Providence Care Hospital

Please read the information below before coming for your scheduled visit.

Designated Visitors are individuals (e.g. family, friends) chosen by the patient/client who visit for social purposes.

Designated Care Partners are individuals deemed necessary (by the patient/client and clinical staff) to provide support (e.g. physical, emotional, etc.) to a patient/client, and is part of the care plan.

Essential Visitors are individuals who have a loved one who is critically ill or nearing end-of life.

Designated Visitors are scheduled by the unit to visit between the hours of 1:30 and 7 p.m. One Designated Visitor may visit twice per week, OR two different Designated Visitors may each visit once per week.

Designated Care Partners are not scheduled for visits, rather their visits are planned around the patient/client’s needs and are documented on the care plan.

• Guidelines for Designated Visitors
• Guidelines for Designated Care Partners
• Guidelines for Essential Visitors

• All Designated Visitors and Essential Visitors must bring photo identification (ID) so screening staff can verify their identity.
• Designated Visitors are asked not to come to Providence Care Hospital before 1:30 p.m. Visitors who arrive before 1:30 p.m. will be asked to wait outside to prevent congestion in the Main Entrance. 
• All outpatients and visitors will be screened at the Main Entrance. Only those who pass screening will be allowed to enter the hospital. Click here for more information about screening.
• Visitors are must sign in at the screening desk and provide their name, the time of their visit and a contact number.
• Use of face masks. Visitors will be given a hospital-grade face mask to wear while at the hospital. Face masks must be worn for the duration of your visit. This includes when you are inside your loved one’s room. Click here for more information about the proper use of face masks.
• Inpatients are required to wear a face mask when outside their room or when inside their room and another person is present (e.g. staff, visitor, volunteer). If there is a medical reason why a patient/client cannot wear one, the care team will discuss other options.
• Maintain physical distancing. All visitors must practice physical distancing while at Providence Care Hospital. This includes when you are in line to be screened and when using the elevators.
• Visits can take place in a patient/client’s room, on the on-unit courtyard or off the unit but not outside the hospital at this time.
• Do not visit other areas of the hospital such as the cafeteria or the café.
• Practice hand hygiene. Perform hand hygiene every time you enter/exit the hospital, enter/exit your loved one’s inpatient unit and enter/exit your loved one’s room.

For information on how to schedule a visit with your loved one, click here.

Day passes for exceptional circumstances/compassionate leave

Patients and clients who wish to leave the hospital for an exceptional circumstance or compassionate leave (e.g. funeral, birthday, etc.) may submit a request to the manager of his/her unit. The manager will review the request with the care team to determine whether or not the request is approved.

If the event is approved, the manager will connect with our Infection Prevention and Control team to determine whether a 14-day quarantine period is required upon return to the hospital, which is dependent on the level of perceived risk of the event.

All patients and clients leaving the hospital on a day pass will be provided education on physical distancing, hand hygiene and proper use of masks/face coverings.

Outpatient clinics/appointments

During the COVID-19 pandemic outpatient and clinic appointments are being reviewed on patient/client need. As part of our enhanced safety measures, all outpatients are being pre-screened before their appointment and are screened again on the day of their appointment.

On the day of your appointment, please bring the following:

• A list of all medications you are currently taking
• Any mobility aids (e.g. cane, walker)
• Comfortable clothing and shoes
• Health card
• Mask

Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of your appointment in case there are any delays or lines to enter.

Masking Protocols

Everyone must wear a mask before entering the hospital. Previously, people could proceed to the Screening Desk where they would obtain a mask without having one on. Everyone must don a mask before entering the double doors.

Outpatients, Essential Visitors, and Designated Care Partners are not permitted to wear fabric masks beyond the Screening Desk. If you arrive wearing a fabric mask, you will be given a procedure mask.

Those who are visiting a patient on contact/droplet precautions will be provided a contact/droplet mask on the unit. Designated Care Partners who provide direct patient will be given a contact/droplet mask to wear.

Masks must be worn for the duration of your visit. This includes when you are inside your loved one’s room.

Outpatients and visitors must wear a face mask while at the hospital. If outpatients/visitors do not have their own, the hospital will provide an unrated mask for their use.

Screening

All staff, physicians, outpatients, volunteers and visitors are screened at the Main Entrance. Only those who pass screening will be allowed to enter the hospital.

You must answer the following questions:

• Do you have a fever (temperature of ≥ 37.8oC)?
• Do you have any of the following symptoms:
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Shortness of breath
  • Chills
  • Runny nose, sneezing or nasal congestion (not due to other underlying reasons like seasonal allergies or post-nasal drip)
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • New headache
  • Unexplained fatigue/malaise
  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain
  • Change in your sense of taste/smell
• Have you been tested for COVID-19 due to symptoms and are awaiting results (asymptomatic/surveillance testing does not apply)
• Have you tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 20 days?
• In the last 14 days, have you:
  • lived or travelled within the Porcupine Health Unit area?
  • travelled outside of Ontario?
  • travelled outside of Canada?*
• In the last 14 days, have you had contact** with a suspected*** or confirmed case of COVID-19 or living/working in a facility in outbreak?

*If yes, please note if visitor is an essential worker.
**Contact: been advised by Public Health or your employer you have had contact with a
confirmed case, provided care, had similar close physical contact, or had lived with or otherwise had close contact without appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) including: gown, gloves, mask and eye protection.
***Asymptomatic or surveillance testing in one of your contacts does not apply.

Connecting with your loved one

There are many ways for families to connect with their loved one at the hospital including phone calls, FaceTime and Skype.

Families with loved ones at Providence Care Hospital can send an email to Janet Hunter, Volunteer Services Director, at hunterj1@providencecare.ca to request help arranging a FaceTime or Skype conversation.

You can also email your loved one. For patients and clients at Providence Care Hospital, email:
emailapchpatient@providencecare.ca.

Please note: there is complimentary WiFi available throughout Providence Care Hospital. Patients and clients can connect to WiFi by selecting ‘PC_GUEST_WIFI’ in their network settings. Patients and clients must read the Acceptable Use Policy and click ‘Accept’