We're Here for You

We want to assure you that there is a dedicated team of professionals at your hospital who have the passion, expertise, and focus to care for our communities. Our goal is to address your medical needs promptly and effectively while keeping our workforce healthy and prevent the spread of illness and infections through the Hospital.  We are following the guidance from our local Public Health officials and directives from the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario.  

 

Coming to Our Hospitals

 

Access to the Perth (GWM) Site:

  • *Main Entrance is open Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on weekends
  • Emergency Department entrance is open 24 hrs, 7 days a week.

 

Access to the Smiths Falls Site:

  • *Main Entrance (Beckwith Street) is open Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Emergency Department (Cornelia Street) is open 24 hrs, 7 days a week.

*Please note that these are drop off and pick up areas only. For safety reasons, parking or extended waiting in a drop off/pick-up area is NOT permitted.

 

Visitors to PSFDH

The Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital regularly reviews its visitor and infection control policies.  Updates are made to these policies based on factors such as prevalence of respiratory illnesses in our community and recommendations from our local Public Health Authority.


Keeping our sites and services safe for our patients, volunteers, staff and physicians means all designated family/support persons and visitors must adhere to our hospital’s policies.   All visitors are asked to self-screen and to please stay home if you are unwell, experiencing cough, fever/chills, sore throat, and or shortness of breath, vomiting or diarrhea.  Everyone must self-screen for illness.


Masks

Effective Tuesday, July 2, 2024, masks are no longer required.  


Masking will still be required in rooms with Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) measures, such as isolation rooms. Please continue to follow infection control practices where posted.

PSFDH, LCMH and LCSS will support those who choose to wear a mask because they feel vulnerable or to keep their loved ones safe. Masks continue to be available at entrances and throughout the hospital.

Visitors are kindly asked to stay home if they are sick, to protect their loved ones in the hospital.
 

Virtual visits are always encouraged and welcomed when an in-person visit is not possible. Patients and families can connect online using their personal communication devices (phone, tablet, etc.) at a time that may be more suitable.  You can also send an online greeting to an inpatient.  Click here. 

 

Requests from patients, staff, physicians, volunteers, students or visitors for someone to put on a mask in their presence will be respected.

 

Attending the Emergency Department:

The Emergency Department (ED) can be extremely busy with high volumes, which can quickly result in physical crowding.  The Care team will work collaboratively with the family regarding visit/support.  Please note that the Care Team has discretion to restrict family presence as needed in the interests of safety and patient care.

 

  • Parents/guardians may continue to attend Emergency with their children/youth.
  • Persons seeking medical care are encouraged to attend alone, unless a support person is critical to your visit (example, cogitative or mobility issues, a child/youth). This will help minimize crowding in our waiting areas.

What can you bring? 

We know that you may want to deliver items in lieu of a visit.  Unfortunately, PSFDH staff are only able to assist with distributing essential items and not able to accept non-essential items or gifts or flower deliveries.  Please note that the items brought to your loved one must be "wipeable" to support our stringent infection control practices. 

 

Essential items include,

  • Glasses
  • Hearing aids, Hearing Aid Batteries
  • Dentures, Denture Adhesive, Denture Cleaner
  • Medications
  • Shoes for rehabilitation and Socks
  • Clothes on the day of discharge (no earlier)
  • Communication device such as iPad, tablet, laptop, cell phone or similar (items that staff can wipe down) [Don’t forget the charging cord]. PSFDH has WIFI connection for the patients to use.
  • Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Shampoo
  • Robe, Under Garments- bra and underwear
  • Electric Shaver
  • Pen
  • Comb or Brush

  • CPAP Machines

  • Walking Aids
  • Food for individual patient in wipeable/disposable container clearly indicating the date prepared and patient's name

Obstetrical/Birthing Unit (Labour and Delivery)

 

Support Person

  • One identified support person can stay with the patient throughout triage, labour and delivery (including Operating Room as needed). 
  • Entry and re-entry to hospital will be limited to essential reasons.

Birthing Unit (Post-partum)


  • The support person identified in labour can stay 24 hours a day with patient until discharge. 
  • The visitor may to stay up to 2 hours and will be booked between the hours of 8:00-20:00 (8:00-8:00) with the OBS nurses.
  • The area of visiting is limited to the patient room.
  • Siblings may visit and must remain in patients room at all times. No other children will be permitted.

Helping a Patient to their Appointment

As we continue to open access to our hospital, PSFDH recognizes that there are times when a patient may wish to bring a support person to appointments in outpatient areas and services such as the Emergency Department, Diagnostic Imaging, Dialysis, Out-Patient Rehabilitation, Out-Patient operating room procedures and ambulatory care clinics. Please note that all support persons must pass screening before entering the building and abide by hospital Infection Control practices. As a support person you will need to remain in the specific appointment area with the patient.

 

Scheduled Surgery and Procedures

What can you expect with the scheduling of your surgery or procedure?

  • You will receive a phone call from a Pre-Operative Nurse up to (four) 4 days before your surgery. The Pre-Operative Nurse will ask you screening questions for Covid-19.We do not screen for Covid-19 ie asking the questions. We ask that if not feeling well to notify us that you are not feeling well and not to come for surgery. The Pre-Operative Nurse will provide you with the information required for the day of your surgery in the same phone call.
  • You will self-screen a second time when you enter the hospital where you will change your mask or wear a hospital-issued mask and wash your hands with hand sanitizer. Most are not coming in with masks now. The patient will need to put on hospital mask one arrival and wash hands.
  • You are then directed to registration where you will present your Health Card.
  • You will be screened a third time while in the procedure's waiting area. We screen for general illness.
  • Mandatory physical distancing precautions are in place and are to be respected at all times. Waiting areas have been reconfigured to support these measures. Seating is back to normal in OR waiting room.
Our hospital is taking every possible measure to ensure patient and staff safety. People are reminded that if you require

urgent/emergent care, please go to your nearest Emergency Department or call 911.

 

Keep Informed 

It is important you obtain up-to-date information from credible information sources. Helpful information is found at: