Pullman Regional Hospital is now offering elective surgeries after pausing certain procedures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

PRH Marketing Director Megan Guido said hospital officials decided to reopen for elective procedures because they have met all the state guidelines, including maintaining a 20 percent capacity for inpatient stays. 

Patients must work with their physicians or surgeons to decide whether they should get a surgery, she said. 

Guido said there is a perception that the hospital is full or only open to patients with COVID-19, but this is not true. 

“We want to encourage people to not delay their care,” Guido said. 

All patients undergoing an elective surgery will receive a COVID-19 test, Guido said. They also must self-isolate at home before their procedure to minimize the risk of spreading the virus in the hospital. 

Guido said there has been an increase in people going to the hospital for care recently. 

PRH is participating in a public service campaign called “Need Care, Get Care” with the Washington State Hospital Association, she said. The campaign is meant to inform people that it is safe to get care at hospitals because many individuals with chronic and emergent conditions are not seeking treatment when they should.

“Our goal is to not shut down services again,” Guido said.