Seasonal Masking Changes Enacted at West Parry Sound Health Centre
As we transition into warmer weather and the prevalence of respiratory illnesses decreases in our community, WPSHC has transitioned into our ‘Mask-Friendly Season’. Effective immediately patients, visitors and caregivers will no longer be required to wear a mask on the premises, except for those entering Day Surgery and OR Services. Everyone entering WPSHC will still be asked to complete routine screening; those who fail this screening will either be asked to wear a mask or to make alternative arrangements for their visit.
Staff will continue to mask during patient care interactions. Visitors and caregivers are encouraged to wears masks when near patients to help keep their loved ones safe.
Masks will continue to be made available to everyone who wishes to use them.
WPSHC Returns to Mandatory Masking in Patient Care Areas
Effective October 19th, WPSHC is re-instituting masking in ALL patient care units. This change has been instituted due to rising rates of respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, in our community and at the health centre.
Effective immediately staff, patients and visitors will be asked to mask in all patient care areas, including patient rooms.
We remind the public that masking is a simple, proven and effective method of reducing the circulation of respiratory illnesses, and protecting your families and community members. We ask that you do not visit loved ones at the health centre when you are experiencing any symptoms of respiratory illness. Please make an effort to clean your hands frequently, and take other necessary precautions to protect yourself and others.
We appreciate the public's cooperation and patience at this time.
High Volumes Impacts Services at WPSHC
WEDNESDAY 18 OCTOBER - West Parry Sound Health Centre is at 118 percent occupancy. The team is working to provide all necessary care while the demand for services is well above the health centre’s normal capacity.
Please plan thoughtfully and consider ways to avoid an unnecessary visit to the WPSHC Emergency Department: avoid risk, maintain contact with your primary care provider, keep medication prescriptions current. Be sure to always call 911 or safely travel to the Emergency Department whenever urgent or emergency care is needed.
One significant impact is that the WPSHC Emergency Department is caring for admitted patients and this increases wait times for less urgent care. Please be patient with our team and anticipate longer than usual wait times should you seek care at our Emergency Department.
WPSHC is carefully monitoring the situation and working towards improving capacity.
The health centre also advises that COVID-19 is reappearing in our communities. Please consider appropriate precautions and be sure to get an updated vaccination. Immunization clinics are being planned and operated by the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit.
Make Safety a Summer Priority: Anticipate Longer than Average Wait Times at WPSHC Emergency Department
WPSHC reminds everyone that summer is always our busiest time, especially within our Emergency Department (ED). ED volumes are often doubled at this time of year. As always urgent care needs are prioritized. We request that patients accessing non-urgent care through our ED anticipate longer wait times and understand that our team is working as quickly and diligently as possible, often under difficult circumstances. While WPSHC understands that long waits can be very frustrating, we urge those seeking care to remember that having immediate care with an Emergency Department is never a desirable position.
Never delay in calling 911 or safely traveling to our Emergency Department when you have an urgent need for care.
WPSHC reminds everyone to prioritize the safety of themselves and their families as they enjoy all summer activities. Plan ahead to avoid unnecessary trips to the ED. Use safety equipment when suitable, fill your medical prescriptions in advance, contact your primary care provider when suitable for a safe response to mild illness or injury.
If you require non-emergency care, consider the following options:
- Contact the office of your primary care provider. Many physicians and primary care offices are serving patient needs over the telephone and by providing virtual visits. Consider if this option is available from your primary care provider.
- Consider if utilizing Health Connect Ontario (formerly Telehealth Ontario) is appropriate. By calling 811 (TTY: 1866-797-007) or chatting online (https://health811.ontario.ca/static/guest/chat-online) you can connect with a registered nurse 24/7 for access to safe, high-quality care and health advice.
- The six sites of the WPSHC Rural Nurse Practitioner Led-Clinic continue to provide primary care to people who do not have another provider. Additionally, the sites maintain a limited number same-day or next-day appointments that can be accessed by anybody for non-urgent care, whether you have a provider or not. Appointments may be booked in person or virtually (telephone or OTN), based on the provider’s discretion. To ensure the safety of staff and patients, it is imperative that you call ahead to book an appointment.
Please remember to never delay in calling 911 or safely traveling to our Emergency Department when you have an urgent need for care.
Code Gridlock declared over at WPSHC
West Parry Sound Health Centre has cleared Code Gridlock over and resumed standard operation as of 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 23rd.
A return to standardized care delivery includes:
- Patients are being treated in traditional care delivery spaces. Over-flow areas are resuming their normal patient care functions.
- Resumption of scheduled surgeries and procedures.
- A number of patients have been safely and successfully discharged.
“WPSHC is grateful to our staff, physicians, and volunteers for their exceptional and immediate response to the conditions that required enacting our Code Gridlock policy, especially given the timing over the Victoria Day long weekend” said CEO Donald Sanderson. “Our care teams are also extremely thankful to the patients and families who reacted thoughtfully and cooperatively to delays.”
West Parry Sound Health Centre enacted its Code Gridlock Policy on Thursday, May 18th at approximately 10 a.m. The code was called due to patient volumes beyond the health centre’s normal capacity to provide care. At one time patient capacity reached a high of over 120 percent.
WPSHC carefully monitored the situation and worked towards improving capacity. We encouraged everyone to prioritize their safety, heading into the Victoria Day long weekend.
As always call 911 or safely travel to the health centre’s Emergency Department whenever urgent or emergency care is needed.
WPSHC continues to remind everyone that COVID-19 is still impacting health care services and many precautions remain in place at WPSHC. Please continue to take all appropriate precautions, get fully vaccinated, and ‘tread lightly’ on all public services.