Ross Memorial Hospital - Ross Memorial Prepares to Return to a "New Normal" as Province Removes SARS Precautions

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Ross Memorial Prepares to Return to a "New Normal" as Province Removes SARS Precautions

Lindsay, May 15, 2003

Hospitals across the province, including Ross Memorial Hospital, are preparing to return to normal, albeit a “new normal”, as they respond to new directives issued by the SARS Provincial Operations Centre. While the new directives remove precautionary measures for SARS and the situation moves from an emergency phase to one of recovery, the focus now is on “high standards that reflect a heightened awareness of emerging infectious diseases including SARS.”

As a result, Ross Memorial Hospital will be implementing the following, effective Friday, May 16th:

Visiting hours will be from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; however, the Hospital advises visitors who are feeling ill to refrain from visiting patients.
As per existing Hospital policy, two visitors per patient at one time will be allowed.
screening of patients, visitors, staff and physicians will be discontinued at both of the Hospital's entranceways.
Screening will now occur in the Emergency Department as patients arrive and in Admitting for those patients being directly admitted to Hospital (i.e. other than through Emergency).
Signage with SARS screening questions will continue to be posted at each of the Hospital’s entrances. Anyone arriving at the Hospital and answering “yes” to any of the questions posted in the signage, must go immediately to the Emergency Department.
All volunteers, students, contractors, delivery personnel may return to the Hospital at normal levels of activity.

It is important to note that the current access to the entranceways remains in effect, whereby emergency patients are to enter via the Emergency Department entrance at Kent Street, and all other patients, visitors, staff and physicians are to use the main Angeline Street entrance.

Ross Memorial Hospital continues to encourage everyone to wash their hands frequently and to spritz their hands with alcohol rub upon entering and exiting the building. Alcohol rub dispensers are placed throughout the Hospital for everyone’s convenience. Handwashing and proper hygiene is key to the prevention of many infections.

“We recognize the challenges that everyone has had to face from the moment SARS became a reality,” expresses Anthony Vines, President/CEO, Ross Memorial Hospital, “and we appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation as we implemented the necessary precautions to successfully prevent an occurrence of SARS at our Hospital. We are grateful to all of our staff and physicians for their vigilance with respect to the implementation of and adherence to all of the SARS precautions. We applaud their ability and dedication to protect our patients, as well as each other, while continuing to deliver quality care. As we move forward, we remain committed to our infection prevention and control program here at the Ross and to continuing our vigilance in the face of infectious diseases.”

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