Numerous health systems in the path of a major winter storm moving across large swaths of the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions have closed clinics and are rescheduling elective procedures.
The weather system, dubbed Winter Storm Blair, brought a mixture of heavy snow, ice and wind to the central Plains Jan. 5, with Kansas and Missouri seeing some of the worst effects. More than 63 million Americans were under winter weather advisories Jan. 5. As the storm moved east Jan. 6, around 34 million people were under such warnings in states spanning Ohio to New Jersey, according to CBS News.
Kansas City saw intense blizzard conditions Jan. 5, with more than 11 inches of snowfall — the fourth largest single-day total on record for the city. The storm is forecast to bring six to 12 inches of snow as it moves across the Mid-Atlantic, including Washington, D.C., Jan. 6.
At least eight states in the storm's path — Arkansas, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Virginia, West Virginia and parts of New Jersey — declared states of emergency to improve their response, according to The New York Times.
More than 318,000 people were without power from Missouri to Virginia as of 8:30 a.m. this morning, according to poweroutage.us.
Five updates on health system closures and delays:
- Lewes, Del.-based Beebe Healthcare has closed primary and specialty care locations, walk-in care centers, as well as lab and imaging locations. Patients are being offered virtual visits where appropriate, while all emergency departments remain open for care. The health system said it plans to continue elective and urgent procedures and surgeries at Specialty Surgical Hospital and the Lewes Campus.
- Cincinnati Children's canceled all outpatient appointments and walk-in services Jan. 6. This includes primary care and specialty appointments, as well as some surgeries and procedures. The pediatric health system is contacting affected patients and families to reschedule appointments and advised patients to check its site for additional updates, as "more closures may be necessary."
- WVU Medicine closed the majority of outpatient clinics in Morgantown and Fairmont, W. Va., Jan. 6, though cancer infusion and radiation oncology services will be available for patients with existing appointments.
- The University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City delayed opening times for many of its clinics Jan. 6 and is converting many appointments to telehealth. Its cancer center is rescheduling many in-person appointments and treatments. Several of its outpatient locations in Olathe are closed.
- St. Louis-based SSM Health's medical group and physician group offices were closed Jan. 6, while urgent care centers had a delayed opening.