GBGH further limits visitation to preserve safety

December 22, 2021 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) is further reducing visitation based on the continuing increase in COVID-19 cases in our local community and throughout our region. Effective the afternoon of December 22 (1 p.m.), admitted patients will be permitted to select two designated visitors for the duration of their hospital stay or while GBGH remains at this level of visitation. Of the two designated visitors, one is permitted to visit per day between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.

“To limit the number of visitors we have frequenting the hospital, we’ve had to make a difficult decision about visitation leading into the holidays,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “Given the increase in community cases, we can anticipate some visitors may attend the hospital while asymptomatic and without knowing they could be COVID positive. By reducing the variety of visitors to GBGH we hope to reduce the chances of that happening.”

There are exceptions to the visitation policy of two designated visitors in the case of a palliative/actively dying patient. Birthing patients are also permitted one visitor for as long as they require assistance.

GBGH will permit one essential support person per patient for outpatient services (i.e. Ambulatory Care, Diagnostic Imaging, Day Surgery) and the Emergency department.

One essential support person continues to be permitted in the following circumstances:

• Pediatric patients – i.e. children under 18 (one guardian permitted with child)
• Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care staff supervising a patient
• Central North Correctional Centre (CNCC) staff guarding an inmate
• Language barrier (translation required)
• Mental health/competency/confusion challenges
• Palliative

Designated visitors and essential support persons must be vaccinated and show proof of immunization, as well as identification, prior to being granted entry to the hospital. They will also be screened and anyone who screens positive for COVID-19 symptoms will not be able to 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 for the duration of their visit 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 http://gbgh.on.ca/covid-19-visitor-restrictions/.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Communications Officer, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH returns to limited visitation as precautionary measure

December 15, 2021 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) is reducing visitation based on the increasing cases of COVID-19 in our local community and throughout our region. Effective December 16, admitted patients will be permitted one visitor per day between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.

“Although reducing visitation is a very difficult decision, particularly coming into the holidays, it is a necessary precaution we must take to protect our patients, staff and credentialed staff,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “Given the surge of cases in the area and the possibility of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, GBGH feels we must make this decision to temporarily reduce visitation. We continue to monitor the situation closely so we can re-establish more open visitation once it is safe to do so.”

The exceptions to one visitor per day per inpatient include visitation for a palliative/actively dying patient. In palliative cases, GBGH will allow up to four visitors at a time, as coordinated with the care team. Birthing patients are also permitted one visitor for as long as they require assistance.

GBGH will continue permitting one visitor/essential support person per patient for outpatient services (i.e. Ambulatory Care, Diagnostic Imaging) and the Emergency department.

One essential support person continues to be permitted in the following circumstances:

• Pediatric patients – i.e. children under 18 (one guardian permitted with child)
• Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care staff supervising a patient
• Central North Correctional Centre (CNCC) staff guarding an inmate
• Language barrier (translation required)
• Mental health/competency/confusion challenges
• Palliative

Visitors must be vaccinated and show proof of immunization, as well as identification, prior to being granted entry to the hospital. They will also be screened and any visitor who screens positive for COVID-19 symptoms will not be able to 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 for the duration of their visit 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 http://gbgh.on.ca/covid-19-visitor-restrictions/.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Communications Officer, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

Midland COVID-19 Assessment Centre relocates from GBGH site

November 15, 2021 – The Midland COVID-19 Assessment Centre is relocating on Wednesday, November 17, 2021. The Assessment Centre has been located at Georgian Bay General Hospital’s (GBGH) Midland site since August 2020 and is moving to the North Simcoe Family Health Team (NSFHT) at 619 Prospect Boulevard, Unit 3 in Midland. At the NSFHT, the centre will operate as a drive-through format.

The Midland COVID-19 Assessment Centre hours will be Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The operation of the Assessment Centre has been a collaboration between partners – GBGH, the NSFHT, Centre de santé communautaire CHIGAMIK Community Health Centre, Wendat Community Programs and Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care.

“As part of our commitment to collaborating with community health partners, the Family Health Team is pleased to now take the lead in operating the Midland COVID-19 Assessment Centre,” says Andrew Shantz, executive director, NSFHT. “As partners in the development of the North Simcoe Ontario Health Team, as well as the oversight of the Assessment Centre for the past 19 months, the Family Health Team, GBGH, Chigamik, Wendat and Waypoint have continuously demonstrated a solid working relationship together. The Family Health Team and its partners are proud to take a role in ensuring our community’s health needs are met – during the pandemic and beyond.”

Assessment Centre Background:

• March 25 – August 27, 2020: Assessment Centre operates at Chigamik site (former King Street location)
• August 28, 2020 – November 16, 2021: Assessment Centre relocates to GBGH (Midland site, building in the parking lot)
• November 17, 2021: Assessment Centre relocates to NSFHT
• 36,736 swabs performed to date (March 25, 2020 – November 5, 2021)

To book an appointment, click here.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Communications Officer, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH resumes paid public parking

November 5, 2021 – After more than 18 months, Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) is resuming paid public parking at the Midland site on Tuesday, November 9. Complimentary parking was originally made available in April 2020 to alleviate parking expenses for patients and visitors during the particularly difficult times of the pandemic. During this time, the hospital has also replaced its parking system to be more reliable and user-friendly.

