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Current Visiting Restrictions - Updated November 19th LWDH visitor restrictions have been revised in consultation with patients, staff, management, and the LWDH Patient & Family Advisory Council. We have also reviewed and considered guidance documentation from the Ontario government and other organizations, including Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. If a designated visitor or essential care partner has travelled outside of Northwestern Ontario within the last 7 days they will not be allowed to enter the building. Definitions Designated Visitor A designated visitor can provide emotional wellbeing, health, and quality of life to loved ones. A designated visitor does not have to be an essential care giver. Visitors should be close family and/or friends who have a clearly established pattern of involvement in providing care and support. Essential Care Partner An essential care partner is a support person for a patient who requires assistance with mobility, language and/or sight, or cognitive impairment. Parent or guardians of minor children are also considered essential care partners. Policy: 1. Outpatients: No visitors will be allowed to accompany outpatients at Lake of the Woods District Hospital with the exception of an essential care partner or parent/guardian of a minor child. 2. Inpatients: One designated visitor can be identified to visit per hospital admission, whether they are an essential care partner or not. 3. Virtual Visits: Lake of the Woods District Hospital staff will support family presence to ensure the emotional wellbeing of our patients by providing alternative options to in person visitation. Effective June 24th, 2020, one designated visitor will be identified by each admitted patient and allowed to visit. Visiting hours are 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Designated visitors are those deemed essential to the emotional wellbeing, health, and quality of life of loved ones. In most cases, visitors should be a close family member and/or friend who have a clearly established pattern of involvement in providing care and support to the patient. All designated visitors must bring and wear a mask upon entering the hospital. Visitors will be screened at the Main Lobby upon entry. Visitors will identify which patient they are going to see and be provided a visitor sticker to be worn while in the building. All visits will take place in the patient’s room. Visitors will be reminded to maintain physical distancing while in the hospital and are required to check out upon exit and return their visitor sticker. Visitor restrictions remain in place in the Emergency Department. Exceptions will be parents/guardians of minor children being treated. Any other exceptions are to be determined by the unit manager or Nursing Supervisor on duty. |
Regular Visiting Hours
The Lake of the Woods District Hospital ensures the safety and security and, at the same time, respects the needs and wishes of its patients. It is important to recognize how the needs and wishes of patients impact other patients within the hospital. For the safety of our patients and staff, it is important to maintain a visiting hour guideline to manage security, infection control and routine requirements for the hospital.
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General hospital visiting hours |
11:30 am to 8:30 pm |
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ICU Department |
2 pm to 3:30 pm and 7 pm to 8:30 pm |
IT IS THE POLICY OF LAKE OF THE WOODS DISTRICT HOSPITAL THAT:
· All visitors outside general hospital visiting hours will be required to obtain and wear a visitor’s pass from switchboard.
· Children under twelve (12) years of age must be under the care and control of an adult at all times.
· Visitor volume is adjusted to the comfort of the patient and/or the patient’s roommate by the nursing staff. Visitors are asked to cooperate with the nursing staff if they or their children are asked to leave due to volume of visitors, noise or behavior.
· Visitation may be restricted or expanded to meet patient care needs and/or to provide compassionate care.
· Parents of ill children are allowed to stay at their bedside. Only 1 parent can stay at the bedside overnight.
· An announcement shall be made each evening by the Switchboard Operator that“Visiting hours are now over, would visitors please exit the facility” to facilitate clearing the hospital prior to bedtime care and security lockup.
· All visitors will comply with infection control policies and procedures; i.e. hand hygiene, isolation precautions, etc.
MATERNITY
· The Lake of the Woods District Hospital recognizes that family-centered maternity, newborn and early childhood involves the whole family as well as healthcare professionals and that through activities aimed at improving maternal health, promoting the normal growth and development of the child and at strengthening the family unit, potential physical and emotional handicaps may be reduced.
· The Lake of the Woods District Hospital will provide care that is patient-centered, service-oriented and performance-focused.
· A mother will have her newborn infant rooming with her from the time of delivery.
· The immediate family of the newborn infant may visit outside of the regular visiting hours at the discretion of the motherand with the approval of staff.
· All other visitors are welcome during general hospital visiting hours (11:30am – 8:30pm), as per our hospital policy.
ICU
· ICU visiting hours are as posted.
· Visitors will be requested to call into the ICU from the waiting room phone prior to entering.
· 2 visitors at a time are permitted for brief periods only.
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
· Patients may have one (1) support person/advocate with them as necessary, dependent on the acuity of the situation.
· The support person/advocate may include a significant other, family member, caregiver etc.
· Both parents may accompany their child in the Emergency Department.
· The support person/advocate may be requested to leave during treatment.
· Support person/advocate is to refrain from bringing food or drinks into the Emergency Department.
· Cell phones and electronic devices are not to be used in the triage area.
· There may be exceptions based on any changes in the patient’s condition.