SALISBURY — To prepare for the possibility of increased coronavirus cases, Atrium Health, Novant Health and Wake Forest Baptist Health announced Tuesday they’re going to reschedule non-essential surgeries, procedures and ambulatory appointments, effective Wednesday.

Any emergency and essential services will continue uninterrupted, the hospital systems announced.

“As we navigate this situation together, we are all focusing resources to ensure that acute patients have the care and support they need when they need it,” said Julie Freischlag, CEO of Wake Forest Baptist Health; Carl Armato, CEO of Novant Health; and Eugene A. Woods, president and CEO of Atrium Health in a joint statement. “We all care deeply for each and every one of our patients, our healthcare workers and those in our communities, and our health systems continue to work together and communicate daily with each other.”

Novant Health operates Rowan Medical Center in Salisbury.

An announcement said rescheduling the appointments will minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19, coronavirus, among patients, visitors and healthcare providers. It also allows each health care system to conserve critical resources and focus care on those that need it most, the announcement said.

Patients who are effected by the rescheduling will receive communication from their health care provider with further instructions. If patients have specific questions, they should reach out to their health care provider to understand how this decision will impact their appointment or procedure, Monday’s announcement said.