John Kutch

Trinity Health announced Thursday, Jan. 22, that it has resumed non-urgent surgical procedures that had been postponed due to intermittent, national shortages of certain anesthesia drugs.

“We are pleased to announce that supplies have stabilized, and non-urgent surgeries will resume normal capacity,” Trinity President and CEO John Kutch said in a letter released on social media to the community. “Our team is reaching out to reschedule postponed procedures as quickly as possible, and we sincerely thank the community for your patience and understanding during this short period.”

The postponement had preserved anesthesia drugs for emergencies and urgent needs.

“Emergecy and urgent care have remained fully available throughout, with no impact on life-saving services,” Kutch wrote. “Our commitment to patient safety, access, and quality care in northwest North Dakota remains in focus. No essential services have been reduced, and we continue prioritizing those who need us most.”

However, he added more than half of healthcare systems in the United States face significant financial pressures, which many are calling a “financial flu” that impacts the entire industry.

“Trinity Health is no exception, as we navigate the same challenges affecting rural and regional providers nationwide,” Kutch wrote. “These include under-reimbursement from payers relative to the costs of delivering high-quality care, national drug shortages (particularly certain anesthesia medication), inflation, rising labor and supply costs, tariff impacts on pharmaceuticals, and delays or denials in payments from insurers that strain cash flow.”

Kutch said Trinity has a comprehensive financial improvement plan in place that already is achieving tangible progress.

“This plan positions us strongly to continue serving our communities effectively,” he wrote. “Trinity Health exists because of this community, and we remain dedicated to our mission of making more possible in rural healthcare. By addressing these industrywide issues head-on, we are safeguarding our ability to serve you now and in the future.”