HONOLULU – The Queen’s Medical Center has reopened the Main Operating Room at its Punchbowl campus to non-emergency surgeries, following a series of successful and safe reopenings at The Queen’s Health System’s clinics and other outpatient departments.
During the recent omicron surge, non-emergency surgeries were placed on hold while clinics and other outpatient services, such as diagnostic imaging and endoscopy services, were significantly reduced in order to limit the spread of COVID-19 and increase hospital capacity to treat patients with the disease.
Since then, The Queen’s Health System (QHS) has been carefully monitoring system-wide COVID-19 data and has seen a steady decline in the number of symptomatic people tested per week. The percent-positive rate for COVID-19 has also decreased as the weeks have progressed.
“During this critical time, our caregivers have provided safe, reliable and compassionate care to our patients when they needed us most,” said Jill Hoggard Green, PhD, RN, QHS President and Chief Executive Officer. “In response to the needs of our patients and the community, we are now prioritizing the process of expanding our health care services. Our #1 priority is the safety and well-being of our caregivers, our patients and the community. We will continue to safely meet Hawaiʻi’s health care needs.”
QHS facilities are Prepared to Care, after implementing numerous precautions to ensure a safe environment for patients and caregivers:
- Everyone entering our hospitals or clinics will be screened and asked to wear a mask and sanitize their hands. If a patient does not have a mask, one will be provided.
- Seating in waiting rooms has been adjusted to help assure physical distancing.
- One visitor per hospital patient is allowed. Visitors must be fully COVID vaccinated and provide CDC vaccination card upon arrival. Additional visitors may be allowed for obstetric, pediatric, and newborn patients on QET10.
- Patients who have an appointment may be accompanied by one caregiver.
- Staff members are trained in the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protocols, and have all the necessary equipment to safely care for patients in our community.
- All equipment, surfaces and public areas are cleaned with a disinfectant approved for use and effective in killing the COVID-19 virus.
QHS has begun the rigorous process of safely expanding the availability of its clinics and outpatient services at Queen’s – Punchbowl, Queen’s – West Oʻahu, Queen’s North Hawaiʻi Community Hospital, Molokai General Hospital, and the Queen’s Health Care Centers.
Patients should contact their provider to schedule an appointment. To find a doctor, visit www.queens.org/find-a-doctor.
