Surgeries Postponed, New Visitor Restrictions as CHI Mercy Health Nears Capacity

CHI Mercy Health is having to revise its visitor policy in response to the hospital nearing maximum capacity. Here is the full release from the hospital: Due to the increase in COVID-19 cases in our community, including the circulation of the highly contagious variants, CHI Mercy Health is temporarily restricting all visitor access, with some exceptions, at our hospital and all of our outpatients clinics. This change will take effect tomorrow, Wednesday, August 18. Also, with the hospital near maximum capacity, daily increases in admissions of more COVID positive patients and most Oregon hospitals near maximum capacity or full, Mercy is postponing all surgeries starting Thursday, August 19, 2021. This includes all endoscopy procedures, elective and non-elective surgeries. This does not apply to emergent surgeries (C-sections, traumas, appendectomies etc.). The postponed surgeries will be reevaluated in two weeks. The ORSC location will be turned into a medical and surgical unit location, so we can house patients needing care that are not COVID positive in this location. The Family BirthPlace patients will still have one support person, but no visitors at this time. Children under 12 are not permitted in the unit at this time. We want to thank anyone affected by these restrictions for their understanding and help in keeping our patients, caregivers and communities safe and healthy.