Orange Regional Medical Center has resumed performing select surgeries at the Town of Wallkill hospital as experts continue to identify the source of an operating room equipment sterilization issue that has prevented procedures from being performed since last Friday.
“We remain equipped to handle emergency surgeries for patients who are already admitted to the hospital should the need arise,” said spokeswoman Lauren Kropf-Zuckerman. The hospital’s obstetric unit surgical services are fully up and running, she said.
ORMC’s emergency room remains on divert status until hospital officials feel that the surgical inventory levels are appropriate for trauma cases. “Patients will be diverted to facilities that can best handle the level of care they require based on the professional assessment of Emergency Medical Services and by our Emergency Room physicians,” said Kropf-Zuckerman.
She said the hospital’s operating room leaders are working with surgeons to assess upcoming scheduled surgery cases and they are increasing surgery capacity incrementally as they are able to increase sterilized surgical tray inventory.
Until the Orange Regional issue is resolved, they are continuing to use Catskill Regional Medical Center’s sterilization equipment to assist in stocking ORMC’s main operating rooms. Catskill Regional is the sister hospital to Orange Regional.
Future patients whose surgeries have been postponed should speak with their surgeon’s or physician’s office for the status of their rescheduled surgery, Kropf-Zuckerman said.
