As elective surgery slowly re-opens across the country, it is paramount that surgeons recognize and take responsibility for their roles in protecting patient safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Namely, these include (1) to prevent further spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2 Virus, (2) to understand the shift in injuries that has occurred as a result of altered lifestyles led by our patients, (3) to leverage our platforms to disseminate information regarding how individuals can maintain musculoskeletal health during the pandemic. Efforts taken to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 can be focused on three broad categories of provider-patient interaction: pre-operative and clinic visits, surgical encounters, and post-operative care.
Protecting Surgical Patient Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic