If you are feeling ill with symptoms of COVID-19 and you are not eligible for testing - information and supports available in the community

If you have mild symptoms and you have questions, or have mild symptoms and an underlying medical condition that you want assessed, please do not go to the West Parry Sound Health Centre Emergency Department (ED). The ED is not an appropriate place to seek a test for COVID-19.

Our ED is safe and fully prepared to provide necessary care. NEVER delay in calling 911 or traveling safely to the ED for urgent or emergency care.

PLEASE stay home if you or a household member is experiencing mild, manageable illness.

For mild COVID-19 symptoms, you may call the Assessment Centre and speak to a Registered Nurse. They may give you the option for a nursing assessment to assess your oxygen and respiratory status (705-746-4540 ext. 5030) or send a referral to community paramedicine.

COVID-19 causes a range of symptoms that vary from person-to-person and include new or worsening:

• Fever > 37.8˚ C and/or chills
• Cough
• Trouble breathing
• Decrease or loss of smell or taste
• Headache
• Very tired, sore muscles and joints
• Nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Sore throat

    The number of people right now with COVID-19 infection is so high that if you are experiencing any of these symptoms you should assume you have COVID-19 infection, even if you are fully vaccinated.

You can also use this on-line self-assessment for instructions on self-isolation and testing: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment/

Click on the PDF below to find additional information, web links, and contact numbers for Primary Care.

Attachments:

Information and community supports

The Ministry of Health has recently announced the provincial expectation (known as Directive #2) that all non-emergent and non-urgent surgeries and procedures be stopped.

Urgent and emergency surgeries and procedures will continue.

All programs and services at WPSHC are currently subject to challenges based on the rapidly changing impacts of COVID-19. We are doing everything we can to protect our delivery of safe, sustainable care.
The information provided here is subject to change based on the capacity of our care teams.

What does this mean for WPSHC patients?

• Anyone in the community who has an appointment scheduled for any procedure, program, or service may be contacted by someone from the health centre or a clinical office in advance of their scheduled appointment. If contact has not been made, patients should call their existing contact for more information about their scheduled procedure, program, or service.

As much as possible, we are planning to maintain most of our currently scheduled services in Ambulatory Care, Out-patient Rehabilitation, Diabetes Education Centre, and Medical Imaging.

Please see the information included here.

• Urgent appointments in Ambulatory Care will continue as scheduled. These include, but are not limited to: chemotherapy, specialist clinics, and nursing care.
    All Ambulatory Care referrals must be from a local primary care provider.

• Our Out-patient Rehabilitation Department, Diabetes Education Centre, and Medical Imaging (x-ray, ultrasound, mammography, CT) will continue to provide services in accordance with ongoing COVID-19 protocols. There will be some changes to patient programs. Services will continue to be offered with consideration given to cases at highest risk for deterioration. Some increase in wait times for less urgent referrals may occur.
    Non-urgent and screening appointments including Ontario Breast Screening and Bone Mineral Density exams will be re-scheduled; affected patients will be contacted directly.
    Any inquiries regarding Medical Imaging appointments can be directed to 705-746-9321 extension 3602.
    Referral from a primary health care provider is required for out-patient services and procedures in these departments.

 • All out-patient services and procedures will be triaged with priority for urgent and emergency referrals.

• Should organizational demands or provincial directions no longer support these practices, we will contact patients directly to provide revised information.

• At WPSHC, important care decisions will continue to be based on individual care plans in consultation with medical and clinical care teams.

WE ASK OUR PATIENTS TO CONTACT US if they become symptomatic or are isolating due to a positive COVID-19 contact. Please let us know prior to your appointment so we can best plan to support you and offer care that is timely and safe for you and our staff.

The Ministry of Health has made required changes in the provincial COVID-19 testing guidelines for the general public. Please check to see if you are eligible for testing before calling our Assessment Centre to request an appointment.

Effective immediately and in response to the rapidly spreading and highly transmissible Omicron variant COVID-19 testing guidelines have changed for the general public.  

At all assessment centres in the province, here is a list of groups eligible for molecular testing (PCR or rapid molecular testing):
• Symptomatic people who fall into one of the following groups:
- Hospitalized patients.
- Patients in Emergency Departments, at the discretion of the treating clinician.
- Patient-facing health care workers.
- Staff, residents, essential care providers, and visitors in hospitals and congregate living settings, including long-term care, retirement homes, First Nation elder care lodges, group homes, shelters, hospices, temporary foreign worker settings, and correctional institutions.
- Outpatients for whom COVID-19 treatment is being considered: includes those 70 and older who have a risk factor including obesity (BMI ≥30), dialysis or stage 5 kidney disease (eGFR <15 mL/min/1.73 m2), diabetes, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability of any severity, sickle cell disease, receiving active cancer treatment, solid organ or stem cell transplant recipients, or 50 and older if First Nations, Inuit, or Métis with any of those risk factors.
- Under-housed or homeless.

• People who are from First Nation, Inuit, and Métis communities and individuals travelling into these communities for work.
• People on admission/transfer to or from hospital or congregate living setting.
• High-risk contacts and asymptomatic/symptomatic people in the context of confirmed or suspected outbreaks in high-risk settings, including hospitals, long-term care, retirement homes, other congregate living settings and institutions, and other settings as directed by the local public health unit.
• Individuals, and one accompanying caregiver, with written prior approval for out-of-country medical services from the General Manager, OHIP.
• Asymptomatic testing in hospital, long-term care, retirement homes and other congregate living settings and Institutions as per provincial guidance and/or Directives

Individuals not meeting the above criteria and with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 are presumed positive and they should follow isolation and/or self-monitoring guidelines. If you have concerns about your symptoms, contact your primary health care provider or Telehealth for more information and guidance. If you develop severe symptoms requiring medical attention, such as shortness of breath or chest pain, call 911.

NEVER delay in calling 911 or traveling safely to the Emergency Department for urgent or emergency care. Our ED is safe and fully prepared to provide necessary care.

The Emergency Department at West Parry Sound Health Centre is not an appropriate place to seek a test for COVID-19. PLEASE stay home if you or a household member is experiencing mild, manageable illness.

Please ensure you are eligible for testing before calling the West Parry Sound Assessment Centre to request an appointment - 705-746-4540 ext. 5030.