Visitor Restrictions Effective March 14, 2020 at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance
CHATHAM-KENT: March 13, 2020 – As part of our ongoing efforts to protect the public, patients and our staff and physicians from potential transmission of the COVID-19 virus, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) has implemented restrictions to the number of visitors allowed per patient starting 12:01 am March 14, 2020.
Effective immediately, all inpatients will be asked to identify 2 visitors of their choice for the length of their stay. There will be ONLY ONE (1) visitor at a time permitted at the bedside except:
- TWO visitors for paediatric patients
- TWO visitors for Level 2 Nursery
- TWO visitors for palliative patients***
NO OTHER VISITORS WILL BE PERMITTED.
NO VISITORS UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE WILL BE PERMITTED.
The one visitor per patient also applies to individuals who may be accompanying a patient for an outpatient visit/procedure or diagnostic test. Likewise, labouring women may have one support person in the delivery room.
*** We are prepared to make special exceptions to the visitor policies above on compassionate grounds, but only at the request and approval by the patient, and in consultation with the care team and our infection control team.
Visiting hours will be altered to 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, with 24-hour visitation still permitted for palliative care, critical care, paediatrics, Level 2 Nursery and the Emergency Department.
We ask that families and friends designate ONE or TWO individuals to be the visitors per patient throughout that patient’s stay in hospital. We also ask that you do NOT visit if you have travelled outside of Canada over the past 14 days, or have been in contact with someone who has, and/or you are feeling ill yourself.
“These proactive measures are being implemented to limit the potential transmission of the COVID-19 virus within our hospital and broader community. They are taking effect to protect our patients, families, visitors, staff, physicians and volunteers,” said Lori Marshall President and CEO, CKHA. “We thank the community for respecting these restrictions.”
Individuals will be screened at entrances and only those with medical appointments or identified on the patients’ list of visitors will be admitted.
The hospital is also taking action with respect to supporting social distancing. Volunteers and students will not be in the hospital for the foreseeable future. Additionally, CKHA’s Release of Information (ROI) office will not be open for in-person services until further notice. For any ROI requests you may call the office at 519.352.6400 x 6374, Fax 519.436.2543, or email ckphipa@ckha.on.ca. There will be no change to requests received via mail. Services related to Continuing Care requests for CDs will be suspended at this time.
CKHA is reminding the community to NOT come to the hospital if you are ill with a respiratory infection where you may risk transmitting this virus to another individual. If you are unsure whether you have contracted the COVID-19 virus, contact your primary care provider, the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit’s COVID-19 intake line at 519.355.1071 x 1900, email covid19@chatham-kent.ca or call Telehealth at 1-866-797-0000 (24 hours, seven days a week).
Please continue to visit www.ontario.ca/coronavirus, www.ckpublichealth.com/covid19 or www.ckha.on.ca for regular updates on COVID-19.
CKHA will continue to update the public regarding any changes to policies and procedures until the pandemic declaration has been lifted by the Province of Ontario.
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About CKHA
Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) is a 200 bed community hospital, serving the residents of Chatham and rural Kent including Walpole Island and Delaware First Nations. Formed in 2018, CKHA is committed to delivering quality and safe care at its two sites in Chatham and Wallaceburg. CKHA collaborates with other partners to deliver care across its community. CKHA’s dedicated team is comprised of approximately 1,400 staff, 200 physicians and 300 volunteers. CKHA provides a full range of programs, services and specialties from internal medicine and surgery to women & children’s and critical care; it is designated a schedule one facility under the Ministry of Health and cares for tens of thousands of inpatients, outpatients and emergency patients annually. CKHA is equipped with state of the art diagnostics and technology to support its varied programs. CKHA’s vision: Together, growing a healthier community, underscores a movement to improving the population’s health. Grounded by its values “CKHA CARES” (Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, Excellence, Safety), CKHA commits to continuously improve the patient experience in partnership with patients, families and caregivers. For more information, click here to read CKHA’s Fast Facts.
To arrange a media interview please contact:
Emily Field, Communications Specialist
Chatham-Kent Health Alliance
519.352.6401 ext. 5326
efield@ckha.on.ca
