Coming to the Hospital

Preparing for Visitation at CCH...

UPDATE AS OF JUly 28 2021 

CCH is continually monitoring the prevalence of COVID-19 locally and evaluating changes to its visitation policies based on guidance received by the provincial government. Please see below for the current visitation restrictions in effect at CCH.

Visitation restriction level currently in effect: MODERATE

Who can visit the hospital in MODERATE restrictions?

Inpatients: 

  • Medical, critical care, surgical, ALC, rehab, mental health and gynecology inpatients are now able to have upwards of 2 essential visitors or care partners during their stay (only 1 is allowed to visit per day and only during one timeslot).

Women and Children's Health: 

  • Women in labour can identify up to 2 essential care partners for the birth and delivery, and can choose 1 support person who stays with them from admission to discharge, or they can opt for the same visitation permissions as other departments (scheduling to arrange a daily visit). In and out privileges are allowed in collaboration with nurses for urgent circumstances.
  • Pediatric patients (0-17 years old) can have 1 legal guardian stay 24/7. Parents or legal guardians can make arrangements with nurses to switch out and relieve each other, however no other visitors are permitted. In and our privileges are allowed in collaboration with nurses for urgent circumstances.

Outpatient Day Visits and Surgeries: 

  • 1 partner or visitor can accompany patients for obstetrical ultrasounds, transport to and from the dialysis clinic, surgery (same day admitted patients only), and emergency department visits.

At this time, only essential visitors or care partners who meet the criteria for exceptional circumstances are allowed to accompany for the following types of patients:

  • Ambulatory clinic
  • Chemotherapy
  • Dialysis
  • Endoscopy
  • Diagnostic imaging (except for obstetrical ultrasounds)
  •  Outpatient Mental Health
  • LAI Clinic

***Please scroll down to find “exceptional circumstances” and “department-specific” details below for more information.

Based on public health guidelines, the following items are now considered best practice to protect patients and essential care partners/visitors during visitation:

  1. Wearing a medical-grade mask during visitation (a medical-grade mask will now be provided for you at CCH).
  2. Wearing a gown during visitation (a gown will be provided for you at CCH).
  3. Public health guidelines also currently recommend wearing safety glasses during visitation.
    • Please note that essential care partners/ visitors are still entitled to visitation even if they do not have safety glasses.
    • Due to limited supply for staff, CCH is unable to provide safety glasses for visitation. To comply with this best practice recommended by public health, care partners/visitors are encouraged to provide their own safety glasses.
For more information about public health guidelines, please visit the EOHU website or call 1-800 267-7120.
 

To book an appointment for visiting, please call 613-938-4240 ext. 4778 between 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  An appointment is REQUIRED.

Who can visit at CCH?

Family and essential care partners are an important part of each patient’s care team and family presence is important to the recovery of patients in the hospital. We are asking patients to identify essential care partners/ visitors.

Who is an “Essential Care Partner / Visitor”?

These are individuals who have been identified by the patient as support persons. If the patient is not capable of designating their essential care partners/ visitors their Substitute Decision Maker (as defined by the Province of Ontario) can make the designation.

Three restriction levels may affect visitation during COVID-19:

Full Restrictions: 1 identified essential care partner/visitor.
Moderate Restrictions: up to 2 identified essential care partners/visitors (for most departments).
Low Restrictions: up to 3 identified essential care partners/visitors (for most departments).

Exceptional circumstances

It is recognized that there are situations where essential visitors/care partners require additional access to a patient. These situations include, but are not limited to, patients who are children/youth, are palliative or actively dying (as determined by a physician), have cognitive, mobility, and or communication impairments, or require a translator.  Some patients coming to the hospital for outpatient appointments/procedures may bring an escort, as determined on a case by case basis. 

Department Specific Information:

Emergency Department:
Due to space restrictions in the emergency department and the need to ensure physical distancing due to COVID-19, the ED is not allowing patients to have family/caregivers or visitors accompany them into the ED waiting room and department.

Exceptions are the following:

  • Patients that have cognitive challenges and require a support person
  • Guardian/parent accompanying a child
  • The patient’s end of life is imminent 
  • *Compassionate reasons including mental health considerations, care partner/visitor senior support (these cases will be evaluated on a “case by case” basis with ED staff and the screeners)
*Note: Because of physical distancing requirements, this group will not be allowed to wait in the waiting room but can be called once the patient is settled in ED and the primary nurse/physician deems it appropriate to have a family/care partner present.

Critical Care Unit (CCU): 2 Care Partners are designated for this department. Determined case by case. Hours typically between 12 pm and 8 pm. Please call ext:2260 to request visitation.

Women and Children’s Health: 1 partner/person accompanying the labouring mom with in and out privileges.

VISITATION APPOINTMENTS ARE REQUIRED:

To book an appointment for visiting, please call 613-938-4240 ext. 4778 between 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

  

Virtual Family Visits are Always an Option!

Using Your Own Device:

With visiting restrictions in effect, we encourage families to reach out to their loved ones who are staying at the hospital, by using their own device for a virtual visit.

Using a CCH device:

If your loved one at the hospital does not have access to a device like a tablet or a smartphone, Cornwall Hospital can help by lending a hospital-owned tablet to facilitate a virtual visit!

What you need for a Virtual Family Visit:

  • A valid email address
  • A computer/tablet or phone with a camera and microphone
  • The Zoom App

A request to set up a virtual visit can be made by emailing virtual.visit@cornwallhospital.ca or by calling 613-938-4240 ext: 4740 and is available between the hours of 8h00 and 16h00 7 days a week. Information like the patient’s room number/name and time of the desired visit are helpful details to include when communicating.