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Visitor Information

COVID-19: Information for Visitors

pdf file icon INFORMATION FOR VISITORS - OCT 2020

Can I visit a friend or loved one in the Hospital?

Patients in Hospital are at extreme risk if exposed to COVID-19, therefore strict restrictions are necessary. SFMH may allow one Family Caregiver/Care Partner to support the patient’s care and mental well-being. The patient and/or substitute decision maker is the one to decide who they would like to designate as their Family Caregiver/Care Partner. Only one Family Caregiver/Care Partner will be permitted in the Hospital per day.

Renfrew County Virtual Triage & Assessment Centre

Help us protect our Emergency Departments to deal with genuine emergencies.
If you have a health concern, call your Family Physician’s office first.
If you do not have a family physician or cannot access your family physician then:

Call 1-844-727-6404

You will be connected to a Family Physician or Nurse Practitioner.

Visit www.rcvtac.ca for additional information
Download: Virtual Triage poster

Resources

COVID Self Monitor
How to self-isolate
Self-isolation: Guide for caregivers, household members and close contacts

Protect yourself and your family:
To reduce the spread of germs including the flu and the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) it is recommended that you:

Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth unless you have just washed your hands with soap
Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue or into your arm, not your hand
If possible, stay home if you are sick
Avoid visiting people in hospitals or long-term care centres if you are sick
Get your flu shot if you haven’t already, as the flu virus is still circulating in the community

For the latest information and updates, visit the Ontario Ministry of Health: The 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) at https://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus

St. Francis Memorial Hospital welcomes Visitors. Our visiting hours and guidelines are designed to balance the patient’s needs for visitors and the health care team’s responsibilities to provide timely treatments and procedure.

Before you visit

If you have a cough, fever, runny nose, diarrhea or another contagious disease – please do not visit.
Wash your hands regularly – it is the best way to prevent the spread of germs and diseases.
Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Requests to visit outside of the normal visiting hours may be granted, on an individual basis, for compassionate reasons. Please check with the nurse.
Emergency Departments - Only one family member or personal caregiver may accompany a patient in the treatment area. Other visitors are not permitted in the treatment areas.

Balloons (Mylar only)

A latex allergy is an adverse reaction to products made from latex or natural rubber. We make every effort to provide a latex safe environment for patients, visitors, employees and volunteers. Only mylar balloons are allowed within the hospital.

Scent-free

Wherever possible, we have eliminated the use of products with scents or other properties that are known to cause health problems for patients, visitors, employees and volunteers. Please do not wear/use perfume, after-shave or other scented personal products in the hospital or when visiting a patient.

SFMH Visitors Policy

St. Francis Memorial Hospital vistor policies attempt to balance the requirement for visitation with the patient's health care needs for rest, and recovery from illness.

Visitors to inpatients must report to the nurses’ station.

All visitors must self-screen according to the signage at the approved entrances.

Exceptions

Emergency patients, critically ill patients, medically unstable patients, children, and palliative care patients in imminent danger of dying. These patients may have visiting hours as deemed appropriate, at the discretion of the charge nurse.

Inpatients may have up to four (4) visitors during the specified visiting hours, with a maximum of (3) visitors at one time. Nursing staff may further restrict the number of visitors at one time, if the total number of visitors for all patients sharing the same room cannot be safely and comfortably accommodated in the patient room.

Visitors who do not observe the above policies will be asked to leave.

I Need a Family Physician

If you need a Family Physician you must register yourself and your family with Health Care Connect. Health Care Connect is a program that will help people without a regular health care provider find one in their community. The program identifies doctors or nurse practitioners who are accepting patients and links them with people who are in need of a family health care provider.