Anyone switched providers/hospitas due to COVID? delays?

Options
OlympicMtGirl
OlympicMtGirl Member Posts: 19

Got my diagnosis end of last year and immediately got in line to access Seattle Cancer Care alliance SCCA waiting 6 weeks for surgeon intake Feb 10 for bilateral mastectomy (met with local general surgeon and certain that's the route I'll take).

Have done every appointment within my control (prosthetics shop field trip, genetic testing, reconstruction consult, acquired front button PJs and zero gravity chair).

Received an email late last week that SCCA patients may experience appointment delays due to staffing issues. Explored with my (future) care team what surgery slots looked like and they revealed half their operating rooms are closed till 2/19. So I am looking at those delayed surgeries in front of me when I finally get in the door and half the operating rooms in use.

Comments

  • OlympicMtGirl
    OlympicMtGirl Member Posts: 19
    edited January 2022

    FYI it is tough times accessing surgeries in the Pacific Northwest United States.

    From my calls
    - SCCA/University of WA intake 6+ weeks out and surgeries will not predict but definitely months. Half surgical suites are closed due to staffing and flooding.
    - OHSU in Portland has no surgery consults now except telehealth. Must be physically in OR and not mastectomies.

    I found a highly recommended surgeon at Swedish in Seattle and got a consult for February and a surgery slot for March. Their committee is approving cancer surgeries but not unlikely will approve prophylactic removal of second breast. I will take what I can get.


Categories