SMH to Implement COVID-19 Vaccination Policy for Visitors of Patients
[New Tecumseth, ON – November 19, 2021] Starting Monday, November 22, 2021 Stevenson Memorial Hospital (SMH) will require all visitors of patients, anyone accompanying a patient to an appointment or any essential supports to provide proof of full vaccination (two doses plus 14 days) as well as identification. Regardless of their reason for visiting, all visitors/supports of patients must pass COVID-19 screening upon entering the hospital, which includes:
- Visitors must not be 16 years of age or less.
- Visitors must not have current symptoms of COVID-19 or any other communicable disease.
- Anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and/or has been exposed to or had direct contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and have not been cleared by Public Health will not be permitted entry.
- Visitors who may have traveled anywhere outside of Canada in the past 14 days will not be permitted entry.
“As COVID-19 cases increase in the region and in the local community, SMH is taking every precaution to ensure the facility remains as safe as possible for patients, families, staff and physicians/professional staff,” says Jody Levac, President and CEO, SMH.
Currently, 99 per cent of staff and physicians at SMH are vaccinated against COVID-19 and all are fully compliant with the hospital’s COVID-19 vaccination policy for staff in alignment with Directive #6 released from the Ministry of Health.
The following updates are included in the visitor policy effective Monday, November 22:
Visitors of Inpatients
- Visitors must be vaccinated to gain entry unless extenuating circumstances apply.
- Those presenting with a medical exemption will be managed on a case by case basis through the Patient Experience Department.
- Designated care providers required to support care outside of these parameters will be reviewed and approved on a case by case basis.
Labour & Delivery Supports
- During the patient’s stay on OBS and in labour, ONE support person is permitted (vaccination status is waived for the primary support person only). Unvaccinated supports will not be allowed to move freely around the unit and must don a mask at all times on the unit.
- For all Outpatient assessments only ONE visitor as per hospital guidelines for vaccination requirements will be permitted and will be reassessed if admission occurs.
- If required to return for a follow-up appointment for your newborn, we ask that only one parent attends during this visit.
Please visit our Visitor Policy page for more information.
SMH will not accept proof of negative PCR or rapid antigen tests in place of COVID-19 vaccination records for entry into the hospital.
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