AdventHealth to cease elective procedures as Covid cases surge

AdventHealth is ceasing non-emergency procedures at one of its campuses due to the rapid surge of Covid-19 cases. 

AdventHealth, which has multiple Tampa Bay campuses, will temporarily postpone any non-urgent elective procedures that require an overnight stay at its Wesley Chapel campus. The order took effect Tuesday. 

“AdventHealth continues to see a significant increase in Covid-19 cases at its facilities across West Florida and has surpassed our highest peak since the pandemic began in 2020,” the hospital’s Covid-19 update read. 

The system currently has nearly 275 hospitalized Covid-19 patients in its six Tampa Bay locations, including Pinellas County.  

Elective procedures are a major revenue line for hospitals, creating millions in earnings. AdventHealth’s decision to cease elective procedures for one campus comes after Clearwater-based BayCare Health System’s announcement on pausing procedures as well. 

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Elective procedures were last halted during the height of the pandemic last year when hospitals were trying to curb the spread of the virus and reserve rooms and equipment for Covid-19 patients. 

The news follows the state reporting 21,683 new cases of Covid-19 on Saturday, the state’s highest one-day total since the start of the pandemic, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 90% of Covid-19 patients hospitalized in AdventHealth hospitals nationwide are unvaccinated.

AdventHealth said there are no other campuses affected at this time and it will continue to perform same-day procedures that do not require an overnight stay.

While the elective procedures will continue at the other campuses, AdventHealth North Pinellas began limiting visitors starting Tuesday.

AdventHealth Dade City and AdventHealth Zephyrhillswill begin limiting visitors today.  

The health system reported it has sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators and specialized equipment to handle the influx of patients.