Windsor Regional Hospital To Relax Visitor Restrictions

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Windsor Regional Hospital is making changes to their visitor polices.

The hospital says that based on a recent reduction in rates of COVID-19 in our community and in our hospital, some of its visitor restrictions at both the Met and Ouellette Campuses and the Regional Cancer Centre will be relaxed.

Effective Wednesday, February 10th, 2021, they will allow essential visitor for a patient, once per day, in one specified time slot, with some exceptions which are identified below. A maximum of two essential visitors may be chosen by the patient to rotate over the patients’ stay in hospital; however, only one of the essential visitors may visit each day and only in one-time slot.

There will be two-time slots available for patients to visit:

• 10 am to 12 noon
• 6 pm to 8 pm (except Critical Care units)
• 8 pm to 10 pm (Critical Care units only)

Considerations of which visitors are considered “essential” should include:

• those who are visiting/accompanying a patient who is dying or very ill
• a parent/guardian of a youth who is a patient, support person for a pregnant patient in labour
• visitors of patients who require physical assistance
• visitors providing essential support to a patient.

No visitation is allowed for patients with active, confirmed or suspected COVID-19, due to the extremely high risk to patients, staff, and visitors. Virtual visits for these patients will be supported using technology such as iPads.

More than one visitor may be allowed in the following circumstances:

• Two visitors may rotate (1 visitor at a time) 24/7 for palliative patients
• Two visitors may visit 24/7 for a patient who is near end of life; a one-time visit may be approved for up to 4 visitors- may include visitors less than 18 years of age when accompanied by an adult.
• For Mental Health: 1 essential visitor per patient for 30 minutes during designated times. However, a maximum of 4 visitors will be allowed into 3N and 3S and a maximum of 2 visitors into PICU at a time. Visits must take place in designated common areas and are not permitted in patient rooms.

The hospital says that the exceptions process for emergency or out-patient visits involves a risk assessment conducted by the clinic/service to determine the risks posed to the patient, other patients, and the visitor. For outpatient departments, the patient will be advised at the time they are informed of their appointment date if they may have a visitor accompany them on the visit.

Patients with disabilities that are determined by clinical teams to require personal support of a family member/caregiver will be allowed one visitor who will remain with the patient for the entire visit or in space designated by the clinical team if a procedure requires it.

For a pregnant patient in labour:

• Following the birth, the visitor becomes essential for the newborn and must remain at the bedside until discharge (the mother is not allowed a separate visitor post-delivery).
• If the essential visitor leaves the hospital after birth, they cannot return and no additional visitors would be permitted.
• One parent/guardian of an ill newborn, child or youth, maybe under the age of 18, and may stay with patient/in hospital 24 hours per day

If the patient in labour is confirmed or suspected COVID-19:

• Visitor remains with the patient in the same physical environment throughout the care delivery,
• The clinical team is able to provide the visitor with a safe environment and teaching necessary for infection control.
• The visitor is masked and reports to Public Health as they may be required to self-isolate, depending on test results

Essential visitors will be restricted if they:

• Are less than 18 years of age (except as above)
• Are symptomatic
• Have been outside of Canada in the last 14 days
• Have tested positive for COVID-19 (and are not resolved cases )
• Have had close contact with a confirmed case or probable case of COVID-19
• Have had close contact with a person with an acute respiratory illness who has been Outside of Canada in the 14 days before their symptom onset.

All Outpatients And Visitors will still be required to wear medical-grade masks (no cloth masks) upon entry to the hospital. All visitors are required to wear a face shield in addition to a mask while visiting a patient. Face shields will be provided to visitors on entry to the hospital or on the unit.