County health director: Ocean Beach Hospital and Willapa Harbor Hospital have been “amazing” during the pandemic and are doing all they can with what they have, but said they don’t have the equipment or staffing to be able to provide the level of care that larger hospitals offer for coronavirus patients.

ILWACO — After Vice President Mike Pence requested Wednesday, March 19 that all hospitals delay elective procedures to save medical capacity for future coronavirus cases, Ilwaco’s Ocean Beach Hospital later that day announced that it is doing just that.

“To protect patients and staff during the COVID-19 outbreak, Ocean Beach Hospital & Medical Clinics have closed the operating room to all elective surgeries and procedures as of March 18, 2020, for at least two weeks. The operating room will remain open for emergency cases only,” a statement on the OBH website reads. “All elective orthopedic surgeries will be canceled indefinitely and rescheduled” when conditions permit.

An elective surgery is generally defined as one scheduled in advance because it can be done at any time, as opposed to an urgent emergency surgery.

According to OBH CEO Larry Cohen, the state of Washington notified OBH that it would be issuing a request similar to that made by Vice President Pence. Later that day, Governor Jay Inslee went further than a request. As part of an order restricting medical procedures, he ordered medical facilities to halt most elective surgeries. Inslee’s order was less strict than OBH’s announced policy, allowing elective surgery “if delaying the surgery would cause harm to the patient within the next three months.” The OBH policy allows only emergency surgeries.

Astoria’s Columbia Memorial Hospital issued a statement on its Facebook page assuring patients that it would let them know if it decides to make any changes.

“This is an uncertain time in health care, and things are changing rapidly. As a courtesy to you, our patients, we pledge that any changes in your care, including office visits and elective surgeries, will be communicated to you directly by your caregiver or provider,” the statement read.

Naselle Clinic Closes

OBH has also closed its Naselle clinic starting Friday, March 20. The closure will continue through at least April 5. “The Naselle Clinic will be closed for direct patient care beginning Friday, March 20, 2020, through at least Sunday, April 5, 2020. Patients requiring medication refills or that need to speak with a provider can call 360-642-6457,” the OBH website reads.

Additional Closures

Also closed through April 5 are the following services: Pulmonary function testing; Cardiac/Pulmonary rehabilitation; nuclear medicine studies such as bone and thyroid scans (Lexa scans remain available); MRI; outpatient physical therapy; non-essential imaging.