April 17, 2020 / Written by Laura Dyrda
Elective and outpatient surgeries are beginning to return in some communities, which will allow spine and orthopedic surgeons to resume care for their patients most in need.
On April 16, President Donald Trump released his Opening America plan, which included calling for outpatient elective surgeries to resume under CMS guidelines. Phase two of the plan includes restarting elective surgeries safely. 
Detroit-based Henry Ford Health System resumed outpatient surgeries at five hospitals, according to a report from the Detroit Free Press. The hospitals have dedicated operating rooms for the outpatient procedures, which began on April 16. The surgeries will be for patients without the coronavirus that need time-sensitive procedures, including for cancer and heart disease patients.