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COVID-19 Information for Our Patients & Visitors

We want to assure you that there is a dedicated team of professionals at our hospital who have the passion, expertise, and focus to care for our communities. Our goal is to care for the sick, keep our workforce healthy, and prevent the spread of COVID-19 across our hospitals. We are following the guidance from our local Public Health officials and directives from the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

 

For more information, please review the Frequently Asked Questions.

 

Coming to Our Hospitals

The primary entry point is located at the Emergency Department entrance at both the Smiths Falls and GWM sites.  It is open 24 hours per day/7 days per week.

 

Perth (GWM) Site*: 

A second entry point at the Perth site at the Main Entrance on Drummond Street is open for people arriving for non-emergent type visits (clinic appointment, arranged visit with in-patient or other scheduled routine hospital business).  It is accessible Monday to Friday from 7 am to 4 pm.  The entrance is not accessible after 4 p.m. or on weekends.

 

Smiths Falls Site*: 

A second entry point at the Smiths Falls Site at the Main Entrance on Elmsley Street is open for people arriving for non-emergent type visits (clinic appointment, arranged visit with in-patient or other scheduled routine hospital business). It is accessible Monday to Friday from 7 am to 4 pm.  The entrance is not accessible after 4 p.m. or on weekends.

 

*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 COVID-19 related policies and changes are based on factors such as prevalence of COVID-19 in our community.

 

Effective immediately, to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our patients and healthcare workers, PSFDH is limiting non-essential visitations. Masking continues to be required for all visitors/support persons and caregivers in all areas of the hospital including patient rooms. You will be provided a mask at the screening desk upon arrival to the hospital.

Virtual visits continue to be encouraged and welcomed. 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 an inpatient via the PSFDH website: /sendgreetings.

 

All in-patient visits will require pre-approval. Any individual seeking to visit a patient in the hospital must contact the nursing station of the appropriate unit where the patient is located to arrange a visit.  Exceptions will be made for compassionate and palliative patient situations.  Any individual seeking to visit a patient in the hospital must contact the care area where the patient is located to arrange a visit, if appropriate.  

 

Contact information for the hospital may be found here.

• Approved visitors still must pass screening - this includes providing proof of vaccination (two vaccinations). Please remember that loved ones who are staying at the hospital are receiving 24 hours of care, seven days a week by nurses, physicians, allied health members and supportive staff members. If you have an approved visitor, please choose one who is fully vaccinated.
• Patients can only have one person at their bedside for up to two hours.
• Your visit can be booked anytime between 8:00am and 8:00pm, 7 days a week, based on availability.
• 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. If you require a support person, please choose one who is fully vaccinated.
• In the Emergency department, the triage nurse will assess and determine the need for any accompanying support person.

Our Emergency Departments remain open and ready to support your medical needs.

We appreciate that this is a difficult time for everyone and we sincerely thank you for your ongoing patience, understanding and adherence to our guidelines. These guidelines are essential to help us protect the hospital, our patients and our community. We continue to monitor the evolving situation and change our policies as the hospital continues to implement a carefully thought out and measured approach focusing on safety and quality of care.

 

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

How you can drop off essential items:

• Items are to be brought to the appropriate site via the Emergency Department – staff at the screening desk will have an approved drop off list that they will use to decide whether your items are allowed.  Please note: this list is created by management and the screening desk only follows what management has guided.
• Essential items must be placed in a plastic bag.
• Please label the bag with the recipient’s name clearly legible.
• If known, provide your loved one’s room number.

Obstetrical/Birthing Unit (Labour and Delivery)

 

Support Person – Required to pass screening

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

Visitor (second support person, such as a doula) – Required to pass screening and show proof of full vaccination (completed at least 14 days prior to date of attending.)

 

One distinct vaccinated visitor can be identified by the patient, in addition to the primary support person, during labour and delivery:

 

No exchanges.

 

• No children under age 18
• Approved by the Obstetrician
• Can only come in when patient has been admitted to the Birth Unit
• Must leave when patient is in the post-partum phase of their stay in hospital (see post-partum visitation below)
• May not enter the Operating Room or the Recovery Room in the case of a C-section.

Birthing Unit (Post-partum)

• The support person identified in labour can stay 24 hours a day with patient until discharge. If the support person is not vaccinated, they MUST leave the premises and/or be switched with a vaccinated person after the patient delivers.
• One additional vaccinated visitor per day can be arranged up to 24 hours in advance, where possible
• The vaccinated 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

To encourage safe social distancing practices, walking in the hallways or inpatient care areas is not permitted and movement in the hospital should be limited.

 

We appreciate that this is a difficult time for everyone and we sincerely thank you for your ongoing patience, understanding and adherence to our guidelines.  These guidelines are essential to help us protect the hospital, our patients and our community.  We continue to monitor the evolving situation and change our policies as the hospital continues to implement a carefully thought out and measured approach focusing on safety and quality of care.  

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 be contacted directly by your primary care provider and/or the hospital to discuss your procedure’s booking at which time you will be pre-screened for COVID-19
• You will be screened a second time when you enter the hospital where you will be given a mask to wear and requested to wash your hands with hand sanitizer.
• 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.
• Mandatory physical distancing precautions are in place and are to be respected at all times. Waiting areas have been reconfigured to support these measures.

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.

 

COVID-19 Assessment Centre 

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

• Public Health Ontario
• Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit
• Ministry of Health