Patients can again have visitors as Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) starts to ease restrictions initiated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Admitted patients are permitted one visitor, at a time, during a scheduled visitation time,” said GBGH communications officer Jennifer Moore.
“The exceptions to one visitor includes visitation for a palliative/actively-dying patient. In this case, GBGH will allow up to four visitors at a time, as coordinated with the care team.”
Moore said because the hospital is asking people to book their visitation time in advance, they’re able to manage the number of visitors in a room whether it be a single, double or four-bed ward room.
“We ask for the public’s cooperation and patience during this process as we safely manage re-opening limited visitation,” Moore said. “We cannot be certain exactly how long these visitation restrictions will be in place, but this is how we will manage visitation for the foreseeable future.”
In a release, hospital CEO Gail Hunt said that GBGH opted to revise its restrictions to allow for a phased-in, safe approach to visitation, given the fact the pandemic will likely continue for months.
“It is never an easy decision to restrict patients from having visitors while in hospital as we know family presence improves patient outcomes, experience and has safety benefits such as decreasing patient falls,” Hunt said.
“This decision is based on the status of the pandemic in our area, as well as the benefit to patients and families.”
To schedule a visitation time, visitors are asked to call (705) 526-1300. The scheduled times are between 10 a.m. to noon 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Emergency department patients may have one visitor remain with them if support is required.
Circumstances where support could be required include: Pediatric patients, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care staff supervising a patient, Central North Correctional Centre (CNCC) staff guarding an inmate, a language barrier (translation required) and mental health/competency/confusion challenges.
Palliative patients attending the hospital for scheduled appointments or procedures may also have one visitor accompany them if support is required for similar reasons as in the emergency department.
All permitted visitors will be screened upon entering the hospital. Any visitor who screens positive for COVID-19 symptoms will be asked to not visit.
As well, visitors must comply with hand hygiene practices, wear a hospital-provided mask and follow physical distancing. Visitors could also be asked to wear additional personal protective equipment as determined by the care team based on a patients’ condition.
The hospital is also offering patients and families the opportunity to visit virtually via the bedside entertainment systems on its inpatient units (2 North, 2 East). Patients on 1 North are able to virtually visit with family using tablets available to all patients on the unit.
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