Southern California Hospitals Postpone Elective Surgeries During COVID-19 Surge Some Orange County hospitals have suspended elective surgeries as they struggle to keep pace with an ongoing pandemic that continues to push the boundaries of health care capacity. Local health officials made the call to postpone nonessential procedures following a state health order that sought to more effectively prioritize patient care. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) directed health centers to categorize elective surgeries through a tier scale endorsed by the American College of Surgeons. “The health order delays elective surgeries ‘and non-life-threatening’ surgeries but it does not affect surgeries involving serious medical conditions, like cancer removal or heart surgeries,” Adam Blackstone, spokesperson for the Hospital Association for Southern California, told The Epoch Times via email Jan. 11.