GBGH declares COVID-19 outbreak on 1 North inpatient unit

November 23, 2022 – An outbreak of COVID-19 has been declared on the 1 North Complex Continuing Care and Rehabilitation unit at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH), in collaboration with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit. The outbreak includes eight patients who contracted COVID-19 while receiving care at the hospital.

Enhanced cleaning and other infection prevention and control measures – including increased testing of patients and staff – are in place. Visitation to the unit is limited to essential caregivers only and the unit is closed to admissions at this time.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relations

Georgian Bay General Hospital

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

Volunteers Return to Georgian Bay General Hospital

November 21, 2022 – Earlier this month, Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) was pleased to welcome back volunteers after a two and a half year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Volunteers are once again helping in all areas of GBGH, much to the delight of staff at the hospital.  Prior to the pandemic GBGH had over 100 volunteers regularly contributing throughout the hospital.

“Our entire team is incredibly happy to see our volunteers back in the hospital.” says Matthew Lawson, president and CEO of GBGH. “The volunteers are such an important part of our team – from helping on patient care units, to guiding visitors and more. We have really missed them throughout the pandemic as they are an essential part of our team at GBGH.”

As they are such an essential part of the GBGH team, the hospital is also looking to recruit more volunteers. There are currently needs in most areas of the hospital for volunteers including:

• Captains Café (coffee bar)
• Gift Shop
• Information Desk
• Emergency Department
• Ambulatory Care
• Recreation Therapy
• Friendly Visitors – visiting patients, chatting and helping with small tasks.
• Virtual Volunteer Opportunities – making cards, virtual pen pals, and other at-home tasks for those who may not be comfortable coming into the hospital to volunteer.

“Volunteers are an integral part of our team at GBGH and we really missed their presence and positive energy during the pandemic,” says Kimberly Sutherland, Manager, Volunteer Resources, GBGH. “Unfortunately, not all volunteers who regularly helped GBGH and its patients pre-pandemic were able to return. We are actively seeking more volunteers as they greatly improve the patient experience and greatly help our staff in several ways. Volunteering at your local hospital is an amazing way to give back to your community.”

If you are interested in volunteering at GBGH, please visit the website to learn more about how to apply or call 705-526-1300 ext. 5374.

Contact:
Derek Desroches
Communications Specialist
Georgian Bay General Hospital
705-526-1300 ext. 5016
desrochesd@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH transitions to passive screening for COVID-19 symptoms

October 28, 2022 – Effective Tuesday, November 1, visitors and patients at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) will no longer be actively screened for COVID-19 symptoms upon entering the hospital. Visitors and patients will be expected to review a list of symptoms and if they are experiencing any of these symptoms, to not proceed with their visit. GBGH staff or volunteers, who are now returning to service at the hospital, will serve as greeters, ensuring patients and visitors are passively screening for symptoms and adhering to other COVID-19 protocols still in place, including masking.

“While GBGH is gradually and carefully making some changes to our hospital-specific COVID-19 protocols, the safety of our patients and team are still of the highest importance,” says Angie Saini, vice president, Clinical Services and chief nursing executive. “It is still important that anyone visiting the hospital be aware of any symptoms and not visit while feeling unwell. We have made this transition to passive screening with the expectation that patients and visitors will keep the safety of others in mind by self-monitoring for symptoms.”

While visitors will no longer be actively screened for COVID-19 symptoms and are not required to show proof of COVID-19 immunization, GBGH remains committed to keeping patients, staff, visitors and volunteers safe through a continuation of mandatory masking within the hospital. All patients and visitors will be required to wear a hospital-provided mask for the duration of their visit. Health experts have agreed that continued use of masking in hospital settings remains a simple and necessary safeguard. Masking helps prevent the most vulnerable patients – those cared for by hospitals – from contracting COVID-19.

Visitors and patients will also be expected to sanitize their hands upon entering and exiting the building.

COVID-19 policies are subject to change based on the status of the pandemic within the region GBGH serves.

