What Happens as Tests and Procedures Resume?

As the number of COVID-19 cases starts to drop in your community, many hospitals and clinics will begin to resume non-emergency heart tests and procedures. 

They will do so carefully while working with public health officials to keep a close eye on how things are going. They also will take steps to protect you, other patients, and health care workers while you receive care during the pandemic. 

These safety measures may include:

• Allowing only patients (no visitors) to come to the hospital or clinic
• Requiring patients and health care workers to wear masks
• Screening or testing patients for COVID-19 before they are OK’d for a procedure or test
• Providing care to patients with COVID-19 in a dedicated part of the hospital 
• Screening or testing health care workers involved in your care for COVID-19

Resuming tests and procedures will likely happen in phases to help make sure that patients with COVID-19 and those without it are getting the right care at the right time. Health organizations, including the American College of Cardiology, issued guidance on this recently. 

We are still learning about COVID-19, and experts warn that new waves of the disease may lead to changes in your treatment plan. That is why it’s so important to work with your health care team to figure out which cardiovascular tests and procedures don’t need to be done right away.  

Decisions about your test or procedure will depend on how you are doing and local COVID-19 disease activity.