“Paid parking is an important source of revenue for hospitals as it enables us to replace aging equipment for patient care,” says Matthew Lawson, executive vice president of Corporate Services and chief financial officer. “GBGH has some of the lowest parking rates in Central Ontario, however paid parking still contributes significantly to our annual budget. Hospital equipment is not funded by the government so we must find other sources of income – such as fundraising and parking – to replace much-needed equipment.”

To regulate entry and exit to the parking lot from either the highway 93 or Penetanguishene Road entrances, parking gates have been re-installed. Patients and visitors will take a ticket upon entry (credit cards can also be used upon entry) and pay at a payment station prior to returning to their vehicle. Payment stations are located inside the main and Emergency department entrances of the hospital.

GBGH staff and credentialed staff also pay a monthly rate for parking which contributes to the purchase of important equipment for the hospital.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Communications Officer, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH requires visitors to show proof of vaccination

October 27, 2021 – As an important safety measure to protect patients and staff, Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) is implementing a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy for visitors, effective November 15, 2021. Visitors, including those accompanying a patient to an appointment, at the hospital will be required to show proof of immunization at the main and Emergency department entrances prior to being permitted entry.

“Throughout the pandemic, GBGH has taken measures to ensure the safety of patients and our team of staff and credentialed staff,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “We have asked our team members to be vaccinated for the protection of patients and colleagues. The next progression to reducing risk is to ask that visitors be held to a similar standard. Visitors play an important role in the patients’ experience so it’s important we continue encouraging visitation in the safest way possible.”

There will be limited exceptions to the policy allowing visitation (with approval of the care team). These could include exemptions for patients who are:

• Palliative
• In childbirth
• Children
• Experiencing a severe trauma or critical illness
• Requiring an essential caregiver (due to language, mobility, cognitive ability, etc.)

Limited exemptions will also apply to those who provide documentation of a provincially-recognized medical exemption from a physician.

As per standard policy throughout the pandemic, visitors must continue to wear appropriate personal protective equipment, as directed by GBGH and regardless of being fully vaccinated. GBGH also asks visitors only travel directly to and from the patient’s room.

Patients do not have to show proof of immunization in order to receive care at the hospital.

This decision to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination among visitors, was made after consultation with other Central Region hospitals and GBGH’s Patient & Family Advisory Council (PFAC).

“As a representative of patients and families, I commend hospitals for making this decision in the interest of patient safety,” says Ray Nason, member of GBGH’s PFAC. “When I’ve had family in the hospital, or been a patient myself, I want to be reassured that the hospital is doing everything it can to guarantee safety. Requiring visitors to be vaccinated provides an extra layer of assurance to patients and families that hospitals are making their safety – and the safety of their family members – a top priority.”

 Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Communications Officer, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH puts safety first as team receives their annual flu shots

October 26, 2021 – This week GBGH kicked off its annual flu shot campaign within the hospital for staff and credentialed staff. Getting our flu shots is an important and simple way we can protect our patients, colleagues, families and ourselves throughout the upcoming flu season. GBGH President and CEO Gail Hunt and Chief Nursing Executive Angie Saini got theirs from our Occupational Health & Safety team.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Communications Officer, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH recruits important new addition for Birthing program with a hometown connection

October 13, 2021 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) has made an important addition to the Birthing program through the recruitment of a permanent obstetrician-gynecologist – Dr. Jan (Chevy) Moreau. Until now, birthing services have been safely provided via midwives and family physicians with specialized training, as well as surgeons and anesthetists when needed for cesarean sections and epidurals. Dr. Moreau will continue working with the existing interprofessional team while also filling the role of chief of Obstetrics at GBGH. In addition to providing obstetrical care, he will offer specialized gynecological care to women in the community, increasing consistent access to this important service.

Dr. Moreau comes to GBGH from Barrie where he maintained a private medical practice, and provided obstetrical and gynecological services at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH), practicing there for 27 years and most recently serving as the chief of Obstetrics.

Dr. Moreau’s desire to bring his vast skills and passion for patient care to GBGH stems from a long family history in this area. Having been born at the old St. Andrew’s hospital in Midland and being raised in Waubaushene, Dr. Moreau most looks forward to the opportunity to serve his hometown community.

“I have an immense personal connection to this area through my family and it has fueled my desire to serve my home community as I’ve progressed in my career,” says Dr. Moreau. “Even after growing up and leaving to pursue education and medical practice elsewhere, I’ve always considered myself a proud local of this area. After much thought and consideration, a transition to this hospital is the perfect opportunity for a change that brings the care I provide back to my hometown. I want to do this for GBGH and for the community it serves.”

One of Dr. Moreau’s main priorities will be to recruit an additional obstetrician-gynecologist for the program. He will also further develop and grow birthing and women’s health services at GBGH based on the foundation that has been built over the past five years.

