Beginning Friday, December 3, the number of visitors who can visit at a time will be restricted to one (1) person, with the exception of approved visitors who are minors requiring accompaniment or in extenuating circumstances approved by your care team.
You may continue to choose up to a maximum of two (2) registered individuals:
- Two (2) Designated Visitors only, or
- Two (2) Designated Care Partners only, or
- One (1) Designated Visitor and one (1) Designated Care Partner
Patients and clients with Essential Visitors (visiting those who are critically ill or nearing end-of-life) may choose a maximum of six (6) approved visitors, however only one (1) person at a time with the exception of approved visitors who are minors requiring accompaniment or in extenuating circumstances approved by your care team.
To ensure your safety, and the safety of our staff and physicians, the following visiting measures remain in place:
- All visitors must continue to show proof of vaccination.
- All visitors must pass screening to enter the hospital.
- All visitors must wear a mask for the duration of their visit.
Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination
Effective Oct. 27, all registered visitors must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination (two doses + 14 days) and photo ID at the screening desk to enter.
There may be instances where an individual who is not fully vaccinated is permitted to enter the hospital. This includes:
- Individuals visiting a patient at end-of-life
- Individuals under the age of 12
- Individuals with proof of a documented medical exemption
- Individuals who are essential to participate in care planning discussions or other critical or urgent circumstances that cannot be done over the phone or virtually as identified by the care team.
In these instances, the individual must present proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test (within the last 72 hours) OR agree to a self-administered rapid antigen test at screening (with the exception of children under the age of five). Please note the individual must wait 15 minutes for their results to process and must test negative in order to visit.
Please read the information below before coming for your visit.
Designated Visitors are individuals (e.g. family, friends) chosen by the patient who visit for social purposes. Designated Visitors are scheduled by the unit to visit between the hours of 1:30 and 7 p.m.
Read more details about Guidelines for Designated Visitors
Designated Care Partners are individuals deemed necessary (by the patient and clinical staff) to provide support (e.g. physical, emotional, etc.) to a patient, and is part of the care plan.
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. A maximum of two individuals may visit at the same time. Designated Care Partners are granted 24 hour access and are able to enter if they pass screening.
Read more details for Guidelines for Designated Care Partners
Essential Visitors are individuals who have a loved one who is critically ill or nearing end-of life.
Essential Visitors are granted 24 hour access and are able to enter if they are not symptomatic and/or they are visiting from outside of Canada and aren’t subject to a federal quarantine.
Read more details about Guidelines for Essential Visitors
Please note:
- 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. Visitors and outpatients must be re-screened each time they re-enter the building. 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 leaving the unit and/or when receiving care. 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.
- 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.
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 any of the following symptoms:
- fever (temperature of ≥ 37.8oC)
- cough
- sore throat
- shortness of breath
- chills
- changes in your sense of taste/smell
- runny nose, sneezing or nasal congestion (not due to other underlying reasons like seasonal allergies or post-nasal drip)
- difficulty swallowing
- unexplained fatigue/malaise
- if less than 18-years-old: nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea
- Have you been tested for COVID-19 due to symptoms and are awaiting results? (asymptomatic/surveillance testing does not apply and is not a reason for exclusion)
- Have you tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 20 days?
- In the last 14 days, have you:
- travelled outside of Canada and are under quarantine?
- had contact* with a suspected** or confirmed case of COVID-19?
- lived/worked in a facilty in outbreak?
*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, with someone suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19.
**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’
