In accordance with directives from the New Jersey Department of Health and Governor Murphy, CentraState Medical Center will reinstate surgeries and invasive procedures on May 26, 2020 that had been previously suspended due to COVID-19.

The suspension of these surgeries and procedures preserved the medical center’s capacity to handle the surge of COVID-19 cases, which peaked in mid-April. Many key services have remained open, including the emergency department, labor and delivery, radiology, the Women’s Health Center, the laboratory, cardiac diagnostics, the MS Center, and cancer services.

“We are open, safe and ready,” said John T. Gribbin, president and CEO of CentraState Healthcare System. “Many people have delayed or avoided getting the care they need for fear of exposure to COVID-19 or because elective services have been temporarily unavailable. We want to assure the community that we have implemented stringent safety precautions throughout our facilities and that they should prioritize health over any fears they may have.”

Gribbin notes that anyone who needs emergency care should not delay. Anyone who shows signs of a heart attack, stroke or who has been seriously injured should call 9-1-1 to get the care they need before it is too late. In addition, those with chronic conditions such as diabetes or hypertension should maintain contact with their healthcare providers to ensure they are staying healthy to prevent further complications.

Plans in place to protect patients, visitors and employees include the following—please check the CentraState website here for frequent updates on all of these policies:

• Entrance points will be limited and every person who enters a CentraState facility will be screened for temperature and symptoms
• Visitor restrictions will still be in place. The following patients will be allowed to have one visitor accompany them: delivering mothers, end of life patients, pediatric, surgery and outpatient surgery patients. Accompanying visitor must be asymptomatic.
• Plexiglass and other physical barriers have been installed in registration/information areas as needed
• Patient care and waiting spaces in all departments have been reconfigured to maintain physical distancing
• Universal masking of employees, patients and visitors will continue
• Intensified cleaning, disinfection and ventilation will continue, including the use of ultraviolet light technology that kills pathogens on surfaces
• COVID-19 patients will be cared for in limited, isolated areas away from other patients
• Virtual options for care will continue as possible

“We know it has been a stressful time waiting for a surgery, diagnostic test or treatment, and taking care of those health needs is important,” added Gribbin. “We are incredibly appreciative of the community’s support during this challenging period, and are looking forward to providing the compassionate, quality care we have always been known for.”