ROCHESTER, N.Y. — ​University of Rochester Medical Center are preparing to adjust its plan for its September 27 deadline.

URMC is considering putting a pause on elective surgeries, anticipating a staff shortage come that date.

More than 91% of its hospital staff is vaccinated. Those who aren’t by September 27 will no longer be able to work.

“As we continue to encourage vaccination, UR Medicine hospitals are working as a system to minimize impacts on patient care after unvaccinated employees are no longer able to work,” URMC said in a statement. “One step under consideration at Strong is not to schedule new elective surgeries for the two-week period beginning Sept. 27, which would free up staff who could be redeployed to critical care areas.”

“We are currently developing and adjusting contingency plans based on many variables, including today’s ruling by a federal judge in Utica regarding the vaccine mandate. We will continue planning as a system to maintain high-quality patient care with minimal disruptions as the mandate deadline approaches, and will communicate more extensively as the impact of this ruling and other details become clear.”

The hospital system says putting elective surgeries on a two week pause would free up staff to be reassigned to critical care areas.