Mask Mandates to Remain at Blanche River Health
With the remainder of provincial mask mandates set to expire in Ontario on Saturday, June 11, 2022, Blanche River Health’s current masking policies along with its care partner/visitor policies will remain in effect for the foreseeable future. With the high number of alternate level of care and immunocompromised patients across both hospital sites, Blanche River Health will keep existing policies in place as part of its risk management strategy and enhanced infection prevention and control practices. The policies will ensure Blanche River Health can continue to follow enhanced measures for patients and staff and will help mitigate possible outbreaks which can lead to increased staff shortages and impacts to patient care services.
“We have lived experience as recently as this past April on how quickly an outbreak can spread within the hospital creating staffing and service delivery pressures,” commented Blanche River Health President and Chief Executive Officer Sean Conroy. He continued, “Keeping our masking policy is one key component in our infection control practices that can help prevent infectious disease exposures and/or outbreaks that can significantly impact our staff and vulnerable patients at both our hospital sites.”
Blanche River Health’s current care partner/visitor policy allows for unlimited care partners for patients with two being permitted to visit at the same time and unlimited visits for end-of-life and pediatric patients. Visiting hours are between 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. daily. Recently, the hospital implemented day passes for patients allowing for them to leave the premise as approved by the patient’s physician. Daily COVID-19 testing for care partners/visitors continues prior to visitation.
“Once again, we want to thank our community members for their cooperation and patience as we continue to follow best practices in infection, prevention and control,” said Conroy.
For more information about Blanche River Health, and for the latest COVID-19 updates, please visit: www.blancheriverhealth.ca.