US surgeon general: Stop elective procedures 

The U.S. surgeon general asked hospitals to consider stopping elective surgeries until the U.S. makes progress on combating the novel coronavirus, Politico reports. 

What you should know:

1. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, MD, tweeted March 14, "Hospital & healthcare systems, PLEASE CONSIDER STOPPING ELECTIVE PROCEDURES until we can #FlattenTheCurve!"

2. The tweet was in response to recommendations from the American College of Surgeons, which recommended facilities "thoughtfully review" scheduled operations and consider canceling or postponing them.

3. ASCs have been in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic. Penn Highlands Elk in St. Marys, Pa., moved all its pain management and outpatient surgery cases from its ASC to its hospital, two ASCs in Washington state limited all visitors going forward, and Waverly Lake Surgery Center in Albany, Ore., closed March 12 after a staff member was exposed to COVID-19. 

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