ESHC modifies COVID protocols

Acknowledging a lower community spread of COVID-19, Erie Shores HealthCare (ESHC) has adjusted some screening protocols for its patients and their families.

As of July 1, 2022, ESHC moved to a passive screening process for patients and visitors to the hospital. Passive screening means visitors and patients will review signs that are posted asking that they do NOT attend the hospital as a visitor if they have specific symptoms or alert the staff to symptoms if they are a patient.

Volunteers, who were welcomed back to the facility on July 1, are stationed at hospital entrances and are available to answer any questions visitors or patients may have about the passive screening process.

Amendments to the ESHC Visitor Policy also increased the number of designated caregivers patients can have. Patients in the inpatient units or ICU are permitted FOUR designated caregivers, Emergency Department patients are allowed TWO, and Outpatients are allowed ONE. Only one person is permitted at a patient’s bedside at a time.

More details are available on the hospital’s Visitor Information page at https://www.erieshoreshealthcare.ca/visitorhours

While screening and visitor restrictions have changed at ESHC, no modifications are planned for PPE guidelines, including the requirement to wear a mask in all hospital areas.

Per Public Health Ontario and Ministry of Health guidelines, active screening continues for hospital staff.