GBGH tightens visitation in response to pandemic status
November 3, 2020 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) is revising its visitation policy in response to an increase of COVID-19 cases in the community. Effective November 4, admitted patients are permitted one visitor per day between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Exceptions can be made for palliative patients working with a patient’s care team.
All inpatient visits must be scheduled in advance by calling the hospital at 705-526-1300.
Prior to this change (since early September), GBGH was permitting two visitors at a time for inpatients anytime within the visiting hours of 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
“Given the increase in cases within our region, GBGH has made the difficult decision to return to a more structured system with visitation being booked in advance,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “Although we wish we didn’t have to ever restrict visitation, this will allow us to safely manage visitation while ensuring patients can still enjoy time with their loved ones.”
To attend a scheduled visit, the public must enter the hospital through the main entrance and check-in with the screener who will confirm their information (contact, visitation time, unit receiving visitor).
Emergency department patients may have one support person with them if additional assistance is required. Circumstances where support could be required include:
- Pediatric patients – i.e. children under 18 (one guardian permitted with child)
- Language barrier (translation required)
- Mental health/competency/confusion challenges
- Palliative
Patients attending the hospital for scheduled appointments or procedures may have one support person accompany them if the patient requires it for similar reasons as in the Emergency department (listed above).
All permitted visitors will continue to be screened upon entering the hospital. Any visitor who screens positive for COVID-19 symptoms will be asked to not visit. In exceptional circumstances (such as a support person for a woman in labour, a parent/guardian of a child in the Emergency department or a palliative/end of life patient), a visitor who screens positive for symptoms will be reviewed by GBGH’s infection prevention and control practitioner or hospital coordinator prior to entry.
All 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.
Visitor guidelines are subject to change based on the status of the pandemic within the region GBGH serves.
For more information, please visit https://gbgh.on.ca/covid-19-visitor-restrictions/.
Contact:
Jennifer Moore
Communications Officer, GBGH
705-526-1300 ext 5177