COVID-19 GGH Updates*
*if you don’t see today’s update, click “refresh” on your browser
Please note: Information can change from day to day. Be sure to read these updates from most recent to oldest. If you find contradictory information, the most current update is correct.
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (1)
Resources and Supplies (0)
Staff Support (1)
Other (2)Starting with the positive...
We are posting on our Facebook page, “Behind the Mask.” From time to time it highlights different groups or areas in the hospital and provide the public with bits of information not readily known about how we’re responding to the pandemic. The most recent feature is on our Intensive Care Unit. (Click photo to enlarge)
Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 310 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 273 Current number of staff with a positive test 0 Number of staff results pending 7 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 30 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 30 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 2 Action/Must read
What’s new?
Starts Tuesday!! Final issue of COVID-19 GGH Update
As we start transitioning to a "new normal" this daily COVID-19 update will transition as well. Starting next week, the update will include general hospital news as well as a COVID-19 section. "News in General" will be hosted on a new page on our web site and will be published Tuesday and Friday afternoons. The "Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients" table currently in the COVID updates will be at the top of the new web page. That way, the most current numbers will always be available for viewing between published issues. Special editions of News in General will go out as needed.
With its broader mandate, these updates will replace our bimonthly staff newsletter, General Express. The goal is to provide timely news in an easily accessible manner.Resources and Supplies
Staff Support
Staff giveaways
Yesterday’s table in the main lobby of donated goodies was a success – too much of a success in fact, as staff gathered closely without physical distancing. If we receive any other donated items for staff, we’ll be working with the screeners to hand items out in a safe manner.Other
Freeing up space for patients in our main parking lot
As we ramp services up, we want to make sure patients have easy access to our main door. Please leave spaces closest to main entrance for our patients and visitors. Also, those who normally park in other hospital lots but have been using the main lot need to start using their old location. Thanks!Parking fees to resume
Effective June 29, visitors, staff and professional staff will be charged for parking at our normal parking rates. -
How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (1)
Resources and Supplies (0)
Staff Support (2)
Other (0)Starting with the positive...
Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients -
all positive staff now recovered!Total number of staff tested to date 309 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 272 Current number of staff with a positive test 0 Number of staff results pending 7 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 30 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 30 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 2 Action/Must read
What’s new?
As we start transitioning to a "new normal" this daily COVID-19 update will transition as well. Starting next week, the update will include general hospital news as well as a COVID-19 section. The update will be hosted on a new page on our web site and will be published Tuesday and Friday afternoons. Special editions will go out as needed.
With its broader mandate, these updates will replace our bimonthly staff newsletter, General Express. The goal is to provide timely news in an easily accessible manner.Resources and Supplies
Staff Support
#fueltheheroes
There is a #fueltheheroes table set up today in the main lobby at 2 p.m., first come first served. Take only what you touch. Please keep you and your colleagues safe – ensure physical distancing. Coffee products (thanks Canada Coffee), KIND energy bars and the Tetley tea infusions (thanks The Workplace Present).Now that things are getting busier at the hospital
Please continue to self-monitor and watch for symptoms. From the Ministry's guidance document:- All HCWs, volunteers, and staff should be aware of the early signs and symptoms of acute respiratory infection, such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath. Atypical symptoms should be considered as well, especially in children, older persons, and people living with a developmental disability.
- Acute care settings should instruct all HCWs, volunteers, and staff to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms at home and not come to work if feeling ill. Those who are experiencing symptoms should report this to the acute care setting.
Other
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (1)
Resources and Supplies (1)
Staff Support (1)
Other (0)Starting with the positive...
The final group of gift card and gift basket winners have been selected! To see if you've won, click here.
The gift cards will be distributed through internal mail and gift bags can be picked up at the Foundation from Monday to Friday, 9-5.
.Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 306 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 271 Current number of staff with a positive test 0 Number of staff results pending 5 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 30 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 30 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 1 Action/Must read
What’s new?
Last Friday, the Ministry of Health released an updated version of its 9-page document, "COVID-19 Guidance: Acute Care." It's a great resource and also contains links to other relevant, Ministry COVID information. The document is an easy read and a great way to refresh one's memory about a variety of topics such as Active Screening, work restrictions for Health Care Workers etc.
Resources and Supplies
Scrubs order notice!
Scrubs are on the way!! VTR is receiving shipments this week from all distributors. Franco and Jen will bag them and get them to GGH or call you to come into the store as soon as they arrive. Thank you for your patience.Staff Support
Other
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (1)
Resources and Supplies (0)
Staff Support (1)
Other (1)Starting with the positive...
Zero positive in-patients!!
Total number of staff tested to date 302 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 269 Current number of staff with a positive test 1 Number of staff results pending 3 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 29 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 30 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 0 Action/Must read
What’s new?
Change in Approach to Clearing Cases for Admitted Patients
The Ministry of Health document “COVID-19 Quick Reference Public Health Guidance on Testing and Clearance” ver. 7.0, May 28, 2020,defines two approaches to clearing positive COVID-19 cases:- The “Test Based” Approach – clearance is defined as two consecutive negative specimens collected at least 24 hours apart.
- The “Non-Test Based” Approach – clearance is defined as 14 days after symptom onset (or 14 days from positive test collection date if never had symptoms), provided that the individual is afebrile and symptoms are improving for at least 72 hours.
GGH has been using the “Test Based” approach to clearing positive COVID-19 cases. The “Test Based” approach is not routinely recommended by Ontario Public Health. As such, GGH will implement the “Non-Test Based” approach, effective immediately. Please discontinue requesting COVID-19 tests for the purpose of determining clearance. GGH lab will no longer process COVID-19 swabs collected for test of clearance.
To ensure proper specimen handling and testing, it is important to indicate the reason for testing on the COVID-19 requisition. The reason for testing can be entered by checking the “Other” box in Section 8 – Clinical Information on the requisition and recording the reason for testing.
Patients being discharged to certain facilities (long term care home, retirement home, hospice) will required a negative swab result within 24 hours of discharge. If testing to facilitate discharge to this type of facility, indicate so on the requisition.
Resources and Supplies
Staff Support
Be sure to check out our COVID-19 - Staff Offerings page on our Intranet from time to time. New discount offers continue to arrive including the latest from K.B.R. Auto Parts in Guelph.
Other
A reminder about expressing interest in working at the COVID-19 Assessment Centre
The Hospital, in partnership with Guelph Family Health Team, Emergency Medical Services and Wellington Dufferin and Guelph Public Health, continues to operate an Assessment Centre for COVID-19.Currently, we are looking for two RNs to work temporary regular part-time, two RNs to work as Resource RN temporary full-time and employees who have been trained to register patients to work on a casual basis. Shift times Monday to Friday are 730-1930 or 830-2030 and 830-1630 Saturday and Sundays.
If you are interested in working at the Centre, please contact Human Resources via email at HRPOC@gghorg.ca, and provide the following information in your email:
- Your name
- Your Department
- Your role
- Your employee type eg. FT, Part time, Casual
- A contact phone #
- Position you are interested in eg. RN, Resource RN or registration
You will be contacted with more information if you are asked to work at the Assessment Centre. Please note that this is an expression of interest and does not mean you will be guaranteed work.
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (1)
Resources and Supplies (0)
Staff Support (0)
Other (0)Starting with the positive...
A few weeks ago, the Waterloo Warbirds flew over Guelph in a tribute to frontline workers. Recently, they posted this photo highlighting Guelph General Hospital in the background. Click photo to enlarge. Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 299 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 266 Current number of staff with a positive test 1 Number of staff results pending 3 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 29 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 30 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 2 Action/Must read
What’s new?
Ramping up begins
GGH has been approved to move forward with our plan to gradually increase our surgical and procedural services. This week, you will start to see an increase in patients within the organization as we start to increase elective surgeries, diagnostic testing and other procedures.
During the past few months, GGH was required to only continue with urgent and emergency cases. Therefore, we have a significant back log in patients waiting. This is our first week of increasing services and we are going very slowly. During the week, the teams in Ambulatory Care, Diagnostic Imaging and the OR have been working very hard to plan for patient flow, physical distancing and timing of services. Our goal continues to be the safety of our patients and our staff. Each week, we will be re-evaluating how the previous week went and assessing our ability to move ahead with more procedures.Resources and Supplies
Staff Support
Other
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (0)
Resources and Supplies (0)
Staff Support (0)
Other (0)Starting with the positive...
Kindergarten students at Holy Trinity Catholic School worked together to create a special slideshow "for our Local Heroes!" To watch the entire 3-minute presentation (with sound turned on if possible), click here. Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients*
Total number of staff tested to date 296 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 261 Current number of staff with a positive test 1 Number of staff results pending 5 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 29 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 30 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 2 *from Thursday, June 5 Action/Must read
What’s new?
Resources and Supplies
Final reminder: Change to scrubs access coming Monday
There is a shortage of scrubs across the province including at GGH. As a result, a sign-in/out system was implemented to allow us to better track the usage of our scrub supply. Now, after much consideration, some areas of the hospital that historically had access to scrubs will temporarily no longer have them available. This measure is being applied in an effort to maintain and ramp up our operations. This change takes effect Monday, June 8, and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
- Sign in/out process remains the same
- Staff from areas no longer receiving scrubs will no longer have their name on the sign-out list
- Staff not normally issued scrubs but requiring a change of clothes due to accidental soiling while on shift can get scrubs from the screening station in the main lobby 0600-2030 and in the ED from 2030-0630. Staff will be required to sign the change list.
Please see the detailed policy for further details.
Staff Support
Scrubs promotion at Mark’s
The latest addition to our COVID-19 Staff Offerings page on our Intranet is a promotion on scrubs for women and men at Mark’s. In addition to many scrubs being on sale, those with Triangle Rewards cards receive 50x in CT money. The promotion ends June 8.Other
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (1)
Resources and Supplies (0)
Staff Support (0)
Other (1)Starting with the positive...
Last week, we started a new feature on our Facebook page, “Behind the Mask.” From time to time it’ll highlight different groups or areas in the hospital and provide the public with bits of information not readily known about how we’re responding to the pandemic. The most recent feature is on Environmental Services. (Click photo to enlarge)
Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 296 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 261 Current number of staff with a positive test 1 Number of staff results pending 5 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 29 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 30 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 2 Action/Must read
What’s new?
Expression of Interest for Staffing the COVID-19 Assessment Centre
The Hospital, in partnership with Guelph Family Health Team, Emergency Medical Services and Wellington Dufferin and Guelph Public Health, continues to operate an Assessment Centre for COVID-19.Currently, we are looking for two RNs to work temporary regular part-time, two RNs to work as Resource RN temporary full-time and employees who have been trained to register patients to work on a casual basis. Shift times Monday to Friday are 730-1930 or 830-2030 and 830-1630 Saturday and Sundays.
If you are interested in working at the Centre, please contact Human Resources via email at HRPOC@gghorg.ca, and provide the following information in your email:
- Your name
- Your Department
- Your role
- Your employee type eg. FT, Part time, Casual
- A contact phone #
- Position you are interested in eg. RN, Resource RN or registration
You will be contacted with more information if you are asked to work at the Assessment Centre. Please note that this is an expression of interest and does not mean you will be guaranteed work.
Resources and Supplies
Staff Support
Other
New Clinical Director announced
Carrie Anderson will be our new Director for Medicine, Stroke and Bed Allocation starting June 15. Carrie has been a member of our GGH team since 2006. Over her years here she has worked as a staff nurse, a clinical educator/professional practice lead and for the past 5.5 months, as Interim Director of Intensive Care. Carrie is a Registered Nurse and is in the process of completing her Master of Nursing degree focusing her studies on leadership.
Carrie will have the opportunity to work along side Karen Moore, Interim Director, Medicine, for a two-week orientation period prior to Karen’s transition to her new role here in IPAC. -
How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (1)
Resources and Supplies (1)
Staff Support (1)
Other (0)Starting with the positive...
IMS team marks a milestone before starting to wind down
On March 13 our Incident Management System team met for the first time in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yesterday, the group held its 50th meeting by coming together (at a distance) to mark the occasion having only met by teleconference since March 17. As the pandemic becomes almost a "new normal" and the gradual restarting of services coming, the IMS team will be disbanded soon. It will always be available at a moment's notice should the need arise.
In the photo (click to enlarge) are (l-r); Marianne Walker, President and CEO; Perry Hagerman, Senior Communications Specialist; Gavin Webb, VP Finance and CIO; Katie Bedo, Administration; Dr. Jennifer Caspers, Chief of Staff; Karen Suk-Patrick, Director Human Resources, OD and Employee Health; Suzanne Bone, Foundation CEO; Dawn Miller, Health and Safety Officer; Julie Wilson, Director Quality and Professional Practice; Kim Towes, Senior Director Patient Services; Bob Clayborne, Director Lab, IPAC, MDRD; Kim Crawford, Director Emergency Services and Michelle Bott, Senior Director Patient Services. Missing are Jeff Carter, Director Materials Management and Rod Carroll, Rod Carroll, VP Human Resources and Support Services.Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 294 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 260 Current number of staff with a positive test 1 Number of staff results pending 4 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 29 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 30 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 2 Action/Must read
What’s new?
Plan to gradual restart of elective surgeries and services approved
On May 7, the Ontario government released a framework to guide hospitals in their planning for the gradual resumption of scheduled surgeries and procedures while maintaining capacity to respond to COVID-19. Over the past three weeks GGH established over 20 planning groups in order to prepare. There are many unknowns moving forward and we know healthcare will need to adapt and change to ensure safety for patients and our staff. The reality is, services will need to establish a ‘new normal’ and we will need to think and plan very differently than we have in the past.In response to the May 7 announcement, GGH developed a plan to very slowly begin to provide elective services in our Diagnostic Imaging, Operating Room and Ambulatory Care Departments. To support the increase in service delivery, we will be monitoring community and inpatient COVID activity. We are prepared to respond if the need arises. Additionally, we need to ensure we have all the supplies we need to both support the increase services and respond to COVID activity. To do this we have developed new tools to monitor our PPE, surgical supplies, medication levels and supply chain availability.
During COVID we continued with our most urgent / emergent surgeries and procedures. Now, GGH will need to start to address the long wait lists of elective procedures. In order to do this, DI, AC and OR will be using an ethical framework and patient prioritization tools so we can ensure the patients in the most need of service are moving ahead.
On Friday May 29, we submitted our service reintroduction plan to Ontario Health for a multi-step review and approval process. Late yesterday we received approval to slowly move forward on our plan. It is important to note that this plan is phased, with gradual increases in service and weekly evaluation and assessment.
We ask for our staff and our community’s patience as we move ahead in these next few weeks. We have learned a lot over the past many weeks as we responded to COVID-19. To continue to maintain safety of staff and patients, we will be scheduling and organizing care and services in a very different way. As we move forward slowly, we will use these learnings combined with guidance from Ontario Health, WDG Public Health, and patients and families' feedback to continuously improve our plan.
Resources and Supplies
In-house COVID-19 testing on hold
For the last few weeks, the GGH laboratory has been performing COVID-19 testing on-site, for admitted patients. COVID-19 tests for non-admitted patients and Assessment Centre patients are sent to a reference lab.As of this morning, our lab has exhausted its supply of COVID-19 reagent kits and cannot perform on-site testing at this time. The kits are on allocation from the manufacturer and we may receive inventory sporadically and will continue in-house testing whenever we have inventory.
When in-house reagent test kits are unavailable, all COVID-19 requests for admitted patients will be sent to a reference lab. The current turnaround time for referred out COVID-19 tests is approximately 3-4 days. Results will be entered in Meditech as they are received from the reference lab.
Staff Support
Scrubs promotion at Mark’s
The latest addition to our COVID-19 Staff Offerings page on our Intranet is a promotion on scrubs for women and men at Mark’s. In addition to many scrubs being on sale, those with Triangle Rewards cards receive 50x in CT money. The promotion ends June 8.Other
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (0)
Resources and Supplies (2)
Staff Support (1)
Other (0)Starting with the positive...
Last week, we started a new feature on our Facebook page, “Behind the Mask.” From time to time it’ll highlight different groups or areas in the hospital and provide the public with bits of information not readily known about how we’re responding to the pandemic. The most recent feature is on Day Surgery/3 East. (Click photo to enlarge)
Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 290 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 260 Current number of staff with a positive test 1 Number of staff results pending 3 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 29 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 30 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 2 Action/Must read
What’s new?
Resources and Supplies
Reminder: Keep saving the empty Oxivir containers and sanitizer bottles
We continue to explore ways of supporting the scarce supply of wipes. Also, we are now refilling sanitizer bottles with alternately sourced sanitizer. Please give the saved canisters and bottles to Environmental Services.Reminder: Change to scrubs access coming Monday
There is a shortage of scrubs across the province including at GGH. As a result, a sign-in/out system was implemented to allow us to better track the usage of our scrub supply. Now, after much consideration, some areas of the hospital that historically had access to scrubs will temporarily no longer have them available. This measure is being applied in an effort to maintain and ramp up our operations. This change takes effect Monday, June 8, and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.- Sign in/out process remains the same
- Staff from areas no longer receiving scrubs will no longer have their name on the sign-out list
- Staff not normally issued scrubs but requiring a change of clothes due to accidental soiling while on shift can get scrubs from the screening station in the main lobby 0600-2030 and in the ED from 2030-0630. Staff will be required to sign the change list.
Please see the detailed policy for further details.
Staff Support
New online coaching program from Homewood
As you hopefully are aware, our EFAP Program provider Homewood Health has a lot of tools and resources for you: 1-800-663-1142.Recently, they have introduced a new on-line coaching program called Stress Solutions, in part as a response to the enormous stress people are facing in their lives during COVID-19 - Introducing: Stress Solutions – A new Life Smart coaching service
Stress Solutions consists of one to three telephonic sessions. Sessions include but are not limited to providing information and education about the cognitive aspects of stress, and connections between thoughts and feelings. Coaching is provided on stress management, lifestyle, priority management and tools such as meditation and relaxation techniques. In addition to coaching supported by a registered counselor or clinician with specialized expertise in stress, employees will also receive written resources with information specific to their source or primary stress indication. Employees will also receive a welcome booklet providing an overview of stress issues and stress management techniques. This service is part of the Employee & Family Assistance program and is free for you and your immediate family, as an employee of Guelph General Hospital.Other
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (0)
Resources and Supplies (1)
Staff Support (2)
Other (0)Starting with the positive...
Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 292 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 258 Current number of staff with a positive test 1 Number of staff results pending 4 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 29 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 30 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 2 Action/Must read
What’s new?
Resources and Supplies
Focusing limited scrub supply on where it's most needed
As many of you are already aware, the province has had a shortage of scrubs since COVID-19 hit. GGH was not immune to this. We do not know how long the shortage will last and as a result, a sign-in/out system was implemented to allow us to better track the usage of our scrub supply. After much consideration, some areas of the hospital that historically had access to scrubs will temporarily no longer have them available. This measure is being applied in an effort to maintain and ramp up our operations. This change takes effect Monday, June 8, and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.- Sign in/out process remains the same
- Staff from areas no longer receiving scrubs will no longer have their name on the sign-out list
- Staff not normally issued scrubs but requiring a change of clothes due to accidental soiling while on shift can get scrubs from the screening station in the main lobby 0600-2030 and in the ED from 2030-0630. Staff will be required to sign the change list.
Please see the detailed policy for further details.
Thank you all for your efforts to conserve and return scrubs. We have recovered nearly half of the 8,000 pieces that went missing.Staff Support
Crucial Conversations COVID-19 "How Do I Say That?" Series
Building successful relationships at work often comes down to what you say, and how you say it. We know that sometimes finding the right words isn't always easy. Especially now, when life feels even more stressful and uncertain, knowing what to say and how to say it can be the difference between health and sickness, happiness and sorrow, and success and failure. Whether it be speaking with a colleague about staying physically distant, setting expectations for a face-to-face meeting, or talking to your older parents about staying safe. The key is learning and applying the right skills. Review these videos (on Intranet only) for hints and tips you can apply to any conversation.
If you need any support, please don't hesitate to reach out to Jo-Anne in OD - x2363
Starts Today!!
Other
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (2)
Resources and Supplies (1)
Staff Support (1)
Other (1)Starting with the positive...
We've started a new feature on our Facebook page, "Behind the Mask." From time to time it'll highlight different groups or areas in the hospital and provide the public with bits of information not readily known about how we're responding to the pandemic. The first group featured are our screeners. Posted Wednesday, it already has 170 likes and reached almost 2,800 people. Stay tuned for a new posting next week!
FINAL DAY! (for now) Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 290 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 255 Current number of staff with a positive test 1 Number of staff results pending 5 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 29 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 30 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 2 Action/Must read
What’s new?
"Ramping up" preparations
On Wednesday, all remaining patients in 3 East were moved to medicine units. This is a part of our plan, when approved, to restart elective services including surgery. Day Surgery has received a final cleaning and will be ready for patients when needed. Also, starting Monday PACU will revert back to its regular 8-hour schedule. As always, PACU will continue to support ICU patients when required as part of our Surge Capacity policy.Hot food returning to the Bistro!
Resources and Supplies
Additional labels for some hand sanitizer dispensers
We recently become aware of a gap in labeling of the hand sanitizer products in the hospital. Because of supply shortage of traditional hand sanitizer, Purell, we’ve sourced an alternative from three manufacturers. This has been used to refill some dispensers that are still label "Purell."
In the event an employee needed to access our Safety Data Sheets (SDS), they could potentially access the wrong SDS if the dispenser contains our donated stock. To avoid confusion, any dispenser filled with our alternate hand sanitizer will soon have a label to accurately indicate what’s inside.Staff Support
Positive response to GGH online grocery store.
Nineteen staff used the service in the past two days with approximately $1,000 of grocery and pre-made meals being bought! It seems staff are finding the value in being able to order and pick up their items at work and avoid waiting and navigating lines at grocery stores.As a reminder, orders will be ready to pick up the following business day to allow time to place, gather, organize and pack them safely and correctly. Pick up times will have to be within weekday business hours only. Orders will be based on “each” unless otherwise stated. Special Orders will be available upon request by calling ext. 2258. To order you must first set up an online account by clicking here.
Other
Pandemic Pay update
On Wednesday, the province shared more details about its "pandemic pay" initiative. Yesterday, our HR department shared how this might affect GGH staff directly. For the details, click here. -
How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (1)
Resources and Supplies (0)
Staff Support (3)
Other (0)Starting with the positive...
Will is in Grade 4 at St. Ignatius. Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 288 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 254 Current number of staff with a positive test 1 Number of staff results pending 3 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 29 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 30 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 3 Action/Must read
What’s new?
As a part of the ramping up process, the need for physical distancing will be a part of all plans. Our local Public Health has generously offered to supply health care providers with floor stickers at no cost. Resources and Supplies
Staff Support
The next group of “What’s on Your Mind” questions are now posted
This time around there’s 21(!) questions and two comments. The topics include; "pandemic pay," extended use of masks, staff flow through main lobby staff entrance, ripping masks, and other topics of interest.Please remember, “What’s on Your Mind?” is hosted on our Intranet and only viewable within the organization.
Final Homewood Wellness Webinar tonight
Mindfulness and Mitigating the Stress Response to COVID-19, is tonight at 7 p.m. For all the details and how to register, click here. Please note, unfortunately due to copyright, these webinars cannot be recorded.
.Just in time for the weekend, the Balcony Bistro's online Grocery Store - Order today, pick up tomorrow!!
The Bistro would like to provide a way to make getting the essential food items easy and safe for our Health Care Workers and Hospital Personnel!
Everything we offer will be at MARKET PRICE provided by our supplier! No mark ups, you pay what we pay! Please note, prices may vary depending on supplier pricing as it can fluctuate from order to order and are subject to availability.
We will need one business day in advance to place, gather, organize and pack orders safely and correct. Pick up times will have to be within our business hours and weekdays only.
Orders will be based on “each” unless otherwise stated. Special Orders will be available upon request by calling ext. 2258. To order you must first set up an online account by clicking here.
Other
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (1)
Resources and Supplies (1)
Staff Support (0)
Other (0)Starting with the positive...
Dear healthcare support workers,
Thank you so much for working day and night so people who get sick can feel better. You are our HERO, I don't know what we would do without you.
THANK YOU
Love, JacobFINAL WEEK! (for now) Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 286 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 253 Current number of staff with a positive test 2 Number of staff results pending 3 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 28 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 30 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 3 Action/Must read
What’s new?
On May 7, the Ontario government released a framework to guide hospitals in their planning for the gradual resumption of scheduled surgeries and procedures while maintaining capacity to respond to COVID-19. Timelines will vary from hospital to hospital and be conditional on approval by regional oversight tables involved with planning and coordinating Ontario’s response to COVID-19.
Since then, planning at GGH for the reintroduction of services is moving forward at a furious pace. Twenty planning and working groups have been have been fashioned to review best practices, current and future state and local support and recommendations. The complexity of the challenge is unprecedented.
The developing plan must meet a lengthy list of conditions. Once draft plans are in place they will have to go through a multi-step review and approval process both locally and regionally. As with all pandemic planning, our plans are being developed in collaboration with our regional and community partners. In addition, our Patient and Family Advisory Committee will be consulted.
Over the next 12-24 months we anticipate services will be reintroduced in stages and perhaps in a series of starts and stops as we adjust to Government direction. The reality is, services will return to a new normal and we will need to think and plan very differently than we have in the past.
Last night, the government’s Directive #2 was revised. It now allows hospitals to ramp up services as guided by its updated, 15-page, "COVID-19 Operational Requirements Health Sector Restart" document. Things are changing quickly and as new information becomes available it will be shared widely.
Resources and Supplies
Review of Hand Sanitizer
GGH has conducted a thorough review of our hand sanitizers after learning that a manufacturer of hand sanitizer had changed the standard alcohol used in their product to what is called a “technical grade” of ethanol. This new product included a health hazard warning.After a thorough review and investigation of the products we use at GGH, including both our regular stock and donated stock, we were able to confirm that this product has not and is not being used at GGH. All our hand sanitizer products use a food grade ethanol, including our donated stock. There are no safety concerns, or changes in the use of the hand sanitizer product being used at GGH.
Staff Support
Other
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (0)
Resources and Supplies (1)
Staff Support (3)
Other (0)Starting with the positive...
Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 285 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 251 Current number of staff with a positive test 2 Number of staff results pending 4 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 28 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 30 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 5 Action/Must read
What’s new?
Resources and Supplies
Just a reminder to keep saving the empty Oxivir containers
We continue to explore ways of supporting this scarce supply including:
● purchasing wipes in “refill” format
● clean the containers, fill with disinfectant and dry wipes - essentially make our own wipes
As always, it would be done in a safe and acceptable manner with the involvement of Health & Safety. Please give the saved canisters to Environmental Services.
.Staff Support
Final Homewood Wellness Webinar this Thursday night
Mindfulness and Mitigating the Stress Response to COVID-19, is Thursday night at 7 p.m. For all the details and how to register, click here. Please note, unfortunately due to copyright, these webinars cannot be recorded.Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on your Mental Health
COVID-19 poses unique challenges for all individuals. For those who experience common mental health challenges, anxiety and depression the pandemic may be an additional stressor that contributes to these issues. The uncertainty, social isolation and sometimes sudden and unexpected changes to normal routines, relationships with others, and work and home environments can be especially triggering and difficult to manage. In the face of a pandemic like COVID-19, it is more important than ever to exercise vigilance around our mental well-being and the mental well-being of those around us.This 30-minute webinar presented by Homewood helped participants understand anxiety and depression, typical reactions, and equipped participants with strategies, tips and tools for regulating managing their own emotions as well as tips for supporting others who may be experiencing difficulties.
Community Gratitude
Excerpt from CEO's report for tonight's monthly Board of Directors meeting
The Hospital received overwhelming support from the community since the beginning of the pandemic. The Foundation created a COVID-19 Critical Response fund and raised approximately $500,000. This fund is designed to enable the Hospital to respond to emerging needs related to the pandemic. More than 700 donors have supported the fund including 355 who made their first gift to us. In addition our community supported us through:
- 20 tablets to connect patients to their families
- more than 10,000 sewn items including cloth masks, scrub caps and ear savers;
- words of gratitude from 178 people through the White Heart Project;
- hundreds of items to support staff including restaurant gift certificates, snacks, magazines, insoles, gift bags and hand cream;
- tens of thousands of pieces of PPE including N95 masks, surgical masks, face shields, gowns, gloves and more;
- random acts of kindness like the Gratitude Rock Garden in front of the Emergency Department, chalk messages on our sidewalks and lovely notes tucked under windshield wipers;
- Our community partners such as Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and police visibly showed their support;
Each of these acts of support makes such a difference to our team. It is heartening to see in such tangible ways that the community has our back.
Other
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (1)
What’s New? (1)
Resources and Supplies (0)
Staff Support (1)
Other (0)Starting with the positive...
A letter from a Grade 4 student at St. Ignatius Catholic Elementary School. 
Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 283 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 247 Current number of staff with a positive test 2 Number of staff results pending 6 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 28 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 30 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 6 Action/Must read
COVID-19 testing option expanded to include asymptomatic healthcare workers
Over the weekend, the Ministry of Health announced the strategy for COVID-19 testing would be expanded. Testing is now available to all people with at least one symptom. In addition, effective immediately “asymptomatic, risk-based testing” would be available for:- People who are concerned they have been exposed to COVID-19. This includes people who are contacts of or may have been exposed to a confirmed or suspected case.
- People who are at risk of exposure to COVID-19 through their employment, including essential workers (e.g. health care workers, grocery store employees, food processing plants).
If you are asymptomatic and want to get tested at an Assessment Centre please refer to your local Public Health guidelines for that process. If tested, you may continue to work while waiting your test results. Continue to be vigilant in following the safety measures put in place, including practicing excellent hand hygiene, practice physical distancing at all times, cleaning high touch surfaces frequently, and wearing a mask in all clinical areas and when you can not maintain a safe physical distance (in lounge rooms, elevator, break rooms, small offices etc.)
If you are feeling unwell, the COVID -19 Provincial Testing Guidance remains and any person who presents at least one of symptom or sign COVID-19 will be considered for testing:
- Fever (temp >37.8)
- New or worsening cough
- Shortness of breath
- Sore throat
- Difficulty swallowing
- New olfactory or taste disorder
- Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, abdominal pain
- Runny nose or congestion (in absence of underlying reason for these symptoms, such as seasonal allergies, post nasal drip etc.)
If you have these symptoms, do not come to work, follow our normal absence notification process, including calling EHS and letting your Director/Supervisor know).
What’s new?
Ensuring a patient's pandemic flag is cleared as quickly as possible
Effective last Friday, the following change is made to o STANDARD 4-044: Bed Allocation Processes for patients with COVID-19 or suspected COVID-19, for suspected COVID-19 patients:- Note; if the patient was transferred to GGH from a facility currently on COVID-19 outbreak, the flag should remain at “SUSPECT” until cleared by Infection Control,
- When a negative COVID-19 test result is received for a suspected COVID-19 patient, the unit staff should notify bed allocation and request bed allocation change the pandemic flag to “CLEAR”
- Bed allocation will change the flag in LAB LIS in Meditech to “CLEAR”
- The patient must remain on droplet contact precautions, until cleared by Infection Control.
- Once the flag is removed, bed placement will follow usual hospital processes for patient’s diagnosis and normal IPAC algorithms for decision making.
- Patients should continue to be monitored for new onset of symptoms using the IPAC COVID-19 Active Screening Algorithm, and if new symptoms are evident, use the IPAC COVID-19 Tracking Tool.
This change will ensure the pandemic flag is cleared as quickly as possible and will contribute to improved patient flow.
Resources and Supplies
Staff Support
The Balcony Bistro introduces an online Grocery Store!
The Bistro would like to provide a way to make getting the essential food items easy and safe for our Health Care Workers and Hospital Personnel!
Everything we offer will be at MARKET PRICE provided by our supplier! No mark ups, you pay what we pay! Please note, prices may vary depending on supplier pricing as it can fluctuate from order to order and are subject to availability.
We will need one business day in advance to place, gather, organize and pack orders safely and correct. Pick up times will have to be within our business hours and weekdays only.
Orders will be based on “each” unless otherwise stated. Special Orders will be available upon request by calling ext. 2258. To order you must first set up an online account by clicking here.
Other
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (1)
Resources and Supplies (1)
Staff Support (1)
Other (1)Starting with the positive...
Email from a local public school teacher:
Dear amazing Health care staff and team,
Some of the students at Paisley Road P.S. (age 9-11) wanted to send a message of thanks to health care workers. Here is a slideshow of their messages for you.
Enjoy hearing their messages from the heart.
With sincere thanks for everything you do everyday and as you help us through this global emergency.Just one example of the messages of support from the students. 
Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 282 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 246 Current number of staff with a positive test 2 Number of staff results pending 6 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 28 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 30 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 7 Action/Must read
What’s new?
Save the empty Oxivir canisters!
These wipes are in extremely short supply and we're exploring a way to safely refill these dispensers. For now, please give all empty ones to housekeeping (much like we're doing with the hand sanitizer bottles).Resources and Supplies
Last week an additional 585 pieces of scrubs were returned. Keep up the great work! And, please keep checking your closets, lockers and anywhere else they may be and bring them back. Staff Support
Other
Long-time GGH supporter Cody Moynihan will be doing a virtual mentalist fundraiser show in support of The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital. The live stream will start at 7:30 p.m.on Saturday, May 23 for only $15 a ticket. Tickets can be purchased at www.codymoynihan.com. His goal is to raise $5,000 and 100% of the money raised will go to the hospital. Help Cody Moynihan reach his goal and make plans for Saturday, May 23.
All hospital staff and other first responders who would like to attend the live stream can get 30% off tickets by using the code ”cmfrontline”. -
How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (1)
Resources and Supplies (0)
Staff Support (1)
Other (1)Starting with the positive...
Five lucky employees are going home with gifts that have been donated to support staff. The names were picked from a list of all staff who worked in the last two weeks using an online ‘random number generator.’ Then, the random number generator was used again to determine who got which prize. Winners have been notified and can pick their prize up at the Foundation office.
Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 280 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 246 Current number of staff with a positive test 1 Number of staff results pending 5 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 28 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 29 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 7 Action/Must read
What’s new?
Virtual Visiting now up and running
We know our current visitor restrictions while necessary are challenging for patients and their family members. To help reduce the sense of isolation, we have launched a new “Virtual Visiting Program” using tablets and platforms such as Zoom. A special thank you to Fusion Homes for the generous donation of 20 tablets to make these virtual visits possible. We have seen firsthand how reassuring it is for patients to connect to their support network this way.Much gratitude to the team involved in developing the training materials and overseeing the launch of this new service. Thanks also to our Nurses, Patient Relations staff and Social Workers who facilitate Zoom video calls. Post pandemic, we plan to continue virtual visits to help our patients and their loved ones stay connected.
3 East begins ramping down
As part of our preparations for our reintroduction of surgical and procedural programs, we are beginning to decrease admissions to our “3 East” medicine unit and plan to reabsorb the remaining patients into our medical units.
We would like to extend our thanks to all of the staff that have supported our ALC patients in the Day Surgery Unit over the past two months. During this time, our patients have received excellent care and clinical outcomes as a result of the teamwork and compassion provided by the entire team.Resources and Supplies
Staff Support
Other
Long-time GGH supporter Cody Moynihan will be doing a virtual mentalist fundraiser show in support of The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital. The live stream will start at 7:30 p.m.on Saturday, May 23 for only $15 a ticket. Tickets can be purchased at www.codymoynihan.com. His goal is to raise $5,000 and 100% of the money raised will go to the hospital. Help Cody Moynihan reach his goal and make plans for Saturday, May 23.