“Both Dr. Moreau and myself would like to acknowledge and thank the team for the many years of valuable groundwork and commitment which has brought the Birthing program as far as it’s come today,” says Dr. Vikram Ralhan, chief of staff, GBGH. “The recruitment of a permanent OB-GYN at GBGH is a significant milestone for the Birthing program, which has been growing steadily since being reinvigorated in 2016-2017 through a partnership with Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH). It has taken exceptional determination and dedication to grow this service for women in our community, but worth every effort so we can offer this care closer to home.”

Obstetric and gynecological services at GBGH are offered through a partnership with Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH), which began in 2017. Through this partnership, patients have access to high quality birthing services close to home across a corridor of care stretching between OSMH’s and GBGH’s North Simcoe catchment area. GBGH is a Level 1 centre providing service for low-risk births, while Orillia is a Level 2 centre for higher risk births.

Since the program was re-established in 2016-2017, the number of births has grown considerably from 116 to a forecasted 188 births in 2021-2022 (year ends March 31, 2022).

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Communications Officer, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH learns about Indigenous community through Truth & Reconciliation event

September 30, 2021 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) recognized Canada’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with an event at the hospital. Although GBGH observes Orange Shirt Day annually on September 30, this year presented an opportunity to plan a comprehensive event to increase awareness among its team members of the residential school system, and its impact on Indigenous history and culture.

“GBGH proudly serves a large Indigenous population at our hospital and we are continually striving to improve the care we provide to all members of our community,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “The more the hospital team understands the unique culture, beliefs and history of the Indigenous community, the better we can care for them with respect, understanding, compassion and empathy. It is very important for GBGH to offer culturally safe care as part of our role in reconciliation.”

Generously supported by Beausoleil First Nation (BFN), the event included an Every Child Matters flag-raising with Honour song, land acknowledgement, prayer and smudging ceremony, presentation by a residential school knowledge keeper, and drum and intertribal dance performances for staff, credentialed staff and patients. The event, which also encouraged the wearing of orange shirts, was planned in collaboration with BFN / GBGH Indigenous patient navigator Tricia Monague.

“Beausoleil First Nation is encouraged by the Georgian Bay General Hospital’s initiative to raise awareness,” says Councillor Jane Copegog, BFN. “We honour the survivors of the Indian residential school system, remember the children who did not return home, and we commit to meaningful action that will advance the promise of truth and reconciliation.”

As of the 2016 census, there were nearly 22,000 Indigenous people in Simcoe County, or 4.7 per cent of the population. The Indigenous population nearly doubled in this area from 12,985 in 2006 to 21,955 in 2016. Within Simcoe County, North Simcoe has the largest First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FMNI) population at 11.1 per cent. In 2020-2021 at GBGH, self-identifying Indigenous patients made up approximately 8.5 per cent (or 3,115) of Emergency department visits, and accounted for 2,203 outpatient visits (Ambulatory Care), 847 Diagnostic Imaging visits and 291 inpatient visits.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Communications Officer, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH expands ultrasound service to better serve the community

Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) is enhancing ultrasound services in its Diagnostic Imaging department to benefit patients in our community. Hours of operation for ultrasound are increasing and the variety of ultrasound service is expanding. Ultrasound technologist Preslee Jarvis performs an ultrasound on a patient in one of GBGH’s three ultrasound rooms.

September 22, 2021 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) is enhancing ultrasound services in its Diagnostic Imaging department for the benefit of inpatients and outpatients in our community. Hours of operation for ultrasound are increasing and the variety of ultrasound service is expanding.

With the addition of a technologist certified in musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasound, GBGH will now be able to offer this new service to patients. MSK ultrasound is an important diagnostic tool to capture images of muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and cartilage throughout the body. It helps determine where an injury or chronic condition (i.e. tendonitis, rotator cuff tears, joint problems) has occurred and the extent of those injuries or condition. Patients can now request to be referred to GBGH rather than travel outside this area for this procedure.

Additionally, GBGH’s ultrasound hours of operation will increase to 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m., Monday to Friday (effective September 25), and 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on weekends (effective September 1). The previous hours were 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, with on-call service on weekends. The goal of extending the hours is to dramatically reduce wait times for non-urgent ultrasounds from 40 days to 14 days.

“By extending our hours and adding this important new service, we are continuing to improve access to important diagnostic procedures for our community,” says Angie Saini, vice president, Clinical Services and chief nursing executive. “Instead of travelling outside our area for shorter wait times elsewhere or for MSK ultrasound, we can now accommodate more patients and offer them additional services, bringing care closer to home for patients.”

Between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021, GBGH performed nearly 8,945 ultrasound procedures. Given the changes in hours of operation and services available, GBGH forecasts ultrasound volumes to increase by 1,900 – 2,400 annually.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Communications Officer, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH’s annual report to the community is now available

GBGH’s annual report to the community is now available on our website. To learn more about the past year at your hospital, check it out here.