Newsroom

Active Visitor and Staff Screening Effective March 17, 2020

16-3-2020

Starting Tuesday, March 17th, 2020, at 6:30 am, Windsor Regional Hospital will limit entrances and enforce screening of all individuals entering our facilities as we further implement measures to protect the public and our staff from the potential transmission of the COVID-19 virus.

ACCESS TO OUELLETTE CAMPUS

The entrance changes are most noticeable at Ouellette Campus. There is NO access to the Campus from Ouellette Ave. Visitors may only enter from the main entrance (off Goyeau St.), the third level hallway from the parking garage, or the regular Emergency Department entrance. Patients attending for dialysis appointments at the Bell building can enter from the east side main entrance. Patients coming to the Jeanne Mance building can continue to use the east entrance.

Ouellette Campus Patient Entrances

ACCESS TO MET CAMPUS

At Met Campus, visitors may enter from the east side doors of the main entrance (off Lens Ave.), and can continue to enter the Cancer Centre through its main entrance (off Alsace Ave.), and the Emergency Department through its regular entrance (off Byng Rd.).

Met Campus Patient Entrances

SCREENING OF ANYONE BEFORE ENTERING THE FACILITY

At EACH of the designated entrance points, starting Tuesday, March 17th, at 6:30 am, ALL patients and visitors, as well as our employees and professional staff, will be assessed for potential COVID-19 before entering our facilities.

Please note that the amount of screening may result in line-ups, so we would advise you to take into account the need to arrive earlier than usual for any appointments.

Staff will ask you why you are at the hospital and check to see if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Sore Throat
• Runny Nose

You will also be asked about recent travel history, contact with someone who has travelled to an impacted area and is sick, and contact with a probable or confirmed case of COVID-19.

Patients who have any of these symptoms will be asked to wear a mask and use hand sanitizer. We will take you to your appointment, where we will talk about options for your care. Visitors will be turned away if they have any symptoms during the screening process. Further assessment may be required at the discretion of the health care team.

To help expedite the screening process, visitors can print and complete a copy of the VISITOR SCREENING FORM prior to their arrival. These will also be available at the hospital entrances.

If you need to, you can bring one person with you to your appointment. This person will go through the same screening process as you will. If your support person shows any symptoms during the screening process, they will not be allowed to come into the building. If you are unable to safely be in the hospital on your own, you may be required to reschedule your appointment.

Anyone under the age of 18 who is not coming to the hospital for their own medical needs will not be allowed into the hospital at this time.

When people come together, the risk of infection with COVID-19 increases. To lower the chances of COVID-19 for our patients and staff, we will be cancelling some clinic visits for patients who are currently well, and are coming to WRH for routine check-ups or other non-urgent reasons. These appointments will be rebooked for a later date.

Whenever it is possible, and also safe to do so, assessments will be done by phone or video conference.

Surgeries will continue as planned for now. Critical surgeries will continue as always, but elective surgeries may be cancelled in the near future. If you have any questions about an upcoming surgery, call your surgeon's office to speak with a member of the care team.

"These measures are being implemented as part of our best efforts to limit the potential transmission of the COVID-19 virus from person to person," said David Musyj, President and CEO, Windsor Regional Hospital. "They are taking effect to protect you, and your loved ones, whether they are our patients, our visitors, or our staff. As we have communicated previously, if you are ill with a respiratory infection, DO NOT come to the hospital 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, medical clinic or the Windsor-Essex Public Health Unit 519-258-2146 ext. 1420, or call Telehealth at 1-866-797-0000 (24 hours, seven days a week)."

For more information on how WRH is working to protect the public from the unnecessary transmission of COVID-19, including COVID-19 Assessment Centre and visitor restrictions, please visit www.wrh.on.ca/coronavirus.

Windsor Regional Hospital 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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