SMH Opens COVID-19 Assessment Centre
*On Friday, April 24, the hours of the COVID-19 Assessment Centre will change to 3-7 p.m.
On Monday, March 23, Stevenson Memorial Hospital (SMH) is opening a COVID-19 Assessment Centre in their lower parking lot (staff/shipping & receiving entrance). To start, the Centre will run three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 4-8 p.m. SMH will evaluate hours of operation based on need from the community.
Please follow SMH on social media (Facebook & Instagram @stevensonhospital, Twitter @stevensonhosp), their website (www.stevensonhospital.ca) or Jody Levac, President & CEO’s on Twitter (@j_levac) for the latest updates as this is an evolving situation.
The purpose of the Assessment Centre is to screen patients who have symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19. SMH asks the public to use the Ministry of Health’s self-assessment tool to help determine if they need to come to the Assessment Centre.
“We’re really trying to divert traffic away from our Emergency Department and main entrance, but provide a place for community members to be screened if they are experiencing symptoms,” says Jody Levac, President and CEO, SMH. “It’s important to note that not all patients will be tested at the Centre. Patients will be assessed by a physician who will determine if a test is needed.”
The public is asked to not show up at the Assessment Centre asking to be solely tested for COVID-19. Testing is restricted to patients who meet government screening criteria.
The Assessment Centre will be staffed by SMH nurses and physicians, along with primary care physicians from the Alliston Family Health Team.
Patients arriving at the Assessment Centre will be asked to complete a self-assessment form. Depending on symptoms, a nurse will determine if they should proceed for further assessment and testing or return home to self-monitor. If it is determined upon further assessment that criteria for testing are met, a swab will be taken and sent for testing. All patients will be provided with information and instructions on self-monitoring or isolation.
Patients requiring emergency care, care in the Obstetrics Unit or have other health care needs, should continue to come to the main entrance of SMH and will be screened in the OPP Community Safety trailer before entering the Hospital.
Visitors are not permitted at this time. This excludes the Obstetrics Unit, where labour and delivery patients are able to have one support person 24/7 (must be the same person that stays - no additional visitors). Only pediatric patients can have a parent/visitor with them. Any visitors that are deemed an essential support will be assessed on a case by case basis. No other individuals/visitors are allowed in the Hospital.
“I know these are challenging times for all, and I thank the community for their patience and cooperation,” says Levac. “The safety of our facility, staff, patients and visitors is of the utmost importance and we are working extremely diligently to ensure SMH is a safe place, and remains that way.”
For up-to-date information on the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit:
Public Health
Government of Ontario
