Your safety is important to us.

  • For clinical COVID-19 questions, please call the Coronavirus Hotline at 716-859-3222 (open daily 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.).
  • For more information on recent or planned travel, please visit the CDC website.

Due to the rise in COVID-19 cases in Western New York, the Ambulatory Surgery Center of Western New York will be resuming COVID-19 testing for all patients undergoing surgery or an invasive procedure, regardless of vaccination status (beginning September 13th, 2021).

New Patient Information

The Ambulatory Surgery Center of WNY has updated their protocols for our patients and employee’s safety.

Some of our new protocols to be aware of:

Cleaning: We have updated our cleaning policies and in addition to following State and Regulatory guidelines on regular cleaning, we have added the following services to ensure the highest level of infection control.

  • Regular and additional cleaning to all surfaces and common areas
  • Regular professional disinfecting services in all common areas.
  • Increased cleaning of all patient areas utilizing approved solutions.

Testing: The New York State Department of Health has given guidance on elective surgeries on May 19, 2020.  ALL patients must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test (swab test) prior to surgery.

Our surgery center must have the results of your test at minimum the evening before your scheduled procedure.

To see this guidance please click the link below:

Guidance for Elective Surgery and Non-Urgent Procedures in Ambulatory Settings

Pre-operative information:

  • You will receive a text message once your surgical appointment is scheduled at our facility.
  • You will receive a text message or a phone call with an arrival time 1-3 business days prior to your scheduled surgery.

Family members and rides:

  • Contact information for your ride must be given at the time of your pre-operative call so that we can make notation of it prior to when patients come in.

It is important that our surgery center has contact information for your ride so we can keep them updated on patients’ progress and establish communication for your surgeon to speak to your family member/ride.

  • NO family members or visitors will be allowed entry to the building unless they are accompanying a minor or a compromised adult.
  • Visitors will also need to be swab tested negative in order to enter the building.

Face Coverings & Exposure

All individuals entering the surgery center must arrive with a face covering or mask that is covering both their mouth and nose.  If you are a patient or an employee, you will be given a surgical mask upon entry.

COVID-19 cases have been increasing daily in our community. Our surgery center is committed to addressing the concerns and ensuring the health and protection of our patients and healthcare workers (HCW). This page provides new guidance based on an evolving understanding of the virus that replaces any previous mask recommendations.

To ensure the health and protection of staff, patients and visitors, all HCWs and other support staff shall wear a procedure or surgical mask while within 6 feet of patients or other staff members.

  • Extended wear of procedure/surgical facemasks is allowed
  • Face masks should be changed when dirty, damp or damaged
  • Extended use of procedure/surgical masks (wearing the same mask for repeated close contacts without removing the mask) is preferred
  • If a mask is removed, staff are required to distance themselves at least 6 feet from patients and other staff members. This is important for break times and mealtimes.

COVID-19 – What is known at present time:

  • COVID-19 is transmitted primarily through large respiratory droplets and contact with contaminated surfaces.
  • Protection from large respiratory droplet COVID-19 is achieved by wearing a procedure/surgical mask, goggles, gowns and gloves.
  • COVID-19 could become airborne through aerosol generating procedures, such as endotracheal intubation/extubating, BiPAP, OPEN suctioning, bronchoscopy, nebulizer therapy and high flow.
  • Protection from aerosolized COVID-19 is achieved by wearing a clean and properly fit N95 mask, goggles, gowns and gloves.

Proper Use of Masks:

  • Masks should not be worn hanging around the neck or under the chin. It is either ON or OFF.
  • Masks must cover the nose and mouth and be pinched across the nose. All ear loops or ties must be worn as intended by the mask’s design.
  • Decreasing the frequency of donning and doffing of procedure/surgical masks will decrease the risk of hand contamination.
  • When wearing masks/respirators, avoid touching your face or repositioning the mask to avoid hand contamination.
  • Perform hand hygiene before putting on and after removing your mask, and after touching your face or mask.

COVID-19 – Guidelines, Supplies, Literature and Social Media:

  • The ASC of WNY acknowledges that there is variation in messages from the World Health Organization, CDC, and NYS Department of Health which can cause confusion and fear
  • ASC of WNY also recognizes that the body of evidence is evolving daily as research efforts increase across the world
  • ASC of WNY and most of the world, are working through significant supply chain challenges and limited masks

Other important points:

  • Asymptomatic HCWs/staff must remain masked if they have had unprotected exposure to a known COVID-19 person for 14 days.
  • Staff can obtain a mask at the screening stations as they enter the facility daily. Additional masks will be available when masks are required to be replaced following extended use criteria.
  • Cloth masks are not to be worn since they do not provide filtration and tend to become damp quickly.

If you believe you have been in contact with a COVID-19 positive patient, family member or co-worker:

Symptomatic: If the employee is symptomatic (develops fever of 100.0 F or more, cough, difficulty breathing), then the employee cannot work and should follow normal protocol for disability (DBL), working with Human Resources just as they would for other illnesses that prevent them from reporting for work.

Please call the Coronavirus Hotline at 716-859-3222 for further direction (open daily 7 a.m.-7 p.m.). You will be directed if and where you will be tested.

If staff who are asymptomatic develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19, they should immediately stop work and isolate at home.

Reporting Laboratory Results to Workforce

Lab testing for COVID-19 has been coordinated through the hotline and scheduled through an approved testing site. Laboratory results will be reported as positive or negative for COVID-19 to the hotline/command center staff. Nursing staff working the hotline will communicate to the healthcare worker through a phone call the positive or negative result.

Follow up: Nursing staff communicating these results will explain the return to work criteria as set by the New York State Department of Health Guidance for Health Care Workers:

  • Healthcare workers must isolate themselves for 7 days from illness onset
  • On day 8, the healthcare worker may return to work if they have been fever- free for 72 hours and symptoms are improving
  • Upon return to work, the healthcare worker must comply with universal masking guidelines
  • Should the healthcare worker need care for their symptoms, they should contact their primary care provider

If an employee or physician tests positive for COVID-19, they will be notified as outlined above. Because of the vast community spread, the Erie County Department of Health is no longer conducting “tracing” (contacting all individuals who may have been in contact with COVID-19 positive individuals).

*THESE UPDATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. THE CDC, NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REGULATIONS & GUIDELINES ARE CHANGING DAILY.