Salisbury VA postpones non-essential procedures
Published 12:59 pm Monday, March 16, 2020
- Salisbury Post file photo - VA Employee Tim Draper (right) asks questions to those needing to get on the VA campus in March after the facility began asking screening questions for COVID-19.
SALISBURY — The Salisbury VA Health Care System has postponed all non-essential procedures for a minimum of 30 days.
The change is intended to reduce the spread of coronavirus, COVID-19. Staff are personally contacting patients to discuss new restrictions, a news release said.
“In keeping with CDC and White House recommendations for social distancing and isolation during this time, we are minimizing the need for interpersonal contact,” said Joseph Vaughn, director of the Salisbury VA Health Care System. “We are postponing practices that can be avoided, and rescheduling appointments for those services.”
Already, all entrants to the W.G. “Bill” Hefner Medical Center are being screened for COVID-19. Monday’s announcement also said the Salisbury VA has restricted visitation to its nursing homes, known as Community Living Centers, and postponed or canceled all group activities.
“We are doing everything we can to protect veterans, staff and visitors while we continue to provide Veterans quality health care during the COVID-19 outbreak,” a news release said.
In addition to the W.G. “Bill” Hefner Medical Center, the Salisbury VA also operates clinics in Kernersville and Charlotte.