Contact:
Jennifer Moore
Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relations
Georgian Bay General Hospital
705-526-1300 ext 5177
moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH puts safety first as team receives their annual flu shots

Photo: Matthew Lawson (centre), president and CEO of Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) received his flu shot along with many of his colleagues this week. Receiving a flu vaccination is especially important this year as the hospital wants to avoid parallel surges in COVID and influenza patients this fall and winter.    

October 24, 2022 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) launched its annual influenza immunization campaign this week in the hospital’s efforts to ensure patient, visitor and team safety during the upcoming flu season. During the campaign staff, professional staff (physicians, midwives, dentists) and volunteers are encouraged to receive their flu shot at the hospital to protect patients, themselves, their loved ones and their colleagues.

“With this upcoming flu season anticipated to be more serious than the past two years, it’s as important as ever for people to receive their flu shot,” says Angie Saini, vice president, Clinical Services and chief nursing executive. “Unfortunately we are already seeing flu cases presenting to the Emergency department in addition to an increase in COVID positive patients. The combination of these two illnesses could have a crippling effect on hospitals’ ability to effectively manage patient flow. Receiving a flu shot is critically important as we all help to reduce the burden on the healthcare system from the pandemic and flu season.”

GBGH makes influenza vaccination a top priority every year based on two main considerations – ensuring its team of staff, professional staff and volunteers don’t pass along influenza to patients, as well as ensuring its team is healthy to provide care to patients when they need the hospital.

To make receiving the flu vaccine as convenient as possible, GBGH’s Occupational Health & Safety department is visiting all GBGH department over the coming weeks and also running additional clinics to ensure as many of its team members as possible receive a flu shot.

In keeping with encouraging flu immunization, GBGH also stresses the importance of keeping up with COVID vaccination to reduce serious illness which could result in hospitalization. The bivalent booster vaccine is now available to Ontarians 12 years of age and older if they have completed their previous two COVID-19 vaccines.

As part of the hospital’s ongoing COVID precautions, all patients and visitors are still screened upon entering the building for symptoms of COVID, which can be similar to influenza. All patients and visitors are asked to wear a hospital-provided mask and practice hand hygiene when entering GBGH at the main or Emergency department entrances.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Director of Communications & Stakeholder Relations, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH learns about Indigenous community through Truth & Reconciliation event

Group photo (from left) – Tricia Monague, indigenous patient navigator, GBGH and Beausoleil First Nation; Angie Saini, vice president, clinical services and chief nursing executive, GBGH; Carl Assance, residential school survivor; Sandy Reilly, residential school survivor; Angie King, Shki-Giizhgad Kwe / New Day Women; Laval Williams, hand drummer.

On September 30, Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) recognized the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with its second annual event to learn, reflect and remember the significance of the residential school system in Canada’s history. The event included an honour song, the heartfelt accounts of two residential school survivors’ experiences, teachings and the dedication of a new garden. GBGH is creating this garden for FNMI patients and families in phases to which the hospital will add each year until completion. For the first stage, GBGH has planted seven cedar trees to honour the Seven Grandfathers Teachings – the principles of character that each Anishinaabe should live by including Love, Respect, Bravery, Truth, Honesty, Humility and Wisdom. This event was made possible due to the generous contributions of Beausoleil First Nation.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relations

Georgian Bay General Hospital

705-526-1300 ext. 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH declares COVID-19 outbreak on 2 North inpatient unit

September 30, 2022 – An outbreak of COVID-19 has been declared on the 2 North inpatient unit at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH), in collaboration with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit. The outbreak includes five patients who contracted COVID-19 while receiving care at the hospital.

Enhanced cleaning and other infection prevention and control measures – including increased testing of patients and staff – are in place. Visitation to the unit is limited to essential caregivers only.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relations

Georgian Bay General Hospital

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

Happy Franco-Ontarian Day!

