Supporting Quality and Safety During Flu Season at CCH
2026-01-17
At Cornwall Community Hospital (CCH), one of our strategic
priorities is to maintain a culture of quality and safety.
We are currently in the thick of the influenza season and we may
see activity increase following the holidays.
Our healthcare professionals are trained and ready to
mitigate the spread of infections in the hospital and handle the influx of
respiratory virus cases we typically see during this time of year.
This includes being vigilant and thorough in infection
prevention and control practices, maintaining good hand hygiene, staying home
when unwell, wearing masks when appropriate, and keeping vaccinations up to
date, including the flu shot and COVID-19 boosters.
Our Infection Prevention and Control Team is undertaking
enhanced surveillance throughout the hospital to ensure proper protocols are
being followed. Our Environmental Services Team continues to maintain a clean
and sanitized environment for patients, visitors, and staff through enhanced
cleaning.
Patients who are experiencing symptoms of illness are quickly
identified and isolated when necessary to help contain the spread of germs.
To help keep everyone safe, we ask
visitors to be mindful of their health before coming to the hospital for
non-essential reasons. If you must visit the hospital and are feeling unwell,
please wear a mask and sanitize your hands upon arrival (masks and hand
sanitizer stations are available at each entry point). Many hospital patients are
immunocompromised, and what may feel like a mild illness to someone healthy can
pose serious risks to those who are more vulnerable.
You can also do your part to help reduce the spread of
influenza and COVID-19 in our community by staying up to date with your flu
shot and COVID-19 boosters. Even late-season vaccination provides benefit as
influenza activity can continue into the spring.
The Emergency Department is typically
busier during this time of year and is always staffed by a full
interdisciplinary team of emergency healthcare professionals and physicians.
Patients are triaged and seen based on the urgency of their condition, which
means those with less urgent concerns may experience longer wait times. We
appreciate your patience and understanding; wait times are influenced by
patient needs and cannot be accurately predicted. We remain committed to ensuring every
patient is assessed and seen by a physician based on medical urgency.
Not only are we in the thick of influenza season, but these
months often feel the hardest on our mental health. The holidays are over,
routines settle back into place, and the days are shorter. If you or a loved
one is in need of support, we offer a variety of mental health and substance
use services through our Community Addiction and Mental Health Centre.
Adults can visit AccessMHA.ca to complete an online form and
be connected with the most appropriate services in their area. For children and
youth under 16 years of age, support is available through 1call1click.ca by
following the same process.
For those in need of more immediate support, One Stop Talk is
a free, confidential service that provides children and youth with same-day
access to mental health support from a registered therapist. This service is
available without a referral and does not impact placement on any existing
waitlists. To learn more or to get connected, visit onestoptalk.ca.
People aged
16 or older who need assistance with withdrawal from alcohol and/or other
substances can connect directly with our Community Withdrawal Management
Services at 613-938-8506.
If your mental health or substance use needs are a medical
emergency, or if there is concern that you may hurt yourself or someone else,
please contact 9-1-1 or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.
Additional crisis supports are available:
· Adults
(16+): 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Line — 1-866-996-0991 or 613-722-6914
· Children
and youth (under 16): 24/7 Child, Youth and Family Crisis Line for Eastern
Ontario — 1-877-377-7775
· Suicide
Crisis Helpline: Dial 9-8-8 (call or text, 24/7)