All hospital staff and other first responders who would like to attend the live stream can get 30% off tickets by using the code ”cmfrontline”. -
How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (1)
Resources and Supplies (1)
Staff Support (2)
Other (0)Starting with the positive...
Today, we are distributing close to 150, $25 gift certificates for the York Road Kitchen, thanks to a group of families from the Exhibition Park area.
Taking care of our patients is a team effort at the hospital. A certificate is being given to every tenth name on a list provided by payroll of all staff who were working in the last two weeks. Certificates will be delivered to directors/managers for distribution. The list of winners are here. Good luck!
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Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 278 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 245 Current number of staff with a positive test 1 Number of staff results pending 4 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 28 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 29 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 9 Action/Must read
What’s new?
Local Hospitals Planning For Measured Restart of Procedures and Surgeries
Hospitals in Waterloo Wellington are collaborating to plan for gradual resumption of scheduled surgeries and procedures that were paused in March because of COVID-19. The ability of hospitals to do so depends on meeting certain conditions as outlined in the Province’s framework for resuming scheduled care.This framework outlines conditions that are key to regional planning for resuming scheduled surgeries and procedures. The timeline is to be determined by these factors, which include:
- Current capacity within hospitals to care for patients, including those with COVID-19.
- Having adequate supplies of personal protective equipment.
- Having adequate supplies of drugs for surgeries.
- The ability to take activity down quickly should there be a re-emergence of multiple cases of COVID-19 positive patients.
- Evaluation and use of different approaches to care, and the potential for having patients and their care team travel for care.
A multi-disciplinary committee of experts created this framework based on the best available evidence to guide all hospitals - and the health care system at-large - in this next phase of care in Ontario. The framework is critical to regional planning and allows for the implementation of carefully thought-out resumption of scheduled cases. A great deal of work is underway in each of Waterloo Wellington’s hospitals to ensure patient and staff safety and the priority sequencing of services.
To read the complete release, click here.
Resources and Supplies
To date, 3,500 pieces of scrubs have been returned! There are still many more out there so please bring them back. Staff Support
Goodlife offering free online classes
All healthcare workers are able to get free access to Goodlife online classes while their gyms are closed. Go to https://www.goodlifefitness.com/ to sign up.
As a reminder, there's a page on our Intranet that lists all the current special offers to staff.Other
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (0)
Resources and Supplies (0)
Staff Support (1)
Other (0)Starting with the positive...
Those arriving for work Friday were in for a treat. The Senior Team was on hand to give out tasty goodies and a free coffee coupon. Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 276 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 239 Current number of staff with a positive test 1 Number of staff results pending 8 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 28 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 29 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 7 Action/Must read
What’s new?
Additional Precautions for Patients Transferred to GGH
On 14 May, the Ministry of Health issued “COVID-19 Provincial Testing Guidance Update, ver. 4.0.” This document indicates that, “Any admission to hospital from another hospital, long term care homes, retirement homes, or other congregate living settings and institutions should be tested upon admission.”Given this direction from the Ministry of Health and given the higher incidence of COVID-19 in these facilities, patients being transferred to GGH from another hospital, long term care home, retirement home, or other congregate living setting or institution must be placed in droplet/contact precautions, the pandemic flag set to “suspect” and droplet/contact precautions documented in Meditech as per the IPAC COVID-19 Active Screening Algorithm. Patient flow and bed allocation and clearance of the pandemic flag will then proceed as per “4-044: Standard: Bed Allocation Process for patients with COVID-19 or suspected COVID-19.”
Resources and Supplies
Staff Support
Next Homewood Wellness Webinar tonight
Anxiety, Depression and COVID-19: Supporting Yourself and Others, is tonight at 7 p.m. For all the details and how to register, click here. Please note, unfortunately due to copyright, these webinars cannot be recorded.Other
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (1)
Resources and Supplies (1)
Staff Support (2)
Other (0)Starting with the positive...
Yesterday in a local newspaper there was a supportive Letter to the Editor from a parent whose child required emergency, then inpatient, care here. In it she wrote, "Watching the news from around the world has given those of us on the outside a sense of the great risks and new challenges they face. Being in hospital during this frightening and unprecedented time provided an inside view. Seeing caregivers at their absolute best during what is most certainly among the worst of times fills me and my family with a new level of gratitude — one that is hard to express." To read the complete letter, click here
Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 275 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 236 Current number of staff with a positive test 1 Number of staff results pending 10 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 28 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 29 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 7 Action/Must read
What’s new?
The COVID-19 Assessment Centre on Victoria Road is changing its hours. Starting Saturday, its hours will be weekdays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., weekend and holidays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Resources and Supplies
Staff Support
COVID-19: Mental Health Services for Health & Community Care Workers
From St. Joe’s Hamilton: Health and community care workers have made a selfless commitment to care for our community during COVID-19. At work and at home, you have shown incredible strength. But even the strongest among us need help sometimes. Anxiety, exhaustion and compassion fatigue are all normal responses in this pandemic. It’s ok to say it: this is really hard.
If you are a health or community care worker impacted by stress related to COVID-19, supports are available to help you cope. These supports include access to resources you can access on your own or with a group of peers. Five hospitals in Ontario, including St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, are partnering with Ontario Health’s Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence to provide assessment and referrals to health or community care workers from across the province.
As a reminder
Our EFAP Program provider Homewood Health also has a lot of tools and resources for you: Employee and Family Assistance Program.Other
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (1)
Resources and Supplies (1)
Staff Support (0)
Other (0)Starting with the positive...
For years, Rev. Nancy Collett would perform the “Blessing of the Hands” ceremony as a part of Nurses Week. While Nancy is no longer with us, her blessing seems as timely as ever:
God blesses your hands for service.
May you also receive the vision to see the eyes of hearts and the courage to persevere in difficult times.
May all whose lives touch come to know the love of their Creator.
May that same love be a consolation to each open to receiving it.
May each undertake their ministries with hands that are blessed with spontaneity and are meticulously reliable.
Go about your duties, renewed and refreshed, dedicating your hands, your hearts and your sense of self to bring healing to all you meet.
Knowing that as you do you are blessed and you are a blessing to all you care for.Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 275 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 236 Current number of staff with a positive test 1 Number of staff results pending 10 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 28 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 29 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 7 Action/Must read
What’s new?
PPE guidelines update
On May 10, Ontario Health provided a third update on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic Recommendations. The guidelines built upon the previous versions and helped to address some frequently asked questions. The guidelines were developed by a team of experts convened to respond to urgent issues surrounding personal protective equipment (PPE) and included expertise from health system leaders in infection prevention and control (IPAC), infectious diseases, occupational health and safety, primary care, long-term care, home and community care, acute care, emergency medicine, and engineering.
Updates include :- The document has a new section with information on performing a point-of-care risk assessments (PCRA).
- Updated recommendations on the use of PPE in long-term care facilities (with the addition of retirement homes) and home and community care
- Updated considerations for the use of surgical/procedure masks
- Updated strategies for PPE conservation
- Aerosol-generating medical procedures list updated was updated to include non-AGMPs
Resources and Supplies
Oxivir Wipe supply shortage
Due to the unstable supply chain and constantly changing availability of Oxivir TB Wipes, Materials Management now needs to implement an allocation model of this valuable disinfecting product. Our inventory is running down and our most recent order was met with a back-order notice and no estimated time of arrival for delivery.The Regional Allocation Committee via Ontario Health West recently endorsed an allocation formula - Disinfectant Wipes – 160ea (1 canister) per six patients per day. This is in line with our actual 14-day average usage and will be used to guide Materials Management in how many disinfectant wipes will be issued to a department per day.
By limiting distribution, our current inventory will last longer which reduces possibility of running out before the next delivery. As a backup wipe, we do have an inventory of the less-preferred Clorox wipes.Staff Support
Other
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (3)
Resources and Supplies (1)
Staff Support (1)
Other (1)Starting with the positive...
A letter of gratitude from an essential worker. For those who have trouble reading cursive writing, click here. Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 273 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 234 Current number of staff with a positive test 1 Number of staff results pending 10 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 28 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 29 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 7 Action/Must read
What’s new?
Procedure masks will not be reprocessed
Earlier this week, Ontario Health notified hospitals they would no longer be required to save used procedure masks for possible future reprocessing.Scrubs disruption and an evolving distribution process
Yesterday we had a disruption in our supply chain that did not allow us to provide scrubs to all staff who requested them. In fact, we did not have enough to operate our OR’s/MDR safely. Staff arriving mid-morning only had XXS or XXX sizes available to them.Although more linen did arrive, in order to have hospital-issued scrubs available for staff working in environments that require them, GGH has implemented measures to secure and limit the distribution of scrubs across the organization. We recognize that for some staff this is a disruption to regular work routines. We appreciate your support and the patience.
Moving ahead as we plan to start to increase our hospital activity, GGH will need to further tighten up our distribution. As we work though some of the details we are asking staff to reflect on the following:
- Priority for sizing and offering hospital-issued scrubs will be given to staff who work in environments that require hospital-issued linen such as the OR/FBU OR, MDRD and staff entering these areas
- COVID-19 is not an indication for the wearing of scrubs and is not part of PPE for droplet contact precautions. Scrubs do not offer any additional level of protection against COVID-19
- If you are concerned about contamination on your clothes, simply bring work attire to wear while on shift then change back into your street clothes before you leave. Personally owned uniforms or work wear can be laundered as normal at home
- Some staff over the years have accessed hospital-owned scrubs as preferred work wear. Directors, Managers and Supervisors will be working with staff in these areas to transition to alternate work wear in order to conserve hospital-laundered scrubs
- Over the next few weeks there will be further restrictions on who can access scrubs will be coming. The information will be detailed in a temporary policy
- All staff who work outside of the sterile environments are encouraged to bring work-appropriate attire to work in case scrubs are not available
- Work uniforms are available for purchase through the following GGH specific promotions:
- DirectSave – 25 % off www.clothingprograms.com/ggh
- VTR Uniforms: Will provide all employees of GGH, with proof of employment, a discount on any REGULAR priced items, equal to the tax on that purchase. Please contact franco@vtruniforms.ca, (519) 827-5889
- Uniforms are also available for purchase in store at Walmart & Giant Tiger
Scrubs sign out is changing to better meet staff sizing needs!
Starting May 14, scrub sign out for all staff from 0600-2030 is available at the main screening station. After hours, a small supply of scrubs will be available at the ED screening station for on call staff or staff starting at off peak times.Resources and Supplies
Procedure masks update
GGH currently has two manufacturers of procedure masks that have been used over several weeks at GGH, Halyard and Primagard. Both of these masks are consistent with infection control guidelines, and are appropriate for healthcare workers to use where procedure masks are required.
Halyard masks are our current vendor. At this time, we are able to securing limited stock from them. Primagard masks are from our pandemic stockpile here at GGH. GGH’s Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) stockpile is kept in a secured area, where it is temperature controlled and meets all appropriate measures required for proper storing of PPE.
Over the last couple days, a few staff from varying departments have reported procedure masks that have ripped while being donned. This was looked into immediately. We believe there may be a quality issues with a limited number of mask that were recently received. The masks that are felt to have been affected have been removed from clinical areas. The manufacturer has been contacted and a quality review of these masks is underway.
Credit goes to the staff for quickly reporting this issue and the rapid response to remove what may be a defective lot. As always, safety is paramount and we will always err on the side of caution when it comes to safety.
In the event you find a mask that has a fault such as ripping, please keep the mask for pick-up and report it to your director. Directors can then report it to Materials Management so further investigation into quality issue can be reviewed.
Staff Support
COVID-19 Staff Feedback Survey – preliminary results
Thanks so much to the 357 staff that completed our survey. It was important for us to get feedback from you about what is working well right now with respect to our communication through this pandemic and to gather your ideas on how we can improve.
Overall, the survey shows that many of our current processes are working well. We also received a number of comments and ideas for improvement which will be reviewed over the coming weeks. More information will be shared as it becomes available. In the meantime, we are pleased to share the initial results of the survey responses here.
If you have any other questions or concerns, please share them with your supervisor or email covidquestions@gghorg.ca.
Other
Yesterday’s gift card winner list erroneously included staff who were paid the last pay period but not actually working. (Perhaps they were on mat leave).
The intent of the cards is to support those who are in the building at this time. Those names were removed and the gift card was given to someone in the same department chosen at random. This will get sorted out for the next draw (next week! :) ) -
How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (1)
Resources and Supplies (1)
Staff Support (2)
Policy Changes (0)Starting with the positive...
Thanks to PizzaVille for donating 100, $25 gift certificates. To distribute them, we used a list of all staff who worked the last pay period, deleted those departments that already received certificates and picked every tenth name. Click here to see the list of winners. Certificates will be delivered to directors/managers for distribution.
Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 270 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 229 Current number of staff with a positive test 1 Number of staff results pending 12 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 28 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 29 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 7 Action/Must read
What’s new?
Assessment Centre testing volumes
Since it opened, the Centre has had 3,529 visits. Of those, 2,897 people have been screened and 99 have received positive test results. As seen in the chart below, the Centre's daily volume has fluctuated widely over time. Click graph to enlarge.
Resources and Supplies
Scrubs shortage!
We have had a cart of scrubs that did not get delivered last night. It has led to us having to size up staff in the OR and turn staff away who are requesting scrubs. We are trying to work through this, but need your help!- ALL STAFF: Please bring in a backup uniform in case we do not have any hospital-issued scrubs to issue you.
- If we are short of scrubs, we will need to prioritize staff who work in the OR
- PPE is what protects you, not scrubs.
- Scrubs are not PPE and do not protect you any more than street clothes. Please follow the PPE precautions for all patients, including COVID positive patients.
- To protect yourself, the following options are available: change out of the clothes/shoes you wore at work and place them in a laundry bag. Change rooms and showers are available on Level One.
Staff Support
The next group of “What’s on Your Mind” questions are now posted
This time around there’s 11 questions and four comments. The topics include; Nurses Week T-shirt design, high levels of patient relocation, "pandemic pay" eligibility, and other topics of interest.Please remember, “What’s on Your Mind?” is hosted on our Intranet and only viewable within the organization.
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A unique salute
Today around noon, a WWII trainer airplane, a Harvard IIB, will fly over the hospital and other Guelph locations as a salute to healthcare workers, first responders and front-line essential personnel. The event is being put on by the Waterloo Warbirds, a volunteer-run organization.Policy Changes
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (2)
Resources and Supplies (0)
Staff Support (1)
Policy Changes (0)Starting with the positive...
Nurses Week starts today. While events have been postponed, that doesn't mean the week will go by unnoticed. For example, above is an ad that will run in Thursday's Guelph Mercury. 
Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 265 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 226 Current number of staff with a positive test 1 Number of staff results pending 10 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 28 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 29 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 7 Action/Must read
What’s new?
The Guelph & Area Ontario Health Team (G&A OHT) released its May newsletter on Friday. In it are stories about how the team is supporting local partners with their pandemic responses.
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Keeping track of COVID activity
Our Business Intelligence Tool, Daisy, has been providing a daily report on COVID activity both in the hospital and at the Assessment Centre. Below is its report from this morning on testing of inpatients and ED patients over the past two weeks. Dark green indicates negative result, light green is positive and grey is results pending.
Resources and Supplies
Staff Support
More thermometers available for purchase
All staff should be monitoring themselves for symptoms of any illness and taking their temperature at least twice per day. These days, drug stores are often out of thermometers so a supply has been set up for staff to buy. The thermometers are available at switchboard for $14, tax included. They are for staff purchase only – first come, first served.
Click to enlarge A message from our Life Insurance provider
On behalf of Desjardins and your OHA account management and service team, we would like to extend our most sincere gratitude and appreciation for all of the incredible work that you and your employees continue to do every day during this extremely challenging and difficult time. We want you to know that we understand the uniqueness of these days and we stand behind you in support of all of your tireless efforts.Policy Changes
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (1)
Resources and Supplies (3)
Staff Support (4)
Policy Changes (0)Starting with the positive...
Be sure to check out the success stories in the Resources and Supply section of today's update!
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Guelph's Dr. Doré continues to produce videos about all the great work being done locally in response to the pandemic. Here's what he wrote about the most recent episode:
"This Episode is a bit longer, but it addresses the challenges, solutions and collaborations that have been and are currently in full effect in our area to help protect some of our most vulnerable community members, the elderly and those in congregate settings such as long term care and retirement homes. The truly is a well organized "ring of protection", where there are a multitude of individuals and organizations, working together on a daily basis to keep COVID-19 at bay! Watch until the end - well worth it!"
Click on the image to watch.
#fueltheheroes
There is a #fueltheheroes table set up today in the main lobby, 11-3, first come first served. Take only what you touch. Please keep you and your colleagues safe – ensure physical distancing. Coffee products (thanks Canada Coffee), fruit cups (thanks Dole), hand cream (thanks anonymous donors) and LCBO magazines.
.Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 261 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 222 Current number of staff with a positive test 1 Number of staff results pending 10 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 28 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 29 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 7 Action/Must read
What’s new?
Provincial framework for ramping up hospital services released
Yesterday, the Ontario government released a framework to help hospitals assess their readiness and begin planning for the gradual resumption of scheduled surgeries and procedures while maintaining capacity to respond to COVID-19. Timelines will vary from hospital to hospital and be conditional on approval by regional oversight tables involved with planning and coordinating Ontario's response to COVID-19.As we shared in Wednesday’s update, planning is already underway at GGH as we consider what reintroduction of services will look like. We will be innovative in our approaches as we know that news ways of doing things are needed to manage during this pandemic. As with all pandemic planning, our plans will be developed in collaboration with our regional and community partners. Details will be shared as soon as they become available. Please note at this point in time we must still follow the government’s Directive# 2 that does not allow ramp up of services.
The province’s media release about the framework is here. For those wanting more details, the 37-page framework document is here.
Resources and Supplies
Environmental Services stepping up to help manage gown levels
“Never before did we have to look at our processes so carefully,” says Environmental Services Director, Rachelle Peacock. “The COVID-19 pandemic caused so many of us to have to react quickly. We’ve had to adapt, respond and be innovative.”
