each other.”

Each health system has established a dedicated website to keep their communities updated on COVID-19.