Gov. Abbott Bans Elective Surgeries in Four Counties 

In the first reversal of an action taken in efforts to reopen Texas, Gov. Abbott has again banned elective surgeries in Bexar, Dallas, Harris and Travis counties in order to preserve hospital bed space for Covid-19 patients.

This is the second time the Governor has issued such a ban. The first order was in effect statewide for about a month before being reversed. But as the hospitalizations for Covid-19 patients has spiked in Texas in the past couple of weeks, especially in the larger counties, the surplus of beds is now in question. Harris county is expecting to exceed their standard capacity perhaps as early as today and their ability to treat both Covid-19 patients and non-Covid-19 patients in need of ICU beds could be challenged.

As the number of cases and the number of Covid-19 hospitalizations continue to increase there are calls for the Governor to make other policy changes as well: requiring masks, limiting gatherings, decreasing bar and restaurant capacity and others.

This ban will obviously cause a decrease in post-surgical patients requiring PT and will affect the practice of many of our members in these four counties. We at TPTA will do our best to keep you informed about any other policy changes that may affect your practice. 

 

Posted 6/25/2020