Combined Sources
(undated) – If you have an “opt\ional” surgical procedure coming up, check with your doctor to see if it is still on. The Mass. Department of Public Health has issued new guidelines for hospitals regarding elective or optional surgical procedures. Effective immediately, hospitals must reduce non-essential and non-urgent scheduled procedures by at least 50 percent until further notice. The previous threshold was 30 percent. State officials cited staffing shortage and a large influx of new COVID 19 patients as reasons for the change.