By james art NORTH LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — VA Southern Nevada Health System (VASNHS) operating rooms will temporarily close from November 12 to December 22 as construction and upgrading of the facilities is carried out.
VASNHS said the changes were necessary as the operating room equipment was nearing the end of its useful life. To minimize impacts on veteran patients, VASNHS said the November-December time frame is intentional because it is historically the slowest time of year for routine and elective surgical cases.
Special procedures that do not need operating rooms will be expanded, VASNHS said. During the closure timeframe, clinic hours will also be expanded to allow for more pre-surgery appointments and consultations.
How does this affect patients who have had elective surgeries?
VASNHS said there were operations planned during the closure timeframe, but they now have to be rescheduled. Affected veterans have been contacted, according to VASNHS, to either move their surgery or reschedule once operating rooms reopen.
According to VASNHS Acting Executive Director Michael Keefer:
“VA is committed to updating and modernizing our infrastructure whenever possible to ensure we have the latest technology and equipment to meet the needs of veterans seeking care locally. As part of this commitment, there are times when we must make short-term adjustments to our day-to-day operations to support long-term goals and results. We have worked diligently to mitigate the impact on our veterans and apologize for any inconvenience this temporary closure may cause.”
If you are a veteran and have questions or concerns about how this temporary closure may affect you, VASNHS said you should contact your surgical team.