Environmental Services' Terry Baccin gets ready to distribute another load of clean gowns. Environmental Services (ES) is now using our real-time reporting system, Daisy, to know where the isolated patients are in the hospital and number of isolated patients per unit. With that information, it delivers gowns required for the day with a buffer for new additions. A second daily pickup and delivery was arranged with our linen supplier. This allows for faster reprocessing time and makes more clean gowns available without having to increase inventory. ES also added additional pick-ups of soiled gowns from the patient rooms and soiled utility rooms so as many gowns as possible are sent to the plant. On weekends the linen truck is here 3 - 6 a.m. to do a pick up so basically, linen work is happening around the clock.
In order to ensure adequate supply of reusable isolation gowns, it is important gowns be used correctly:
- Use of isolation gown is for PPE only.
- Do not dispose of COVID-19 contaminated isolation gowns.
- Soiled isolation gowns are to be segregated in the designated linen hamper. This will allow for fast reprocessing time.
- Isolation gowns are not to be used as clothing protectors when bathing patients or worn as warming jackets.
- Bundle your care to avoid frequent visits to patients.
“These are unprecedented times which require all of us to support, partner and respond to ensure the safety of both staff and patients,” says Rachelle.
New scrubs process already showing positive results!
We have seen a 23% increase in our scrub return rate since starting the sign in process only a week ago! We expect this will continue to improve as the sign in process gets further established. We have also seen a decrease in staff coming into and out of the building in scrubs.
We have also recovered a number of missing pieces, but need to keep them coming in. Each piece returned will receive a huge "THANK YOU!"
Much of the credit for this success goes to the screeners, Connie Reeves-Bolger and Jen Pranger. Well done!Masks for Professional Staff
Please obtain your surgical mask from the unit. They are stored in an orange box in the nursing station. Please do not take/request full boxes of masks to any change room or lounge.Staff Support
"Pandemic Pay" update
Last night, the government launched a website that provides some additional details regarding its pandemic pay initiative. While the web site does outline some eligible occupations, it’s not a comprehensive list and does not outline the mechanisms through which hospitals will receive government funding for administering pandemic pay.The government advises that further direction will be provided to eligible employers, including hospitals, prior to May 15. Hospitals have been encouraged by the Ontario Hospital Association to await further communication from government prior to making decisions with respect to pandemic pay at this time, particularly in the absence of confirmation of provincial funding and other key implementation details.
We understand many people have questions about whether they will be included in that list by the government. We also recognize the impact it has on the morale of staff who do not appear to be not included when everyone has contributed to respond to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic as part of the GGH team. As soon as we get these details, we will apply the payment to eligible staff retroactively. We appreciate everyone’s patience during this process.
.COVID-19: Mental Health Services for Health & Community Care Workers
From St. Joe’s Hamilton: Health and community care workers have made a selfless commitment to care for our community during COVID-19. At work and at home, you have shown incredible strength. But even the strongest among us need help sometimes. Anxiety, exhaustion and compassion fatigue are all normal responses in this pandemic. It’s ok to say it: this is really hard.
If you are a health or community care worker impacted by stress related to COVID-19, supports are available to help you cope. These supports include access to resources you can access on your own or with a group of peers. Five hospitals in Ontario, including St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, are partnering with Ontario Health’s Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence to provide assessment and referrals to health or community care workers from across the province.
As a reminder
Our EFAP Program provider Homewood Health also has a lot of tools and resources for you: Employee and Family Assistance Program.Staff Feedback survey wrapping up today!!
So far, 353(!) staff have filled out the survey. Today is the last day to share your thoughts about how well the hospital is doing with supporting you through the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey is anonymous and short. Click here to complete the survey today!Policy Changes
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (2)
Resources and Supplies (5)
Staff Support (0)
Policy Changes (0)Starting with the positive...
These homemade masks came with a note from the donor/seamstress. In it she wrote,
"Dear Guelph General Hospital staff,
Thank you for serving our community and caring for those who are vulnerable. Seven weeks ago, I felt compelled to try and sew masks. I pulled out my sewing machine that was last used 20 years ago. I realize these masks are not perfect, but I hope they can help someone…. I gathered sheets from my house and I borrowed thread from my parents to make these mask. I sewed with gratitude for those who are working the front line during this pandemic… It is my hope that even though these masks are not perfect, they can be used by those in need.
I hope you have an incredible day."Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 255 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 218 Current number of staff with a positive test 1 Number of staff results pending 8 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 28 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 29 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 7 Action/Must read
What’s new?
IPAC COVID-19 Active Screening Algorithm
Active Screening For All Admitted Patients must be conducted at least twice daily. This includes ALC patients. The detailed algorithm can be found here.Emergency Department retiring "red and green zones"
Today, the department will undo it's trial set up with a red and green zone first set up on April 6. The ED is returning to its original set up of See 'n Treat and the main department. As with all clinical areas within the hospital, proper PPE is required at all times while in the department.Resources and Supplies
N95 conservation
- Write your name and unit on the mask with a sharpie only.
- Save ALL N95 masks that are not soiled in a plastic/sealable bag. We hope we won’t need them, but we won’t have them if we don’t save them.
- Many masks are being rejected because they are not marked properly, fall out of the bag, have makeup on them etc.
- Paper bags are only for storing masks in between use on shift.
Scrubs
- The central pool is working well! Thanks to all staff for supporting the new process.
- Due to the critical shortage, ALL hospitals, not just GGH are very short on some sizes, specifically Med & Xs pants. Please do not direct frustration towards the screeners if your specific size is not available. They are working hard to make scrubs available to those who need them and have no control over what stock is available.
- You can help by continuing to bring in any scrubs in your possession and returning them without penalty!
- If you do not need to access scrubs to do your job, please do not sign them out. COVID is not a reason to wear scrubs. Staff working on the COVID unit are wearing and laundering their own scrubs!
When and How to Wear a Mask - Recommendations for Non-Clinical Areas
Our Professional Practice team has developed a one-page information sheet to support the proper wearing and handling of procedure masks.Sewn caps
The Foundation reports it is currently out of the donated caps. It is reaching out to the community for more. Should it be successful the restocking will be reported in an update.GGH Partnering with local Long Term Care and Retirement Homes
GGH is acting with other members of our Guelph and Area Ontario Health Team to lend friendly support to our long term care and retirement homes around our region. Infection Prevention and Control and Clinical Education staff have been invited out to three local homes to visit and share ideas and suggestions. Other members of our OHT are working with homes to ensure that they have the PPE they require and supporting testing of staff and patients.
GGH is proud to have a growing list of staff who have volunteered to help support these sites and it’s a symbol of how our region is pulling together to help one another during these challenging times. If you are interested in volunteering to work temporarily, on a secondment basis, to provide support to a long term care and/or retirement home provider and still haven't signed up, please take a few moments to fill out this survey.Staff Support
Policy Changes
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (2)
Resources and Supplies (3)
Staff Support (3)
Policy Changes (0)Starting with the positive...
Thanks to World’s Finest Chocolates and their Chocolate for Heroes campaign, along with hundreds of sewers in our communities, there’s chocolate and a cloth mask for everyone! The chocolates and masks will be delivered via Directors over the course of the week. There have been staff requests for cloth masks for use outside the hospital for a while, but we needed to wait until we knew how many we had and how they were being distributed to patients and visitors. Last week, we had a single donation of more than 1,200, so now we are good to go! Note that the cloth masks are for use outside the hospital only and that they have not yet been washed (but have been ‘quarantined’ for at least a week). 
Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 254 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 217 Current number of staff with a positive test 3 Number of staff results pending 8 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 26 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 29 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 9 Action/Must read
What’s new?
Future planning within a COVID-19 environment
Over the past many weeks, significant work has been spent to successfully increase capacity for the COVID-19 pandemic patients. Creating that capacity has impacted many aspects of our operations and at some point in time we will be expected to gradually reintroduce services in the future. It is critical to note we cannot ramp up services without a Ministry Directive.Over the next 12-24 months we anticipate services will be reintroduced in stages and perhaps in a series of starts and stops as we adjust to Government direction. The reality is, services will return to a new normal and we will need to think and plan very differently than we have in the past.
We are at the beginning phase of developing plans to reintroduce services with processes that allow us to operate in a safe environment for our staff, patients, and visitors. To see the nine planning principles for ramping up services, click here. These plans will first be developed by each clinical department. The process will engage front-line staff, professional staff, and leadership, with the support and facilitation of Lisa Bellon and Erin Landry-Baker.
A leadership team will be formed to review all of the plans and develop one coordinated, hospital-wide plan considering all of the principles and issues. Membership will include Senior Leadership, Infectious Disease, IPAC, Directors, and Professional Staff. In addition, our Patient and Family Advisory Committee will be consulted.
Decision making regarding which service activity should be prioritized for ramping up will consider:
- Ministry Directions
- Ethical framework
- Impact on all hospital resources and departments
- Impact to and/or the need for other department resources and external resources
- Alignment with regional programs
The planning will be supported by strong communication every step of the way. As provincial directions are received and plans are developed, they will be shared in many ways including through these updates as well as from Directors at huddles.
Local hospitals secure use of RIM Park as a field hospital location if needed
Our region of Waterloo Wellington was asked to plan for a field hospital should one be needed. It would only be necessary if regional hospitals were approaching maximum capacity. For more information, the media release can be found here.Resources and Supplies
Masking Emergency Department patients
It is recommended all ED patients receive procedure masks for the following reasons:- Majority of patients will have tests/procedures that would necessitate they wear one for travel
- We are still using hallway beds at times which means we cannot always maintain social distancing
- The homemade masks vary in quality
- Patient relations have received complaints that patients in the ED are not masked
- Masking all ED patients brings us into line with other EDs.
- Patients arrive will a variety of illnesses including COVID. There’s a risk especially while waiting in the triage area.
Staff wearing masks in non-clinical areas
There have been many questions as to why some staff are wearing masks in public areas and others are not. As a reminder you must wear a procedure mask in all clinical areas at all times and in non clinical areas when you cannot maintain 2 metre physical distance.Homemade masks
These generously donated masks are being given to patients as they are discharged for wearing in the community. They are also available for the few visitors being allowed. Also, the Foundation has begun handing out these masks to units for staff to take home.Staff Support
The next group of COVID-related "What's on Your Mind" questions are now posted
This time around there's 11 questions and one comment. The topics include; getting a sick note when physician offices are closed, testing all staff, more payday payouts, making inpatient TV free, N95 mask reprocessing and other topics of interest.
Please remember, “What’s on Your Mind?” is hosted on our Intranet and only viewable within the organization.Next Homewood Wellness Webinar tonight
COVID-19 – Calming Your Mind in Challenging Times, is tonight at 7 p.m. For all the details and how to register, click here. Please note, unfortunately due to copyright, these webinars cannot be recorded.Staff Feedback survey wrapping up Friday
So far, 330(!) staff have filled out the survey. There’s only a few days left to share your thoughts about how well the hospital is doing with supporting you through the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey is anonymous and short. Click here to complete the survey today! If you have any questions about the survey, please email covidquestions@gghorg.caPolicy Changes
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (1)
Resources and Supplies (1)
Staff Support (3)
Policy Changes (0)Starting with the positive...
Dr. Jackie Nemni produced the above video (click image to open).
On its YouTube listing she wrote, "This video was made by health care workers in Guelph. We are not professional musicians or movie makers (obviously!) but we are professionals at what we do and that is to look after our community, like our community is looking after us."
Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 246 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 209 Current number of staff with a positive test 3 Number of staff results pending 8 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 26 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 29 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 8 Action/Must read
What’s new?
More details about volunteering to work in long-term care homes
We have had over 30 people who have expressed an interest in volunteering to work, on a temporary basis, in one of our long term care (LTC) facilities in the community should the need arise. We have heard from nurses, unit attendants, housekeepers and a variety of other roles. At this time, we are just collecting names of people who might be interested in this opportunity. It has been amazing to see so many of our team put their hand up!At this time, we don’t know when or if staff will be redeployed. There have been many efforts, both regionally and locally to support the challenges LTC homes are facing. In our community this has included providing advice and consultation around infection prevention and control, sharing of best practices, targeted COVID-19 testing and ensuring each region has an Ontario Health Region Coordinator to coordinate supports for LTC. We have already reached out to a number of homes in the Guelph area to provide consultation and advice around infection prevention and control and some homes are starting to request that we complete a risk assessment pro-actively. It is great to see so many in our community working together.
The Emergency Order issued on April 24 enables the hospitals to redeploy staff to support LTC on a temporary basis. Employees, if redeployed, remain employees of the hospital. Before any staff would be redeployed to a long term care facility, the hospital would ensure it was safe and staff receive orientation to the LTC facility before they are deployed. The hospital has developed a health and safety and infection prevention and control risk assessment that will be completed by the hospital at the LTC. This risk assessment will be completed by representatives from the Joint Health and Safety Committee of GGH, the Health and Safety Officer (or designate) and an IPAC professional. The assessment will ensure GGH can meet its obligations under the Occupational Health & Safety Act staff. Both the risk assessment and an orientation checklist have been shared with the Joint Health and Safety Committee for input and approval. Staff who are redeployed will be paid at their normal rate of pay in addition to pandemic pay, if eligible. Their hours will count towards their seniority and staff will only be assigned to work they are qualified to do.
If you are still interested in volunteering to work, on a temporary basis at a LTC facility, please fill out this survey. We will be reaching out to volunteers when needed.
Resources and Supplies
Scrubs update
The bins for dropping off the dirty scrubs are located by the Boutique window. - You can return your hospital-issued scrubs to any depot—Level One before 2030 and Level 3 overnight. We reconcile the lists.
- Please do not self-serve scrubs. Wait for the screeners to hand them to you.
- Soon, if you are not on the list you will not be issued scrubs. A local company is offering uniforms at a discount: VTR Uniforms: VTR Uniforms will all provide all employees of GGH, with proof of employment, a discount on any REGULAR priced items, equal to the tax on that purchase. Please contact Franco Venturato, franco@vtruniforms.ca, (519) 827-5889, 199 Victoria Road South, Guelph, ON
- Please do not wear scrubs in/out of the building. Directors have been asked to follow up with anyone who does.
Staff Support
Today is "STOP! Clean Your Hands Day" supported by IPAC "Pandemic Pay" details still being worked out
The government is providing a temporary pandemic pay of $4 per hour worked on top of eligible staff’s regular wages. In addition, the government will be providing monthly lump sum payments of $250 for four months to eligible frontline workers who work more than 100 hours per month. The pandemic pay is to be effective April 24 to August 13, 2020.
The details are taking a while to work out so the premium won't be appearing on our next pay stub. It'll be on the following one with the retroactive premium back to April 24. To date, the government has provided the below list of eligible workers to receive the pandemic pay:- Personal support worker
- Registered nurses
- Registered practical nurses
- Nurse practitioners
- Attendant care workers
- Auxiliary staff including, porters, cooks, custodians, housekeeping, laundry facilities, and other key workers
- Developmental service workers
- Mental Health and addiction workers
- Respiratory therapists
- Paramedics
- Public Health nurses
Ontario Hospital Association adds Mindfulness resource Apps
There are many mindfulness Apps out there and the OHA encourages you to explore. The important thing is to find the one that works best for you!Policy Changes
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (3)
Resources and Supplies (0)
Staff Support (2)
Policy Changes (0)Starting with the positive...
"I am sending a few pictures of my special needs son, Ranju who works at JOE (jobs.opportunities. Enterprise). Presently, all three JOE locations are closed due to COVID-19. Earlier this week he and I decided to set up his own café at home selling light lunches and treats to his family. Ranju is really enjoying this and has decided to donate the proceeds to the Guelph General Hospital to be used for the COVID-19 frontline workers in some way." 
Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 241 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 206 Current number of staff with a positive test 5 Number of staff results pending 6 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 24 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 29 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 6 Action/Must read
What’s new?
Virtual Visiting starts today
At Guelph General Hospital we know how important it is for our patients to be able to connect with their families and friends. However with COVID-19 spreading in the community, to keep patients and staff safe, the Hospital now has a no-visitor policy except under special circumstances. Still, the need for patients to connect remains and now there’s a way to visit virtually.Thanks to a generous donation of 20 tablets from Fusion Homes, in partnership with CI Technologies, we have created the Virtual Visit Program at the Hospital. Information for families has been added to our web site. The patient areas of the hospital have received tablets for this program along with specific information.
We are excited to launch the Virtual Visit Program today!More symptoms added to the indicator list of possible COVID-19 infection
On May 2, the province updated its reference document for symptoms of COVID-19. The new symptoms include, conjunctivitis, runny nose/sneezing/nasal congestion in absence of underlying reason such as seasonal allergies, post nasal drip etc.Changes to patient placement process
On Friday, the IPAC team met with Infectious Disease Specialist, Dr. Murdoch to review two issues:- Where to place asymptomatic patients being tested for LTCH/RH requirements for repatriation?
- Where to place symptomatic patients while waiting COVID-19 results?
Their recommended process changes are here.
Resources and Supplies
Staff Support
COVID-19 Staff Feedback survey wraps up Friday
A big "THANK YOU!" goes out to the 314(!) staff who have filled out the survey so far! We want to hear from as many staff as possible about how well we are doing with supporting you through the COVID-19 pandemic. The last day to complete the survey is Friday, May 8 so results can be analyzed to see where there may be opportunities to improve.
Please share your thoughts, comments and ideas with us. The survey is anonymous and short so we hope you will respond. Click here to complete the survey today! If you have any questions about the survey, please email covidquestions@gghorg.caNext Homewood Wellness Webinar this week
COVID-19 – Calming Your Mind in Challenging Times, is Wednesday night at 7 p.m. For all the details and how to register, click here. Please note, unfortunately due to copyright, these webinars cannot be recorded.Policy Changes
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (1)
What’s New? (2)
Resources and Supplies (1)
Staff Support (1)
Policy Changes (0)Starting with the positive...
