As the number of new COVID-19 cases continues to decline in North Simcoe Muskoka, and in alignment with the provincial roadmap to reopening, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) is able to welcome back a limited number of visitors as part of its safe, staged plan to resume visitation. This is effective at 10 a.m. Friday, June 11.
Visitor restrictions were introduced as a safety measure to limit non-essential entry to the health centre, contain the spread of COVID-19 and keep patients safe.
“People have understood that visitor restrictions were an important safety precaution taken during the pandemic, but we recognize that the separation was very difficult for patients and their loved ones,” says Nancy Savage, executive vice president Patient and Family Experience. “Visitors are vital to patients’ well-being and recovery and integral members of the care team. RVH is thrilled that we are now able to begin lifting visitor restrictions.”
In Step 1 of the visitation plan:
- Each patient will identify a main designated visitor and alternate.
- Visiting times will be scheduled in advance. Designated visitors must book their visit with the patient’s care team by calling the inpatient unit directly or by calling RVH at 705-728-9090 and pressing “0”. Visitors must be on an approved list to be permitted entry.
- Patients will be allowed one visitor over 16 years old during one of the daily visitation blocks –10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Visits to patients in mental health are permitted 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. Visits are limited to no more than one hour at a time.
- All visitors must use RVH’s main entrance where they will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms. Visitors who fail screening will be denied entry to the health centre.
- Visitors will be issued a hospital mask which must be kept on at all times.
- Visitors are not permitted in common areas of the health centre such as the Food Court or Café Royale.
- Ambulatory patients coming to RVH for an outpatient procedure or clinic visit will be allowed one essential support person in circumstances where assistance is needed. That essential support person should be identified at the time the appointment/treatment is booked.
- Visitors / support person in Emergency is at the discretion of the care team
There are exceptions to the policy for compassionate reasons, such as critical or palliative patients, patients who require the presence of a family caregiver, partners of patients in labour, parents of paediatric patients or at the discretion of the care team.
Provincial guidelines and the future path of the pandemic will determine when RVH can move to the next stage of easing visitor restrictions. For more information visit the COVID-19 section on the RVH website rvh.on.ca