Update: Our regular open visiting policy has been suspended due to COVID-19. Please review our current visiting information below before attempting to visit a patient at one of our hospitals.
November 24, 2020 - Quinte Health Care (QHC) has created a “Care Partners and Visiting During COVID-19” policy, which is being implemented gradually this week. The policy provides a transparent approach to who is permitted to enter our hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The policy distinguishes between a visitor (someone who provides social support) and a care partner (a loved one and advocate who provides ongoing and essential social, emotional and physical support to a patient). Please read this document for more information. We appreciate the important role that care partners play and our policy is meant to balance the need for that support while limiting the number of people coming into our hospitals, in order to keep our patients, staff, physicians and communities safe.
In situations where care partners are deemed appropriate, patients determine who their one — in some cases, two — care partners are. Please discuss your situation with the inpatient unit or clinic manager. Care partners will be provided identification by the hospital (either a badge, armband or sticker). Please review - What Care Partners need to know before coming to a QHC hospital.
If you’re unsure if you require a care partner, speak to the care team. Often, hospital staff and the health care team are able to provide appropriate support in these situations as well.
Our policy offers a phased approach to care partner and visiting restrictions, allowing us to adjust restrictions transparently as a response to local COVID-19 activity, health system capacity, PPE supply and staffing/resources. Please refer to the chart below for a better understanding of the restrictions for the PHASE we are currently in — PHASE 2 (yellow). Our current PHASE is determined using an organizational and environmental risk assessment and will be reevaluated on an ongoing basis.
Upon arrival to the hospital, all care partners and visitors will be asked questions about their health and travel history and must pass screening in order to be allowed entry. Care partners and visitors must wear a mask and comply with any requirements for additional personal protective equipment. Please bring a clean, dry mask from home. If you do not have one, we will provide you one at the entrance and will remind you to bring one next time.
While in the hospital, all care partners and visitors must make every reasonable effort to maintain social distancing space (2 metres) and complete hand hygiene frequently. Please remain with the patient you are in the hospital to support and refrain from moving about with in the hospital.
Care partners and visitors are not permitted to sleep in the hospital. Visiting is only allowed between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Our Care Partners and Visiting During COVID-19 policy applies to all QHC hospitals and all individuals attending a QHC patient (including an emergency visit, outpatient appointment and inpatient stay). Please adhere to the specific restrictions.
If you have questions or concerns, or if you would like to arrange a virtual visit (via Zoom) with your loved one, please contact our Patient Experience team Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm at (613) 969-7400, ext. 2033 or feedback@qhc.on.ca.