Note left outside the COVID-19 Assessment Centre 
#fueltheheroes
There is a #fueltheheroes table set up today in the main lobby, 11-3, first come first served. Take only what you touch. Please keep you and your colleagues safe – ensure physical distancing. Coffee products (thanks Canada Coffee), fruit cups (thanks Dole) and hand cream (thanks anonymous donors).Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 238 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 202 Current number of staff with a positive test 5 Number of staff results pending 7 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 24 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 29 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 8 Action/Must read
Personal Protective Equipment UPDATE
Diligent hand hygiene, physical distancing, and appropriate donning/doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE) are crucial to help prevent transmission of COVID-19 within our hospital. In the past week, there have been COVID-19 outbreaks within our neighbouring Ontario hospitals. In response, GGH will be adopting the following additional interventions in an effort to further protect the safety of health care providers (HCP) and patients:*NEW* GGH policy requires that all patients wear a surgical/procedure mask when outside their room (e.g., when transported for a diagnostic test)
*NEW* Health care providers (HCP) shall wear a surgical/procedure mask and protective eyewear when care is provided within 2 metres of the patient.
Rationale: this protects the HCP from exposure to respiratory droplets of a non-isolated patient who may be infected with COVID-19 but is asymptomatic, pre-symptomatic, or subclinical.*NEW* All patients will be provided with a cloth / donated mask upon admission to hospital. Health care providers should encourage their patients to wear this mask when care is provided within 2 metres. This may not always be possible for various reasons (e.g., patient confusion/delirium, patient refusal, or the patient’s clinical condition prevents them from tolerating the mask). A new mask may be provided if soiled, damaged or lost.
What’s new?
Proactively supporting our long-term care and retirement home partners
GGH is working as a member of our Guelph and Area Ontario Health Team (OHT) to help support our partners in Long Term Care and Retirement Homes in our Region. Our OHT has been working closely with our Public Health and Home and Community Care partners to offer resources to homes who may want support in areas such as Infection Prevention and Control, Pandemic planning and staffing support.
Some of our staff have already done site visits to ensure homes are well prepared for pandemic challenges. We've also had an incredible 30(!) staff volunteer to work on secondment in long-term care should the need arise.
This is a great opportunity for us to work together as an OHT and build those relationships which will help all of us in the future.Some discharges to long-term care now allowed
In follow up to the April 16 memo to hospitals asking for the temporary pause of discharging patients to Long-Term Care homes and retirement homes, hospitals may discharge patients to Long-Term care homes where:- It is a readmission to long-term care (the resident is returning to their home)
- The receiving home is NOT in a COVID-19 outbreak
- The resident has been tested for COVID-19 at point of discharge, has a negative result and is transferred to the home within 24 hours of receiving the result
- The receiving home has a plan to ensure that the resident being readmitted can complete 14-days of self-isolation Initial admissions to long-term care from hospital continue to be temporarily paused.
An approach that balances health service provider and patient/resident impacts is under consideration. There are no restrictions on residents returning to the home from outpatient visits.
Resources and Supplies
Scrubs update
Day one went well. There was lots of feedback and engagement, including identifying opportunities.
Click to enlarge - Plastic bags were ordered so staff who wish to bring their scrubs down in a bag can do so. Bags are available on the linen cart at sign out and in the unit
- Please be patient when presenting the ED screening centre where there are less screeners. For a reduced wait, try the main entrance.
- Staff need to be handed the scrubs. Please do not self serve/sign out.
- Screeners will physically sign the scrubs in and out for staff so that they do not have to handle the pen (they will witness the return).
- We have tried to separate clean and dirty. Dirty scrubs can be delivered near the boutique. Screeners will sign them back in for you.
- We are in good shape with stock for this morning.
- If scrubs are soiled, try to send a runner from your unit for a replacement. After hours call ext. 2977.
Staff Support
More thermometers available for purchase
All staff should be monitoring themselves for symptoms of any illness and taking their temperature at least twice per day. These days, drug stores are often out of thermometers so a supply has been set up for staff to buy. The thermometers are available at switchboard for $14, tax included. They are for staff purchase only – first come, first served.Policy Changes
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (1)
What’s New? (1)
Resources and Supplies (1)
Staff Support (0)
Policy Changes (0)Starting with the positive...
For those having trouble reading Greyson's note, it says, "Dear Medical Staff. Ok so I do not want to say alot because you are probably busy so I will not right much so I just want to Thank you!! of all your hardwork!
P.S. You are the best"Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 238 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 200 Current number of staff with a positive test 5 Number of staff results pending 9 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 24 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 29 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 9 Action/Must read
New scrub distribution process
Many of you may be aware that since the start of COVID-19, GGH has been losing on average of 1000 pieces of scrubs per week. What we do know about COVID-19 is that masks, eye protection and gowns are what protects us during patient contact and excellent hand washing and strict social distancing is what protects us outside of direct contact with patients. Over the past month, there have been several appeals for scrubs to be returned and only accessed by staff who used scrubs prior to COVID-19. We have had no success in having our stock returned and therefore need to implement a more rigid process for the distribution of hospital scrubs.Starting today, April 30, there is a sign in/out process for hospital-issued scrubs. All scrubs have been removed from the change rooms and will be located at the screening stations. Staff who are approved to wear scrubs will need to sign out a pair at the beginning of shift and sign them back in when they are returned at the end of shift. If you arrive in scrubs, your name will be recorded as being issued a pair. You will need to return them when you leave or when you return on site next if you do not have a pair of clothes to change into.
At the screening area there will be a list that is updated daily of approved staff for receiving scrubs. Staff will need to show their badge to sign out the scrubs. Should another piece or pair be needed during a shift, simply present to a screening station to return your scrubs and another piece or pair will be signed out under your name. If you are not on the list and feel you should be, please contact your supervisor. If during a shift you are unable to come to the screening station for replacement scrubs, either send someone from your unit or call ext. 2977.
When you complete your shift, change back into your street clothes and return the scrubs in provided bags to the screening station. Bags can be found in the units and at the screening station. You MUST show your returned items to the screening staff and initial your return. When returning scrubs, please do not put anything except scrubs in the orange linen bags (no blankets or bags please). Staff who do not return their scrubs will receive follow up from their supervisor. As a reminder, please return all hospital-issued scrubs you may have at home.
This new process will be a challenge and we will encounter bumps along the way. We ask for your cooperation and your patience. If you have questions please talk to your Manager, Supervisor or Director. If you have ideas and suggestions please let Jen Pranger or Rachelle Peacock know.
What’s new?
Expanded list of workers eligible for "pandemic pay"
As previously communicated, the government is providing a temporary pandemic pay of $4 per hour worked on top of eligible staff’s regular wages. In addition, the government will be providing monthly lump sum payments of $250 for four months to eligible frontline workers who work more than 100 hours per month. The pandemic pay is to be effective April 24 to August 13, 2020.When first announced, April 24, the government provided a list of eligible hospital workers. Yesterday, April 29, the government amended the list of eligible hospital workers to the following:
- Personal support worker
- Registered nurses
- Registered practical nurses
- Nurse practitioners
- Attendant care workers
- Auxiliary staff including, porters, cooks, custodians, housekeeping, laundry facilities, and other key workers
- Developmental service workers
- Mental Health and addiction workers
- Respiratory therapists
- Paramedics
- Public Health nurses
Given the government’s eligible worker list referred to above, the hospital is seeking clarification and working through the details identifying eligible hospital staff and payment. In the meantime, the hospital appreciates your continued patience while the hospital develops an implementation plan for the pandemic pay.
Resources and Supplies
N95s and future of fit testing
The review of our respirator protection for workers is something continually being evaluated. We are working to be proactive and continue to prepare for future needs. At this time, workers are to continue to use the standard 3M N95 models to which you have been fit tested (see list of standard models below). If you are unsure of what standard model of N95 you are fit tested to, please look it up on Daisy on the Intranet, under Employee / N95 mask fit.As part of our planning for potential future needs & back-up planning, we are beginning to fit test workers to alternate models of N95’s from our standard models (see photos below and click to enlarge). This is being done proactively in the event our standard stock becomes low to a point where we may need to switch to an alternate N95s to ensure workers are getting appropriate PPE. The alternate models we are testing to may vary as we review stock levels and incoming personal protective equipment. Processes are being developed for release of the alternate models when, or if, we need to switch over from our standard models.
Please ensure you are aware of the model of N95 you have been fit tested to for both our standard model as well as alternate (if you have been fit tested to an alternate model). It is recommended workers use a sharpie and write on the back of their ID badges the models they are fit tested to as a quick reference.
GGH N95 Standard Models: 3M 1870+, 3M 1860, 3M 1860s
Alternate models being fit tested (to date): 3M 9210, 3M 8210, 3M 8110s, SH9550Additionally, we are preparing departments such as ICU, Cardio Respiratory and Emergency to be fit tested to full-face and/or half-face cartridge respirators as alternate respiratory protection methods from N95’s. Plans are actively being worked on for roll-out of this equipment to these areas.
More information on fit testing dates and processes will be released. Stay tuned to your email for upcoming information.
As a reminder, if you have been fit tested to an N95 at another facility, please ensure you notify EHS so our records here can be updated for you.
Staff Support
Policy Changes
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (2)
Resources and Supplies (0)
Staff Support (1)
Policy Changes (0)Starting with the positive...
The musicians of the Guelph Symphony Orchestra extend our heartfelt thanks to all the frontline workers in our community! This virtual orchestra performance was created with each player recording their part to a click track, from the safety of home.
You'll see some familiar faces in the submitted photos. To view this moving YouTube video, click the image or here. Be sure to have your sound turned up!
Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 230 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 191 Current number of staff with a positive test 6 Number of staff results pending 10 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 23 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 29 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 9 Action/Must read
What’s new?
Working with our OHT partners
We are enthusiastically working as a member of our Guelph and Area Ontario Health Team (OHT) to help support our partners in Long Term Care and Retirement Homes in our community. Our OHT has been working closely with our Public Health and Home and Community Care partners to offer resources to homes who may want support in areas such as Infection Prevention and Control, Pandemic planning and staffing support. This is a great opportunity for us to work together as an OHT and build those relationships which will help us in the future.Here, we've polled our staff to identify those who are interested in volunteering to work temporarily, on a secondment basis to provide support to a long term care and/or retirement facility. So far, 15 staff(!) have expressed an interest, including five RN’s, two RPN’s and two Health Care Aides, two housekeepers, a dietitian and two clerical staff.
If you are interested in volunteering to work temporarily, on a secondment basis, to provide support to a long term care and/or retirement home provider, please take a few moments to fill out this survey by clicking on this link.The science behind our new return-to-work process
We have moved to a non-test approach to clearing employees to Return To Work after being off with COVID-19. This was based on guidance from both Public Health in Guelph and Wellington and Public Health Ontario.
For those interested in the science supporting our approach, our Infectious Disease Specialist, Dr. James Murdoch, has pulled together this information.Resources and Supplies
Staff Support
Staff Feedback survey wrapping up next week
So far, 272(!) staff have filled out the survey. That's great! We still want to hear from more about how well we are doing with supporting you through the COVID-19 pandemic. Please share your thoughts, comments and ideas with us. The survey is anonymous and short so we hope you will respond. Click here to complete the survey today! If you have any questions about the survey, please email covidquestions@gghorg.caPolicy Changes
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (3)
Resources and Supplies (1)
Staff Support (1)
Policy Changes (0)Starting with the positive...
Those of us who drive to the hospital up Eramosa Road get to see this sign every time.
Community appreciation comes in all forms. Be sure to check out the information in the Staff Support section about the new "Community Perks for Staff" page on our Intranet!
#fueltheheroes
There is a #fueltheheroes table set up today in the main lobby, 11-3, first come first served. Take only what you touch. Please keep you and your colleagues safe - ensure physical distancing. Coffee products (thanks Canada Coffee), fruit cups (thanks Dole), maple products (thanks Jakeman’s Maple Products) and hand cream (thanks anonymous donors).Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 228 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 191 Current number of staff with a positive test 7 Number of staff results pending 8 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 22 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 29 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 8 Action/Must read
What’s new?
On April 25, the Ontario government introduced an Emergency Order to facilitate hospitals to partner with area Long-Term Care (LTC) homes during a LTC home’s urgent need for Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) and staffing (please find attached the Order and an FAQ prepared by the government).
If you are interested in volunteering to work temporarily, on a secondment basis, to provide support to a long term care and/or retirement home provider, please take a few moments to fill out this survey.
Below is some important information that you may want to know about what it means to volunteer to work temporarily at a long term care and/or retirement provider:
- An employee assigned to a LTC home will remain an employee of the hospital, their respective collective agreement will apply. The employee will be paid their current hourly rate regardless of their role in the LTC home.
- Before a hospital employee is assigned to a LTC home, our IPAC will assess the LTC home and support our staff while working in the LTC home. An occupational health and safety risk assessment will also be conducted at the LTC home by our health and safety staff.
- An employee assigned to a LTC home can only work at one LTC home at a time.
- The government has indicated emergency funds will be provided to allow for full-time hours at a LTC home.
- The government has indicated it will prioritize PPE distribution to the LTC home which will assure hospital employees there will be appropriate health and safety precautions, PPE, at the LTC home.
- An employee redeployed to a LTC home will not be restricted to return to work at the hospital (subject to proper screening requirements).
New "pandemic pay" premium announced
On April 26, the Ontario government announced it is providing a temporary pandemic pay to front-line healthcare workers of $4/hour worked on top of their regular wages. In addition, the government will be providing monthly lump sum payments of $250 for four months to eligible front-line workers who work over 100 hours per month. The pandemic pay will be effective for 16 weeks, from April 24, 2020 until August 13, 2020.
We anticipate further information and possible changes to our current understanding which will be shared.Changing brands of disinfectant wipes
Due to a national shortage of Oxivir wipes, we have secured an alternative, Clorox Healthcare wipes. Please wear exam gloves when using this substitute product.
What we know about the new Clorox bleach wipes?
- Bleach is Sodium Hypochlorite (table salt + water + electrolytic charge)
- The bleach you may use at home ranges from a 7-12% concentration vs. the healthcare bleach wipes at 0.55%
- As stated in the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) there are no Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs), carcinogens, or exposure limits to our Bleach Wipes.
- When comparing to other products on the market, bleach wipes feature a very low health hazard rating and do not require PPE although it is recommended gloves be worn to protect yourself against what may be on different surfaces.
- Safety Data Sheets provide more detailed hazard information about the product than the label. They are an important resource for workplaces and workers to help you learn more about the product used. To view the SDS, go to the GGH MSDS Database on the intranet under Tools.
Tips and Tricks
- Pull wipe away from yourself to avoid any staining
- Use caution with amount of liquid on smaller equipment to avoid damage
- Manage residue as often as possible:
- Residue you may see from wipes is simply salt and soap. Remove with damp cloth or paper towel when you are noticing it starting to appear on surfaces. Typically, once per shift.
- The residue is inevitable due to the chemistry of the product. As stated above it simply is salt and soap. You may notice more visibility of this residue on darker or shiny surfaces.
Resources and Supplies
Save these bottles and wall-mount sanitizer refills
Why? Local distilleries are now supplying us with bulk amounts of sanitizer. Now, we can just refill our refills!
Just set aside any empty bottles and give them to the next housekeeper you see..
Staff SupportCommunity perks being offered to staff
Every day we hear from organizations that want to support our staff. We are grateful of these donations and offerings of support. A page has been set up on our Intranet that lists all the current discount offers. Please note, this page cannot be accessed remotely. There is also a front-page link to the page on our Intranet. Offers continue to come in so check the page often!Policy Changes
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (0)
Resources and Supplies (0)
Staff Support (3)
Policy Changes (0)Starting with the positive...
We have had amazing support from community partners during this pandemic. (Not that we are surprised, Guelph is terrific at this.) Here is Jane Ryan-Champagne from Cardio Respiratory Services with ventilators on loan from the University of Guelph's Ontario Veterinary College and Respiratory Therapy Program-Conestoga College to support our patients who need assistance breathing. Thank you OVC and Conestoga! 
Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 226 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 191 Current number of staff with a positive test 12 Number of staff results pending 6 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 17 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 29 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 8 Action/Must read
What’s new?
Resources and Supplies
Staff Support
235 responses to our Staff Feedback survey so far!
We want to hear from you about how well we are doing with supporting you through the COVID-19 pandemic. Please share your thoughts, comments and ideas with us. The survey is anonymous and short so we hope you will respond. Click here to complete the survey today! If you have any questions about the survey, please email covidquestions@gghorg.caNext Employee Wellness Webinar tonight
Many of us may be feeling anxiety and stress right now, and it could be increasing every day. You may feel that some days are okay, and other days are overwhelming. It is important we try to find some time to support our emotional and mental health during this pandemic.
With this in mind, we have been working with Homewood Health, our EFAP provider, to schedule their emotional/mental health Webinar offerings. As a result, we have scheduled all five of the Homewood Health COVID-19 wellness webinars. The second one, Building Resilience in the Face of COVID-19, is tonight at 7 p.m. For all the details and how to register, click here.
CEO message April 26
Hello all,
Over the last several weeks, I’ve been fortunate to see firsthand how you, and our community health care partners, have stepped up to the plate during the pandemic. You were all called to a greater purpose in helping and healing others, and you continue to do so with dignity, patience, and calm.
To read all of her message, click here.Policy Changes
-
How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (1)
What’s New? (1)
Resources and Supplies (0)
Staff Support (0)
Policy Changes (0)Starting with the positive...