September 23, 2022 – Each year on September 25, GBGH celebrates Franco-Ontarian Day – a time to celebrate the unique francophone community GBGH is so proud to serve. Across Ontario, there at more than 600,000 Franco-Ontarians, making up 4.9% of the provincial population. This September, GBGH is celebrating its fifth anniversary as a partially designated French Language Services hospital. This means the hospital provides information externally in both languages, as well as offer French language service in several departments across the hospital.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relations

Georgian Bay General Hospital

705-526-1300 ext. 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

COVID-19 outbreak on GBGH’s 1 North unit declared over

September 20, 2022 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH), in consultation with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, has officially declared the COVID-19 outbreak over on its 1 North inpatient unit.

The outbreak, originally declared August 31, included 14 patients who contracted COVID-19 while receiving care at the hospital.

During the outbreak only essential visitors were permitted on the unit, but visitation on 1 North is returning to two visitors at a time during the visiting hours of 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relations

Georgian Bay General Hospital

705-526-1300 ext. 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

County of Simcoe supports local healthcare at GBGH

 Representatives from the County of Simcoe and Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) gathered at the hospital to see one of the X-ray rooms which will be renovated, in part due to Simcoe County Hospital Alliance funds. From left – Jane Sinclair, General Manager of Health and Emergency Services, County of Simcoe; Warden George Cornell, County of Simcoe; Matthew Lawson, president and CEO; Victoria Ansell, x-ray technologist, GBGH; and Angie Saini, vice president, Clinical Services and chief nursing executive.

September 15, 2022 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) is receiving $1 million from the County of Simcoe to support local healthcare in the Midland, Penetanguishene, Tiny Township, Tay Township, Georgian Bay Township, Springwater Township and Beausoleil First Nation area. GBGH has chosen to utilize the majority of funds for the recent site construction and relocation of Dialysis services from Penetanguishene to a bright and modern new community location in Midland. Additionally, the hospital is utilizing funds for the latest stage in the redevelopment of its device sterilization department and the renovation of two X-ray rooms.

These funds are part of the $3.16 million the County of Simcoe pledged to GBGH for use over 15 years. This will be the second installment of funds the hospital has used from this commitment first made by the County to GBGH in 2017. This latest use of funds leaves a remaining balance of more than $1.25 million to be used at the hospital’s discretion until 2031. In 2020, GBGH used approximately $900,000 of this funding toward the redevelopment of its device sterilization department and paying the remaining balance on its new computerized tomography (CT scanner).

“The support our hospital has received from the County of Simcoe, and the municipalities which make up the County, has been so impactful for our hospital and what we’re able to provide to patients,” says Matthew Lawson, president and CEO, GBGH. “Earlier this year, we were able to relocate the Dialysis services provided to our community, to a bright new modern space which has vastly improved the patient experience. Also, continuing to redevelop our sterilization department means we have the latest facility upgrades to ensure equipment and device safety. Long overdue renovations to our X-ray rooms also enable GBGH to continue providing service of the highest quality.”

This is part of the County’s $45 million commitment to the Simcoe County Hospital Alliance between 2017 and 2031. The Alliance is made up of hospitals inside our region and one which cares for County residents – GBGH, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (Barrie), Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, Collingwood General & Marine Hospital, Stevenson Memorial Hospital (Alliston), Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care (Penetanguishene) and Southlake Regional Health Centre (Newmarket). It was established in 2002 to advise the County of Simcoe of ongoing hospital capital needs and ensure equitable distribution of the County’s healthcare funding. Since 1994, the County of Simcoe has committed $107 million to improve local hospital care and specialized services.

“County Council is incredibly proud of the care that is provided to our residents by our hospitals,” said County of Simcoe Warden George Cornell. “We know the importance of having world-class health-care facilities such as Georgian Bay General Hospital so close to home for those that we serve. From supporting with new requirements related to the pandemic, to assisting with the acquisition of latest medical technology, to supporting renovations and expansions, the County is committed to supporting our area hospitals and the communities we serve.”