BJC HealthCare to suspend some elective procedures in St. Louis

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

BJC HealthCare and Washington University announced they will postpone some elective procedures that can be postponed safely starting Monday.

This will not impact Boone Hospital Center in Columbia.

This comes in an effort to increase hospital capacity and ensure there is enough staff available to provide care to patients.

"We know how tiresome and restrictive this is. We are all
collectively weary of these measures. But, they continue to be
our best defense and we must dig deeper to stay the course
while the vaccines continue to be developed and produced," BJC HealthCare said in a statement.

The letter noted a surge in cases as the reason for making the decision to postpone certain procedures.

BJC HealthCare also encouraged people to take precautions like wearing a mask and social distancing.