This cutie is the daughter of our Director of Strategy and Improvement, Lisa Bellon who wrote, "she really wanted to acknowledge everyone but especially the screeners at the front door who make sure her Mom is well and safe to be at work.". Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients*
*Friday's figures
Total number of staff tested to date 218 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 180 Current number of staff with a positive test 13 Number of staff results pending 9 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 16 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 29 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 9 Action/Must read
Redeployment to Long-Term Care Homes
On April 25, the Ontario government introduced an Emergency Order to facilitate hospitals to partner with area Long-Term Care (LTC) homes during a LTC home’s urgent need for Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) and staffing (please find attached the Order and an FAQ prepared by the government). We want to share with you what we understand to date. However, we anticipate further information and possible changes to our current understanding. We will share with you further information when received. For now, the information received includes:- LTC homes will be identified that have critical staffing needs as well as IPAC needs. Currently, as part of the Guelph & Area Ontario Health Team, we have already reached out to the Guelph Long Term care and Retirement homes to provide support proactively.
- Hospitals that assist a LTC home will take reasonable necessary measures to ensure the safe and efficient deployment of their staff to a LTC home.
- Before a hospital employee is assigned to a LTC home, our IPAC will assess the LTC home and support our staff while working in the LTC home. An occupational health and safety risk assessment will also be conducted at the LTC home by our health and safety staff.
- An employee assigned to a LTC home will remain an employee of the hospital, their respective collective agreement will apply. The employee will be paid their current hourly rate regardless of their role in the LTC home.
- An employee assigned to a LTC home can only work at one LTC home at a time.
- The government has indicated emergency funds will be provided to allow for full-time hours at a LTC home.
- The government has indicated it will prioritize PPE distribution to the LTC home which will assure hospital employees there will be appropriate health and safety precautions, PPE, at the LTC home.
- An employee redeployed to a LTC home will not be restricted to return to work at the hospital (subject to proper screening requirements). Further information will follow as it is received.
What’s new?
Government announces pandemic pay premium
To provide additional support for eligible frontline workers fighting COVID-19, yesterday, the Ontario government announced that it is providing a temporary pandemic pay of $4/hour worked on top of their regular wages. In addition, the government will be providing monthly lump sum payments of $250 for four months to eligible frontline workers who work over 100 hours per month. The pandemic pay will be effective for 16 weeks, from April 24, 2020 until August 13, 2020. More details about how this applies to hospital workers will be shared as they become available.Resources and Supplies
Staff Support
Policy Changes
-
How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (1)
Resources and Supplies (0)
Staff Support (4)
Policy Changes (0)Starting with the positive...
The number of positive messages from our community through the White Heart Project continues to grow. Be sure to spend some time in the vestibule by the Level 1 staff entrance to read them all. They include a nice message from Valerie Anderson, retired Director of Clinical Information. Click on the image to enlarge and read her message. Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients*
*Friday's figures
Total number of staff tested to date 218 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 180 Current number of staff with a positive test 13 Number of staff results pending 9 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 16 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 29 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 9 Action/Must read
What’s new?
New directions allow discharging inpatients to Retirement Homes
On April 16, Ontario Health "temporarily paused" the ability of hospitals to discharge inpatients to either long-term-care homes or retirement homes. Now, it will allow transfer of hospital patients to retirement homes in certain circumstances where this is safe to do and in the best interest of the patient.
These transfers should only occur if the receiving home is not in a COVID-19 outbreak, the patient has been tested for COVID-19 at the point of discharge and is determined to have a negative result, the patient being transferred must complete 14-days of self-isolation upon arriving at the home and the home has a plan to ensure this occurs.In its April 23 update, the Ministry of Health outlines all that's being done to support the crisis in long-term-care homes
Resources and Supplies
Staff Support
Great reminders found on posters and LED displays around the building:
More thermometers available for purchase
All staff should be monitoring themselves for symptoms of any illness and taking their temperature at least twice per day. These days, drug stores are often out of thermometers so a supply has been set up for staff to buy. The thermometers are available at switchboard for $14, tax included. They are for staff purchase only – first come, first served.
Please remember to fill our our COVID-19 Staff Feedback survey!
A big "THANK YOU!" goes out to the 186 staff who have filled out the survey so far! We want to hear from as many staff as possible about how well we are doing with supporting you through the COVID-19 pandemic. Please share your thoughts, comments and ideas with us. The survey is anonymous and short so we hope you will respond. Click here to complete the survey today! If you have any questions about the survey, please email covidquestions@gghorg.caThe Wellness Society has created a Coronavirus Anxiety Workbook for adults to work through. Plus, they have shared a children's story book to use with your children.
Policy Changes
-
How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (1)
Resources and Supplies (3)
Staff Support (2)
Policy Changes (0)Starting with the positive...
Our Foundation has received all kinds of donations in support of the amazing GGH team at this time. People have given money, kind words, sewn masks, PPE, restaurant gift cards and more. Today from 4-7 p.m. there will be a table set up in the main lobby by the staff screening area with some of the donations that have been given in support of staff.
Please feel free to come down to pick up hand cream (thank you Cox Construction), fruit cups and juice (thank you Dole) and coffee packs (thank you Club Coffee). Please touch only what you are taking (with clean hands) and as always, remember to stay six feet from anyone else.
*We’ll be changing it up each week to maximize the chances of everyone getting a free day. Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 218 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 180 Current number of staff with a positive test 13 Number of staff results pending 9 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 16 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 29 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 9 Action/Must read
What’s new?
Active screening for all admitted patients to be conducted at least twice daily
Actively screen patients for the following symptoms:
● Fever (Temperature of 37.8 or greater) OR
● Any new/worsening acute respiratory symptoms(SOB, sore throat, runny nose or sneezing, nasal congestion, hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing) OR
● Clinical or radiological evidence of pneumonia
Consider atypical presentations of COVID-19, particularly in elderly persons
For the complete IPAC COVID-19 Active Screening Algorithm, click here.Resources and Supplies
Process change for Surgical/Procedure Mask distribution
Surgical/Procedure masks will now be delivered to your unit by Stores staff on Monday, Wednesday & Friday if you were receiving daily deliveries. You will continue to receive a weekly delivery if your unit was on a weekly delivery cycle.
- Do not refuse stock delivery. Inform your director if you have more unopened boxes than you require
- If you require more masks on your unit, speak to your director Monday to Friday or the director on call after hours/on weekends
Preparing N95 masks for reprocessing
Ontario Health recommends all organizations refrain from disposing of N95 masks for potential reprocessing. At GGH, we are following this recommendation so that we are ready to respond if and when the safe reprocessing process is available.
Our process has changed. Once finished with an N95 mask, instead of putting the mask in a zip lock bag and writing your name it, please write your name and unit on the FRONT of the N95 mask itself using a SHARPIE marker. Please do not use ink pens, etc. The front of the mask is to be used because decontamination packaging requires the mask to be facing towards the clear side of the peel pouch. It also minimizes handling of the mask which reduces risk of cross-contamination.
Prior to placing the mask inside the bag for collection, please inspect it to ensure it is free of visible damage and/or visible soil/contamination (e.g. blood, dried sputum, makeup, soil, bodily fluids).
Thank you!Staff Support
Please remember to fill our our COVID-19 Staff Feedback survey!
We want to hear from you about how well we are doing with supporting you through the COVID-19 pandemic. Please share your thoughts, comments and ideas with us. The survey is anonymous and short so we hope you will respond. Click here to complete the survey today! If you have any questions about the survey, please email covidquestions@gghorg.caFree short-term hotel accommodations
Short-term (up to 5 nights) free accommodations is available to GGH staff at the Days Inn by Wyndham Guelph, 785 Gordon St, Guelph. GGH will cover the cost of the room, all other expenses are the responsibility of the staff. For all the details including how to access the short-term free accommodation, click here.
If you have a need for longer-term accommodation options, please email covidquestions@gghorg.ca to discuss further.Policy Changes
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (2)
Resources and Supplies (0)
Staff Support (3)
Policy Changes (0)Starting with the positive...
Our Chief of Staff, Dr. Caspers, is one of the featured interviewees in a new series of YouTube videos being produced by Dr. Marcel Doré who recently moved on after a lengthy GGH career.
The video series' theme is, "Guelph and Area COVID-19: A Community in Action." The videos focus on all the positive work being done locally in response to the pandemic. Our Foundation CEO, Suzanne Bone, is also featured in the latest video.
*We’ll be changing it up each week to maximize the chances of everyone getting a free day. Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 218 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 178 Current number of staff with a positive test 13 Number of staff results pending 10 Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered 16 Total number to date of staff with a positive test result 29 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 7 Action/Must read
What’s new?
Screeners now taking patient temperatures too
Let's start with a shout out to our screeners for the important work they are doing to help keep our hospital safe. We all need to do our part and if that means taking a few extra minutes to be screened after going outside, it’s a small inconvenience that can go a long way to a safer environment.
Staff entrance located beside main entrance Our screeners are now taking temperatures on everyone entering the hospital including patients as well as visitors and staff. For staff, please remember to enter and exit the hospital through the Level 1 staff door only (photo right), NOT through the main entrance. There has been an increased amount of staff coming and going through the main doors and it causes extra congestion when patients and visitors are being screened there. As well, if staff are leaving the hospital for any reason, they will be screened upon reentry. Finally, all staff need to clean their hands upon entering the hospital – there are several hand sanitizer containers right inside the staff entrance.
NEW Standard to guide bed placement for patients with Suspect or Positive COVID-19 status (an update to yesterday's post)
A bed allocation process has been developed to help guide decision making for bed placement for patients who are suspect or positive for COVID-19. This new standard is now available on the Intranet in the Admission/Transfer/Discharge section of the Patient Care Manual. You can also find it here.The process contains some new information and revised algorithms related to COVID-19 flagging (positive or suspect) and bed allocation processes. It also links to the new process to notify IPAC should a patient in hospital develop a new onset of COVID-19 symptoms during their hospitalization (that is, a current inpatient becomes a Suspect).
One of the other key changes in the document is related to removing the Pandemic flag from the patient’s chart. If IPAC has left a note in the patient’s chart detailing when a patient’s isolation related to COVID-19 can be removed, and the patient meets the criteria in that note, COVID-19 isolation precautions can be lifted and the patient can have their Pandemic Status changed to Clear.
If the criteria in the IPAC notes are met, please notify bed allocation that the patient’s Pandemic Flag can be cleared. Bed Allocation will then change the patient’s status to Clear in MEDITECH. After the flag is removed, the patient may move to another location if required. Please remember to check to ensure that the patient does not still require isolation for other reasons (such as VRE, MRSA, or ESBL) when bed placement decisions are being made. Once the COVID-19 status is clear, all of our normal IPAC algorithms apply.
Do I need to complete the Pandemic field for every patient admitted to hospital?
No. If the patient is not suspect or positive for COVID-19 on admission, there is no need to complete the Pandemic field. This is not a mandatory field in MEDITECH. Please do not enter clear on admission.
As a reminder though, if the patient has come to GGH from a unit in another facility that is currently in a COVID-19 outbreak, the patient should be flagged as suspect on admission, even if the patient does not currently have symptoms. Patients from a COVID-19 outbreak unit will need to be isolated for up to 14 days.
If a patient develops a new onset of COVID-19 symptoms while they are admitted, remember to follow the IPAC COVID-19 Active Screening Algorithm for patients with a new onset of symptoms. The patient should be immediately placed in droplet contact precautions, should be tested for COVID-19, and the IPAC COVID-19 Tracking Tool should be completed and faxed to IPAC. In this type of situation, please also call bed allocation and ask that they add the Suspect flag to the patient’s chart.Resources and Supplies
Staff Support
A big shout out to Environmental Services
Not only does it do a great job keeping the Hospital clean and safe, it's able to do group photos with proper physical distancing! :)
Tips for finding information in previous updates
One advantage of hosting the updates on our web site is all the information is searchable. For example, you remember there was information in one of the updates about getting help with your income tax return. Putting “taxes” in the search box generates a result - the update from April 17. There’s been lots of information contained in the numerous updates and now there’s a way to find it.Just a reminder the Hospital is looking to see if any staff are interested in volunteering to work for a time at Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes
For details, click here.Policy Changes
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (1)
Resources and Supplies (0)
Staff Support (3)
Policy Changes (0)Starting with the positive...
Our Foundation has received all kinds of donations in support of the amazing GGH team at this time. People have given money, kind words, sewn masks, PPE, restaurant gift cards and more. Starting today, there will be a table set up in the main lobby by the staff screening area with some of the donations that have been given in support of staff.
Please feel free to come down to pick up hand cream (thank you Cox Construction), fruit cups and juice (thank you Dole) and coffee packs (thank you Club Coffee), from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. or while donations last. The table will be set up again on Friday from 4 – 7 p.m. Please touch only what you are taking (with clean hands) and as always, remember to stay six feet from anyone else.
Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 215 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 29 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 176 Total number of staff results pending 10 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 7 # staff who tested positive and are now recovered 16 Action/Must read
What’s new?
New “Pandemic” screening in Meditech * NOTE. This information is updated in the April 23 update.
There is a new MEDITECH field on the ADM ADMIT order that is entered on patients when they are admitted from ED to identify the pandemic (COVID-19) status (if negative screen, this option can be left blank)In addition, there are Two NEW algorithms help guide patient flow, placement and flagging:
Patient Flow and flagging of patients who are POSITIVE COVID-19
Patient Flow & flagging of SUSPECT COVID-19 patientsFor more details:
Registration, Ward Clerks and Bed Allocation click here
Nurses click hereResources and Supplies
Staff Support
COVID-19 Staff Feedback – it’s survey time!
We want to hear from you about how well we are doing with supporting you through the COVID-19 pandemic. Please share your thoughts, comments and ideas with us. The survey is anonymous and short so we hope you will respond. Click here to complete the survey today! If you have any questions about the survey, please email covidquestions@gghorg.caUpcoming Employee Wellness Webinars for All Staff
Many of us may be feeling anxiety and stress right now, and it could be increasing every day. You may feel that some days are okay, and other days are overwhelming. It is important we try to find some time to support our emotional and mental health during this pandemic.
With this in mind, we have been working with Homewood Health, our EFAP provider, to schedule their emotional/mental health Webinar offerings. As a result, we have scheduled all five of the Homewood Health COVID-19 wellness webinars. The second one, Building Resilience in the Face of COVID-19, is next Monday, April 27, at 7 p.m. For all the details and how to register, click here.Help with your Taxes
As a small token of appreciation, CPAs across the province want to contribute their professional expertise to help prepare frontline healthcare workers’ 2019 taxes. In keeping with social distancing guidelines, there will be no face-to-face meetings – CPAs will receive all documentation electronically. For all the details, click here.Don’t forget about all the other supports available to staff including mental health services.
Policy Changes
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (3)
What’s New? (2)
Resources and Supplies (1)
Staff Support (2)
Policy Changes (0)
Notes & Comments (0)Starting with the positive...
The card says, "Made with love from the Guelph Mask Kit Squad and Friends."
The sewers in our community (and beyond!) have been hard at work. Over the last two weeks, we have received more than 4,000 masks! These are been distributed to patients, mostly as they are discharged (both inpatient and ED) and to visitors. We are going to see how our supply lasts – we hope we will be able to offer for staff to use outside the hospital. A handout is going with each mask, with important messaging about usage, including a reminder to maintain physical distancing and donning/doffing instructions.Just a reminder it's free Tim's Day for staff with their first name starting with the letters L-O.
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Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 212 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 28 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 175 Total number of results pending 9 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 8 # staff who tested positive and are now recovered 16 Action/Must read
Please do not bring in your own PPE
For weeks now, we have heard of the concerning shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the province, the country and indeed across the world. In response to this, the Hospital has put in place a number of measures to ensure we have a sufficient supply of PPE, including N95s, and full and half face respirators, face shields, gowns etc. This includes the conservation methods we have put in place for PPE including; doing a thorough point-of-care risk assessment (PCRA), utilizing N95s and full and half face respirators for only those procedures where it is necessary, and following new guidelines for use and extended use of PPE. If we keep up with our conservation methods, we currently have an adequate supply of PPE, including our N95s.Over the last few weeks we have seen and heard that a number of staff and professional staff are bringing in their own PPE (including N95s and full and half face respirators). With appreciation that staff may be bringing in their own equipment as a way of helping us conserve our existing equipment or because it feels safer to have their own equipment, this practice cannot be approved at this time. Unfortunately, using externally provided PPE puts the staff, our patients and each other at risk as we can not verify this equipment is safe or ensure that staff are properly fitted to the equipment. The hospital has an obligation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act to provide staff with safe and appropriate equipment, and we can’t meet that obligation when staff start bringing in their own PPE.
At this time, staff and professional staff who bring in their own equipment will be asked not to use it. The hospital is proactively working on a number of strategies to address the shortages of PPE, including taking Ontario Health’s direction to store used PPE for potential reprocessing and sterilization and working with the province to source alternative supplies.
We still need our scrubs and gowns back!!
Each week during the past four weeks, 1,000 pieces of scrubs and gowns have gone missing. For the 14 months prior to that, our weekly loss averaged 67. As a result, we now have a critical shortage. Scrubs need to be returned so that we don’t run out. This loss of scrubs has already resulted in some department not having enough. Until all scrubs are returned and laundered, staff who wear scrubs are advised to bring a uniform with them to work as a back up in case there are no scrubs available when they arrive at work.Proper exiting of the building
During the day, our Emergency Department entrance is to be used by ED staff and its patients only. It is available to all staff only during after-hours. This keeps the area from becoming overcrowded which undermines physical distancing. During the day, it is not to be used as an exit and entrance for those going outside for a short period such as to smoke or for a walk. In those cases, please exit by other doors and re-enter the building through the main entrance only. We all need to do our part to help control the spread of COVID-19.What’s new?
Looking to see if any staff are interested in volunteering to work for a time at Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes
On April 17, Ontario Health and Ministry of Long-Term Care requested Ontario hospitals to support our long-term care and retirement home partners. A recommended approach was for hospitals to mobilize staff who might be interested in volunteering to work temporarily, on a secondment basis, to provide support to a long-term care and/or retirement home provider.
The secondment would be an extension of your employment with the hospital, on a time-limited basis and subject to the operational needs of the hospital. Staff who volunteer for this would continue to be paid by the hospital. Further, the volunteer arrangement would be for a specific duration to a long-term care and/or retirement home, in order to provide them with some necessary interim stability and for infection prevention and control purposes. During the time of secondment, staff would not work at the hospital.
