Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) and St. Luke’s University Health Network have issued a joint statement about surgical services.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the surgeon general, Jerome Adams MD, and the American College of Surgeons have recommended that hospitals limit elective surgical procedures.

The measures are intended to allow hospitals to be prepared for the anticipated surge in COVID-19 cases, as well as to limit patient and caregiver exposure.

LVHN and St. Luke’s have announced that some elective surgeries will be postponed. The new policy took effect March 19 and will last at least two weeks.

The policy will not affect urgent-emergent surgery or elective surgery where a delay could cause a negative impact on a patient’s health.

Patients whose procedures are postponed are being contacted individually.

Postponing elective surgeries helps prevent the spread of disease and helps hospitals conserve resources such as blood, ventilators and protective equipment for providers.