Please note when the period of secondment is over, a volunteer seconded to a long-term care or retirement home site in an outbreak would be able to return and self monitor for symptoms.
If you are interested to volunteer, please contact Human Resources, Alison Adamson, email AAdamson@gghorg.ca, or extension 2809 and provide your name, department, occupation and contact information.
Thank you for your consideration in assisting our long-term care partners.GGH now using the non-test-based approach with our Return to Work process
Just a reminder that there has been a change in how we clear staff to return to work after they have tested positive. This return process is guided by documents from Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health Unit and Ontario Health,Basically, there are two ways a worker can return to work:
The test-based approach:
The employee has two consecutive NP swabs, collected at least 24 hours apart, that are both negative for COVID-19
The non-test-based approach:
· 14 days have passed since the onset of the first symptom
· The individual is not fevered
· The individual’s symptoms are improving
Guelph General Hospital is using the non-test-based approach in clearing employees to return to work. As a reminder, employees need to contact Employee Health Services prior to returning to work to be cleared.Resources and Supplies
Process for locating surgical/procedure masks
Who does it affect?
Any staff entering clinical areas as a surgical/procedural mask is required to enter the unit.
What is changing?
Clean surgical masks will be available at the nursing station/designated area in a bright orange box for ward clerks, nurses, physicians and unit attendants. If you need a new mask during your shift, retrieve it from the orange box. Do not store open mask boxes on isolation carts or in the clean utility room. Stores will deliver surgical masks to your area on a schedule determined by your Director.
All other staff (eg. social work, rehab, housekeeping, portering, dietary, etc.): Masks will now be delivered to your area on a schedule determined by your Director. Please only use masks from your department stock and not go to a nursing unit to obtain a mask. Follow direction from your department when you need a new mask.
If your mask becomes soiled during a care procedure, you will obtain a new surgical mask from the unit stock.
If additional surgical masks are required, please refer to process on the side of the box and contact your Director Monday to Friday and the Director on call for evening/weekend support.
Why are we doing this?
To support PPE conservation and to ensure all staff who need a mask can access it.Staff Support
COVID-19 Staff Feedback – it’s survey time!
We want to hear from you about how well we are doing with supporting you through the COVID-19 pandemic. Please share your thoughts, comments and ideas with us. The survey is anonymous and short so we hope you will respond. Click here to complete the survey today! If you have any questions about the survey, please email covidquestions@gghorg.caLoblaws now letting healthcare workers to jump to the front of the line
Loblaws/Zehrs/No Frills/Shoppers Drug Mart is now providing priority access for healthcare workers in almost all its locations throughout the day. By showing your healthcare ID, you will get priority entrance to its supermarkets and drugstores.Policy Changes
Notes & Comments
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (0)
Resources and Supplies (0)
Staff Support (1)
Policy Changes (0)
Notes & Comments (0)Starting with the positive...
Students in Grades 1 and 2 at John McCrae Public School wanted to show their appreciation for those on the pandemic front lines. See more of their handiwork here. Just a reminder it's free Tim's Day for staff with their first name starting with the letters J-K.
National Volunteer Week starts today
It will be a National Volunteer Week like no other. Our volunteers are sorely missed but there will be a time when they selflessly return to our GGH family.This year, GGH volunteers provided over 15,800 hours of their time. Each hour, each unique interaction with a patient or visitor has a story behind it. That moment in time made their GGH experience that much better.
A heartfelt “thank you!” goes out to every GGH volunteer. We miss you(!) and look forward to your return.
Our Social Media post above marks the beginning of National Volunteer Week Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 208 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 27 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 165 Total number of results pending 16 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 8 # staff who tested positive and are now recovered 15 Action/Must read
What’s new?
Resources and Supplies
Staff Support
Free short-term hotel accommodations
We have heard concerns from staff who have the added stress of travel during this difficult time. We know that some of our frontline staff are also worried about working here and then being around their families and they would like an option to isolate from their homes.We know these are important issues and in response, we have been working with the Days Inn by Wyndham Guelph, 785 Gordon St, Guelph to secure rooms that can be used by GGH staff.
Hotel accommodations of up to five days are being made available to GGH staff, including physicians, midwives and dentists. Rooms will be provided at no cost to staff. All other expenses are the responsibility of the staff. For all the details including how to access the short-term free accommodation, click here. The strategy for longer length accommodations is being developed and will be shared soon.
More thermometers available for purchase
All staff should be monitoring themselves for symptoms of any illness and taking their temperature at least twice per day. These days, drug stores are often out of thermometers so a supply has been set up for staff to buy. The thermometers are available at switchboard for $14, tax included. They are for staff purchase only - first come, first served.Policy Changes
Notes & Comments
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (2)
What’s New? (2)
Resources and Supplies (1)
Staff Support (2)
Policy Changes (0)Starting with the positive...
A nice email from a grateful patient
Hello Ms Walker,
I have just recently returned home after spending 7 days in your West 6 ward for surgery. I would like to congratulate you and your wonderful staff for their tremendous professionalism in a chaotic, unique time.
With all the fears about COVID-19, possible supply shortages your staff remained caring, dedicated, compassionate and efficient. I found that absolutely amazing that they could be so compassionate and patient when the world around them was spinning out of control and they were targets in the storm. I am certain that they had fears but they expressed them amongst themselves - not letting it affect any of their duties to the patients. There were some very intolerant patients and they handled it all with professionalism and humour. I loved the cooperation that they exuded - when someone was overwhelmed another nurse or staff member would step in and help.
Bravo to a wonderful “front line” of workers”. I needed care and they were there delivering it with sensitivity- a difficult thing to do when you have a young family at home and you are working on the battle lines - front row.
Please offer my heartfelt thank to everyone on West 6 and thanks them for being so special. I trust that everyone keeps healthy and safe and good luck to you as you journey down this dangerous, unknown pathway of global turmoil.
Sincerely, JudyReporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients*
*Friday's figures
Total number of staff tested to date 204 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 26 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 163 Total number of results pending 16 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 7 # staff who tested positive and are now recovered 14 Action/Must read
We need our scrubs and gowns back!!
Since March 14 over 4,000 pieces scrubs and gowns have gone missing. Before that, we lost 4,000 over 14 months. Our linen supplier Ecotex informed us that only 12% of our scrubs were returned for laundering which means 88% have gone missing. The result is we have a critical shortage and scrubs need to be returned so that we don’t run out.Please return all Hospital scrubs you have in your possession ASAP so we can ensure they are available when needed. This loss of scrubs has already resulted in some department not having enough. Until all scrubs are returned and laundered, staff who wear scrubs are advised to bring a uniform with them to work as a back up in case there are no scrubs available when they arrive at work.
The ability to supply scrubs and gowns relies on an unbroken cycle of these items delivered by Ecotex, distributed within the hospital, used, deposited in soiled linen containers and returned to Ecotex to be hygienically cleaned and sent back to GGH. If the cycle is broken, they will not be available and the process will grind to a halt, impeding the flow of these critical items. Please note: scrubs are owned by Ecotex, taking scrubs home is akin to theft.
For areas with hospital-issued scrubs: Scrubs may not be taken off hospital property. Therefore, scrubs are not to be worn home. Street clothes must be worn to work and staff should change into scrubs before their shift and change out of them before leaving the building at the end of the shift.
For clinic staff who wear personally-owned scrubs or uniforms: Scrubs and uniforms should not be worn outside of the building. Street clothes must be worn to work and staff should change into scrubs before their shift. Prior to going outside, change into street clothes and take scrubs home to launder in a sealed plastic bag.
Stay tuned for more communication about scrubs & gowns, but for now, please return them so that we can get them back into circulation. They can be returned to the dirty linen hampers on each of the units.
Visitor Exemptions
To protect our patients and staff, Guelph General Hospital made a difficult decision to stop allowing most visitors into the hospital. Exemptions will be made for compassionate circumstances and are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.Visitor exemptions include:
- Relative of a terminally ill patient near end of life.
- Parent of a child under the age of 18.
- Partner/support person of a patient giving birth.
- Visitor requested by the healthcare team to support patients whose needs may be best met by an external support person (e.g. patient with dementia experiencing agitation).
- Spiritual care providers.
For details about the exemptions, click here.
What’s new?
Enhanced Staff/Patient and Visitor Screening coming soon
For patient and visitor screening: Questions will now include gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. We will also be taking visitors' temperatures. If a visitor has any symptoms or a fever he or she will not be allowed to visit.
For staff: New recommendations are to monitor temperature twice/day. We would encourage you to take your temperature before coming to work. If you don’t have a thermometer at home there are limited quantities available for purchase at switchboard. We will be sending out a new staff monitoring form to complete daily.
Reminder: The temperature we are currently taking with the laser thermometers are only measuring surface temperatures, so will not be the numbers you are used to seeing. We will also take a core temperature using a temporal thermometer if you prefer or if the surface temperature appears inaccurate.
Limited IPAC availability next Monday through Wednesday
GGH has hired new Infection Control Professionals. Given the current IPAC workload, and the fact that we currently have only one ICP, this presents challenges for effective orientation for the new staff. It is critical to commit dedicated training time to ensure our new staff get off to a positive start at GGH and be in a position to contribute effectively as soon as possible.Arpita will be dedicating three full days, April 20, 21, and 22, to provide initial training for our new ICPs. This will significantly impact Infection Prevention and Control coverage for those three days. If you require IPAC support during this time period, please leave a voicemail on extension 6481. Calls will be triaged and responded to if possible. However, the focus will be on training new staff. If you have a critical IPAC issue, please contact ext. 2323.
IPAC Reminder
Now that the 4 East outbreak is over, admission and transfer restrictions are no longer in place. COVID-positive and suspect-COVID patients can be admitted to 4 East, observing appropriate infection prevention and control practices.Resources and Supplies
Distribution of homemade PPE begins
There is an incredible army of sewers in our community who have sewn 1,000 scrub caps and – to date – more than 3,000 masks for GGH. Most of the scrub caps have been distributed – contact your director if your area has been missed and you would like some. The first batch of masks has been distributed. The recipients will be discharged patients and visitors. There have been requests from staff for use outside the hospital and that is being looked into.Staff Support
Goodbye Social Distancing. Hello Physical Distancing
Over the past few weeks the hospital has implemented a number of measures to protect staff from exposures to communicable disease, including COVID-19. This includes the direction to for all staff to wear a surgical mask when working in a clinical area and to maintain physical distancing(2 metres/6.5 feet) both at work and in the community. This includes close quarters like your break/lunchrooms. That, along with being diligent about practicing good hand hygiene, cough etiquette and appropriate use of PPE, will help keep you and your family safe.You may notice that the language around physical distancing has shifted away from social distancing – because it is important to still stay connected to others, especially during times of uncertainty and anxiety. One of the areas of continued concern that increases everyone’s risk is that in our efforts to connect, we forget the importance of physical distancing. At work – our lounges and break rooms continue to be hot spots and places where it is easy to let our guard down around physical distancing because we are with people we know and feel comfortable with. However, we need to be aware that COVID-19 is in our community – and we can get it from people we know and our patients. We have to continue being diligent about all these measures, whether at work, at home or on our breaks. Stay connected – but stay physically distant!
National Volunteer Week starts Monday
It will be a National Volunteer Week like no other. Our volunteers are sorely missed but there will be a time when they selflessly return to our GGH family.This year, GGH volunteers provided over 15,800 hours of their time. Each hour, each unique interaction with a patient or visitor has a story behind it. That moment in time made their GGH experience that much better.
A heartfelt “thank you!” goes out to every GGH volunteer. We miss you(!) and look forward to your return.
Our Social Media post above will mark the beginning of National Volunteer Week Policy Changes
Notes & Comments
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (3)
Resources and Supplies (2)
Staff Support (2)
Policy Changes (0)
Notes & Comments (0)Starting with the positive...
Message found on donated homemade masks. Just a reminder it's free Tim's Day for staff with their first name starting with the letters D-I.
Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 204 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 26 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 163 Total number of results pending 15 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 7 # staff who tested positive and are now recovered 14 Action/Must read
What’s new?
Limit placed on places of employment
On April 15, the provincial government issued an order that restricts employees who have a job with a long-term care employer from working at multiple long-term care locations or at other health service providers including hospitals and retirement homes.Before 5 p.m. today, if you work in long-term care, you must inform your long-term care employer you also work at the Hospital or any other health service provider including a retirement home. By 12:01 a.m. April 22, you must have chosen just one location to work at. If you choose to work at your long-term care employer, please contact Human Resources, Alison Adamson at AAdamson@gghorg.ca, or extension 2809 in order to be provided with an unpaid leave of absence from Guelph General Hospital for the duration of this order.
Return to Work process
As you know, we have had a number of staff test positive for COVID-19. The good news is that many have recovered and back to work or ready to come back to work. This return process is guided by documents from Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health Unit and Ontario Health,Basically, there are two ways a worker can return to work:
The test-based approach:
The employee has two consecutive NP swabs, collected at least 24 hours apart, that are both negative for COVID-19
The non-test-based approach:
· 14 days have passed since the onset of the first symptom
· The individual is not fevered
· The individual’s symptoms are improving
Guelph General Hospital is using the non-test based approach in clearing employees to return to work. As a reminder, employees need to contact Employee Health Services prior to returning to work to be cleared.Discharging patients from Hospital to either long-term care or retirement homes put on hold
From Ontario Health: "To protect the residents of long-term care homes and retirement homes across Ontario, we are asking Ontario hospitals to temporarily stop transferring patients to long-term care and retirement homes. This action builds on the government’s COVID-19 Action Plan for Protecting Long-Term Care Homes that was released today." For more details, click here.Resources and Supplies
How PPE conservation improves our "days on hand"
PPE supplies are closely monitored at GGH and across the province. Our teams in Purchasing and Stores do a great job ensuring staff have the correct healthcare-grade PPE they need to be safe at work. And, we have seen the positive results of everyone implementing the PPE conservation measures currently in place. These have a major effect on our inventory "days on hand" - a measure of how many of a particular item we have, divided by how many we use each day.Our PPE includes:
- N95
- Procedure Masks
- Protective Eye Glasses
- Face Shields
- Isolation Gowns
- Gloves
Right now, we have a supply level of greater than 10 days for each of these. However without conservation measures, this will change quickly. For example, before conservation, we had a 30 day supply of procedure masks. Now that conservation methods are in place, that supply will last 96 days at its current rate of usage. Your continued support when it comes to safely using and conserving PPE is greatly appreciated – it makes an incredible difference!
Wearing hospital garb and PPE outside the hospital
Thank you for doing a good job in in PPE conservation as this will help insure we have the supplies needed for all. However, it has been noted that some bad habits have formed that put people at risk for infection and impact our supplies.
Some staff are wearing masks outside, hospital scrubs are being taken home and gowns are being worn for comfort, not for infection control reasons. There are very few circumstances during which any hospital garb is to be worn outside the building. With the relentless pressures on our PPE supply, we ask all of you to please use PPE for intended purposes.We’re all in this together and anyone can speak up when we see poor PPE use. In the end, we all benefit.
Staff Support
Honouring those marked by COVID-19
On or around 11:00 a.m. today there will be a minute of silence “for all workers to pray or reflect, in recognition of those who have passed away from COVID-19, the work of all health care workers, those who are off due to COVID-19 and the people we care for." Switchboard will make an overhead announcement.Help with your Taxes
As a small token of appreciation, CPAs across the province want to contribute their professional expertise to help prepare frontline healthcare workers’ 2019 taxes. In keeping with social distancing guidelines, there will be no face-to-face meetings – CPAs will receive all documentation electronically. For all the details, click here.
Don't forget about all the other supports available to staff including mental health services.Policy Changes
Notes & Comments
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (1)
What’s New? (2)
Resources and Supplies (1)
Staff Support (4)
Policy Changes (0)
Notes & Comments (0)Starting with the positive...
It's been a successful trial in refilling our wall-mounted sanitizer bags with donated bulk product. This will really help ease the pressure on our current inventory.
As the saying goes, "Necessity is the mother of invention!"Free Tims' Day is back! (in a modified form)
Our donor-funded free Tim Hortons day last week was overwhelmingly popular. Sales were four times what they usually are and 1,125 items were sold! Those of you who were there know there were line-ups, and the Tims staff were run off their feet.
We want to make this a regular offering, and working together with our friends at Marek, have come up with a plan. Each weekday, a portion of staff will be able to receive a free beverage and baked good of their choice (we’re excluding breakfast sandwiches as they take more time to prepare). Our schedule is based on the first initial of your first name – all you need to do is show your ID badge. (We chose first name instead of last name as not everyone has their last name on their ID badge.) We’ll change up the schedule so it is not always the same letters on the same day of the week. Here’s the schedule for the next five weekdays:
Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients*
*Now includes # staff who tested positive and are now recovered (!)
Total number of staff tested to date 200 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 25 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 163 Total number of results pending 12 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 7 # staff who tested positive and are now recovered 10 Action/Must read
Wanted: Missing scrubs!
We need our scrubs and gowns back!! Currently, close to 8,000 pieces of linen are missing and over 4,000 of those pieces have disappeared within just the last month!The ability to supply scrubs and gowns relies on an unbroken cycle of these items delivered by Ecotex, distributed within the hospital, used, deposited in soiled linen containers and returned to Ecotex to be hygienically cleaned and sent back to GGH. If the cycle is broken, they will not be available and the process will grind to a halt, impeding the flow of these critical items.
Please return any scrubs you may have in your possession asap so we can ensure that they are available when needed.
Reminders & Tips:
For areas with hospital-issued scrubs: Scrubs may not be taken off hospital property.
For staff who choose to wear personally supplied scrubs: Scrubs should not be worn outside of the building. Street clothes should be worn to work and staff should change into scrubs before their shift. Prior to going outside, change into street clothes and take scrubs home to launder in a sealed plastic bag.Stay tuned for more communication about scrubs & gowns, but for now, please return them so we can get them back into circulation.
What’s new?
Changes to visitor screening
No longer limited to just a few health questions by screeners, any visitor presenting at the hospital with any unwell symptoms at all will not be allowed in.Public Health expanding criteria for qualifying for a COVID-19 test
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health is working to intensify it efforts to identify people with COVID-19 in our community. It is particularly focused on vulnerable community members and to essential workers as part of expanded testing priorities, but is expanding capacity to test all symptomatic community members in line with the provincial guidance. At this time, there is sufficient supply of specimen collection kits (swabs) to support increased testing. For all the details, please click here.Resources and Supplies
Thermometers now available for purchase
All staff should be monitoring themselves for symptoms of any illness and taking their temperature at least twice per day. These days, drug stores are often out of thermometers so a supply has been set up for staff to buy. The thermometers are available at switchboard for $14, tax included. We currently have 16 but expect to receive more over the weekend. They are for staff purchase only - first come, first served.Staff Support
First group of COVID-related "What's on Your Mind?" now posted
It's been a while since the last posting. The latest group is focused on answering COVID questions. Please remember, "What's on Your Mind?" is hosted on our Intranet and only viewable within the organization.Upcoming Employee Wellness Webinars for All Staff
Many of us may be feeling anxiety and stress right now, and it could be increasing every day. You may feel that some days are okay, and other days are overwhelming. It is important we try to find some time to support our emotional and mental health during this pandemic.
With this in mind, we have been working with Homewood Health, our EFAP provider, to schedule their emotional/mental health Webinar offerings. As a result, we have scheduled all five of the Homewood Health COVID-19 wellness webinars. The first one, COVID-19: Strategies for Managing Stress, is tonight at 7 p.m. For all the details and how to register, click here.Clean your badge
It’s easy to forget how often we touch our ID badges each day to open secured doors or to use staff elevators. Please make it your habit to clean it at least once a day.
HR's staff survey winding down
Kudos to over 700 staff(!) who have already filled out HR's short, online survey! If you still haven't had a chance please do it soon! We're hoping to wrap up the survey by Friday.Policy Changes
Notes & Comments
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (0)
Resources and Supplies (0)
Staff Support (2)
Policy Changes (0)
Notes & Comments (0)Starting with the positive...
Submitted email: This video (click image) was put together by high school students around Guelph. We just wanted to show our appreciation for what all the healthcare and essential workers are doing for the community. Just know you are appreciated and truly are heroes.
Please do your best to stay safe under the circumstancesReporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 189 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 25 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 156 Total number of results pending 8 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 7 Action/Must read
What’s new?
Resources and Supplies
Staff Support
Upcoming Employee Wellness Webinars for All Staff
Many of us may be feeling anxiety and stress right now, and it could be increasing every day. You may feel that some days are okay, and other days are overwhelming. It is important we try to find some time to support our emotional and mental health during this pandemic.
With this in mind, we have been working with Homewood Health, our EFAP provider, to schedule their emotional/mental health Webinar offerings. As a result, we have scheduled all five of the Homewood Health COVID-19 wellness webinars. For details, click here.HR's staff survey wrapping up
Kudos to the nearly 700 staff(!) who have already filled out HR's short, online survey! If you still haven't had a chance please do it soon! The survey closes midnight Thursday.Policy Changes
Notes & Comments
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (1)
Resources and Supplies (1)
Staff Support (1)
Policy Changes (0)
Notes & Comments (0)
Starting with the positive...
Board Chair Dale Mills penned an open Letter to the Editor about what he witnesses in all staff at the hospital. It begins, "Compassion. As the Board Chair of Guelph General Hospital (GGH) if I had to use a single word to describe staff at the hospital that is it. Not everyone gets to see what goes on behind the scenes. You would be amazed at the effort that is put forth every day, not only during a crisis such as this COVID-19 pandemic, but every day: day in and day out, 365 days a year." The entire letter was published in Sunday's Guelph Today.
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Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 177 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 25 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 147 Total number of results pending 5 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 7 Action/Must read
What’s new?
Teleconferencing etiquette
With few meeting being held face to face and via teleconference instead, handy guidelines have been developed for participants to help the meeting run smoothly.Resources and Supplies
Just a visual reminder of the does and don'ts on wearing your mask. Staff Support
Staff Feedback
Thank you for your COVID-related questions to "What's on Your Mind?" (WOYM) and your covidquestions@gghorg.ca emails. These are received and being worked on behind the scenes.
• Covidquestions – answers are provided back directly to the questioner. If they are frequently asked, they are then included in the Staff FAQ and Resources page
• WOYM answers will be published some time this weekAlso supporting feedback, a staff communications survey will be out this week. it'll be used to identify gaps and opportunities as well as other engagement topics.
Policy Changes
Notes & Comments
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (3)
What’s New? (0)
Resources and Supplies (0)
Staff Support (1)
Policy Changes (0)
Notes & Comments (0)Starting with the positive...
A virtual choir of women physicians from the Toronto area sing Rise Again. Be sure to have your sound turned way up. Just click the image to be taken to the YouTube video. Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients*
*numbers last updated Thursday, April 9
Total number of staff tested to date 179 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 25 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 135 Total number of results pending 19 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 7 Action/Must read
Preparing to reprocess masks
Ontario Health has put out a very clear message to hospitals. The message explained that conservation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a key part of our work to ensure we can protect all our healthcare workers. Ontario Health stated that evidence supports that there are various methods of retaining, sterilizing, reprocessing and reusing PPE, including N95 masks. Ontario Health is working with various partners throughout our system to determine the best approach to implement these conservation methods and is exploring advanced technologies to achieve safe reprocessing of masks.To support this work, Ontario Health recommends all organizations refrain from disposing of N95 masks and surgical masks and to store the masks for potential reprocessing. At GGH, we are following this recommendation so that we are ready to respond if and when the safe reprocessing process is available.
We are doing our part to contribute to PPE conservation so a reminder; at the end of your shift, if your mask is not visibly soiled* or contaminated, place in a biohazard or Ziploc bag. Label the bag (not the mask) with your first and last name, date, and unit. Place in the designated area on your unit. If you are not sure where this location is, ask your Resource Nurse, Manager, or Director.
*Visible soiling includes makeup because the mask will be difficult to sterilize.PPE conservation:
Although not our usual practice, procedure masks and N95’s (even if used for an Aerosol-Generating Medical Procedure) can be used with multiple patients and tasks unless visibly soiled or damaged.
Recommendation: use the face shield to preserve the life of your mask- Wear each procedure mask as long as possible. This includes going in and out of droplet precaution rooms (note, this is a HUGE change).
- Minimize the amount of times you are taking off your mask.
- When taking a procedure mask off for future use, handle the masks by the straps. Carefully takeoff the mask and place it on a clean surface (eg. blue pad or paper towel) or in a paper bag.
- Bundle care tasks where possible and limit the number of staff in the room to conserve PPE
CEO's weekly message - conserving PPE the new normal
Detailed explanation about when to use PPE and what kind
Our Infectious Disease specialist, Dr. James Murdoch, has researched best practices as of the current date.Please use his advice when choosing your mask. If you waste PPE now, you may be without it in the near future. For Dr. Murdoch's detailed information, please click here.What’s new?
Resources and Supplies
Staff Support
Just a reminder that OD has updated an extensive list of resources to support your emotional, psychological and mental health.
Policy Changes
Notes & Comments
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (0)
What’s New? (2)
Resources and Supplies (0)
Staff Support (2)
Policy Changes (0)
Notes & Comments (0)Starting with the positive...
As you know, food donations are no longer allowed. Many supporters have donated gift cards for local restaurants instead. Right now, we have over 300! We're just finalizing a fair distribution process and should have them out next week! Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients*
*numbers last updated Thursday, April 9
Total number of staff tested to date 179 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 25 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 135 Total number of results pending 19 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 7 Action/Must read
What’s new?
COVID-19 Outbreak on 4 East declared over!
To read the announcement from Marianne Walker, click here.COVID-19 Outbreak on 4E Declared Over - Important Patient Flow Information
For all the details, click here.Resources and Supplies
Staff Support
Kudos to the over 400 staff(!) who have already filled out HR's short, online survey! If you still haven't had a chance, click here
If you happen to go to a COVID-19 Assessment Centre for testing
Please let them know you are a GGH employee. This will ensure your test results are back as quickly as possible.Policy Changes
Notes & Comments
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (2)
What’s New? (0)
Resources and Supplies (0)
Staff Support (1)
Policy Changes (0)
Notes & Comments (0)Starting with the positive...
President and CEO Marianne Walker took to Facebook with a video to express her appreciation to the community for all the incredible support we've been getting. Standing in the staff entrance vestibule, the video also shared some of the wonderful messages received through the White Heart Project. Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 179 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 25 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 135 Total number of results pending 19 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 7 Action/Must read
Detailed instructions for proper PPE use
All staff have the responsibility to ensure appropriate and responsible PPE use in order to conserve for future needs. Please review the GGH PPE use guidelines listed below to assist with extending the use of our finite supply of personal protective equipment.
HR Surveying staff
Ontario Health released new recommendations regarding employees who work at multiple sites during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, it recommends that organizations should proactively gather staffing reports to understand how many HCWs maintain employment at multiple sites, in the event that there is a requirement to re-assess and limit HCWs to one organization. Please note that at this time, Guelph General Hospital is not requiring staff to limit themselves to working at only one employer. *In order to get this information, HR has created a short, web-based survey and ALL staff are asked to fill it out. The short survey will gather two main pieces of information:
- Identifying HCW’s who work at multiple sites
- a skills inventory to help identify where staff could work within our organization
* Currently, employees are not restricted to working only at one facility with some exceptions. Those who work in LTC have been asked to select one employer because of directives LTC have received. In addition, because we have one unit in currently in outbreak it may limit some workers from working at more than one hospital. If you have questions regarding this process, please continue to reach out to your director and HR. The Ontario Health COVID-19 Recommendations for Multi-Employer Health Care Workers are available here.
What’s new?
Resources and Supplies
Staff Support
Message from Homewood Health
The anxiety and stress level in hospitals right now is increasing every day. Mental health as well as physical health of healthcare workers is becoming increasingly at risk as staff continue to work excessive hours, burning themselves out and reducing their resistance.I would like to take this opportunity to remind our Healthcare EFAP customers, that the Crisis Management Services (CMS) are still available to help staff manage the ongoing stress and anxiety they face every day. Homewood Health has developed some telephonic and virtual options to provide support during this pandemic.
Details about the options listed below can be found here.
- First Call Care – for immediate and urgent needs on an individual basis
- Outreach calls - customers can also reach out to our CMS team and provide a list of impacted employees, their phone numbers and verbal consent to receive a call back from one of our CMS clinicians
- Standby – upon your request, CMS will ‘virtually deploy’ one or more CMS provider(s) for blocks of time to be available for employees via telephonic calls
- Telephonic groups - a dedicated conference line will be arranged to support a maximum of 10 employees
- Video Support - customers can also request video support, whether it’s for individual or group options, with a maximum of 10 attendees
Homewood has also created great handout resources for staff
- COVID-19 - How to Stay Motivated while working from home
- COVID-19 - Managing the Impact
- COVID-19 - Support for First Responders
- COVID-19 - Managing Stress and Anxiety
- COVID-19 - Quelling Anxiety
Policy Changes
Notes & Comments
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (1)
What’s New? (2)
Resources and Supplies (1)
Staff Support (2)
Policy Changes (0)
Notes & Comments (0)Starting with the positive...
John Sleeman delivered 100, 64-oz containers of sanitizer from his new venture, the Spring Mill Distillery. That’s enough to fill almost 400 of the 500-ml pump bottles we use! His shipment, half of which is a donation, was gratefully received by Suzanne Bone and Gavin Webb. Just a quick reminder that thanks to generous donors, today is free Tim Hortons day for staff! Please be prepared for a long line up and don't forget to practice social distancing!
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Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 174 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 25 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 128 Total number of results pending 21 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 6 Action/Must read
Further efforts to conserve PPE
Safety of our staff and patients remains our priority through these very challenging times. We need to conserve our PPE so we have it when we really need it!We are moving towards strategies that were not taught in school. We have to adjust to this huge SHIFT in thinking/using PPE wisely.
Please pause before discarding your mask/gown. Masks can be re-used if they are not contaminated or visibly soiled.
Preserve/prolong the use of your surgical mask as long as possible. Using a face shield over your mask can help with this!
What’s new?
First group of new Health Care Aides attend orientation
As a part of our recruitment blitz, the first group of Health Care Aides were on site for their orientation. This is a new position at the Hospital.The position provides support services to the nursing staff by ensuring all areas are stocked and maintained with appropriate supplies and equipment, ordering supplies, and transporting supplies, equipment and patients both within the department and hospital wide, in a timely manner to accommodate efficient patient flow. The Health Care Aide assists with the turnover, cleaning and set up of patient rooms.
The Health Care Aide provides additional support by assisting the nurses with patient care which may include feeding, responding to call bells, supervising patients ambulating to the bathroom, transport of patients, providing warm blankets and answering the phones.
For complete information about the position and the necessary qualifications, please click here.
Changes to sick pay related to COVID-19
Recently, Ontario Health issued recommendations with respect to Full-Time (FT) and Part-Time (PT) non-union and union staff sick pay. Our hospital and our regional hospitals have agreed to adopt the recommendations. A summary to implement the recommendations can be found here.Resources and Supplies
Our Foundation now has a dedicated page for those who want to make and donate homemade sewn masks.
Although there is no sewn face mask that can effectively replace a medical-grade mask (such as N95 masks) for our frontline workers, they can be used for other uses such as the general community, visitors or discharged patients. This allows GGH to save medical-grade masks for higher risk environments.
In fact, just recently, Health Canada and the Centre for Disease Control recommended wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.
Staff Support
CMHA Waterloo Wellington, in partnership with our community providers, has created a new service to provide free, immediate mental health and addiction care to front line healthcare workers, called Here4HealthCare.
The Here4HealthCare service pathways prioritize the needs of healthcare workers and link you to free psychiatry, crisis services, psychotherapy, support groups, as well as online virtual care and resources.
To access this new service, simply go to:www.here4healthcare.ca for a web-enabled, self-referral form, or a phone number to call. A new online resource library is also available anytime via this website.
Here4HealthCare has a number of different confidential services that are specific to the needs you might be facing at this time. Staff are encouraged to reach out for support.
Staff screening off to to good start
It's only been two days but so far our active staff screening in the main lobby is going well. Kudos to everyone - both the screeners and participating staff. Please remember to self screen before entering the building by reviewing the four questions posted on the sign outside the door. Also, when leaving the building try to use the staff exit on Level 1. There you'll see the incredible words of support coming from our community. It's a great way to fill your sails at the end of the day.Policy Changes
Notes & Comments
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How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you're within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (1)
What’s New? (0)
Resources and Supplies (3)
Staff Support (2)
Policy Changes (0)
Notes & Comments (0)Starting with the positive...
Over 40 messages of support were received over the weekend through our White Heart Project. Our Foundation's Suzanne Bone and Jennifer Duggan add the messages to the 20+ already posted in the staff entrance vestibule.. Donors support free Tims on Wednesday!
Hundreds in our community have made donations to the Foundation’s COVID-19 Critical Response Fund. One of the things we want to do is support staff, and so anything on the Tim Hortons menu will be FREE all day Wednesday, April 8 (beverages, baked goods and breakfast sandwiches). The awesome Tims' team will be baking extra, but note this will be while supplies last. This is just a small way for our community to say thank you for the incredible effort everyone is making during these difficult times. BTW - we’ll be doing its again, and will choose a different day of the week next time.
Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Total number of staff tested to date 172 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 25 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 120 Total number of results pending 27 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 6 Action/Must read
As of yesterday, the Emergency department is divided into two zones:
Red Zone - This zone is for patients who have respiratory symptoms or infections
To enter this zone you must have on a surgical mask and if having any contact with patients you also require googles, gloves and a gown.
If you are not having contact with patients, only a mask is required.
Enter this zone by the back door of observation area.Green Zone – This zone is to separate non-infectious patients from the red zone patients.
This zone is only to be entered if you are not wearing contaminated PPE. You must doff contaminated PPE and wash your hands before entering this zone.
You still require a surgical mask in this zone
This zone is in the See and Treat area. – Don’t cross from dirty to Green without following proper doffing practice.
You can enter this zone through the front entrance or See and Treat.What’s new?
Resources and Supplies
More ventilators coming
We have ordered 20 new ventilators. Ten of these were already in the works, funded through the Foundation’s Circle of Life program, and we've since doubled the order. Delivery date is to be determined.Ensuring the quality of our masks
We are doing everything possible to obtain masks by exploring all opportunities to maintain, improve, and expand the supply chain including donations. The shortage of masks in Canada has opened the market up to sub-standard, counterfeit, and non-healthcare grade masks. We are committed to providing staff with valid healthcare grade masks, and we have established processes to validate masks before purchase.Local distillers to the rescue!
Dixon Distilled Spirits and Spring Mill Distillery are now mass producing hand sanitizer. Some of the challenges remain with regards to bottling but one thing's for sure, thanks to the support of our community, there's one less thing to worry about!
Staff at Spring Hill Distillery hand fill hundreds of bottles of hand sanitizer.. Staff Support
HR has updated an extensive list of resources to support your emotional, psychological and mental health.
Also, the COVID resource page on our Intranet has been completely updated with a large FAQ section. Please note you cannot access this page remotely.
Policy Changes
Notes & Comments
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Guelph-Wellington Paramedic Service and Guelph Fire Department dropped by Friday afternoon to show their support. We truly are all in this together. Active Staff Screening starts today
Just a reminder everyone entering the Hospital must first go through an active screening process starting today. To leave the building, use any door. You might want to go out through the staff entrance on Level 1 where you'll see all the messages of support from the community through our Foundation's White Heart Project. For more details about the screening process, click here
Short Stay Assessment Unit relocating
Starting today, Monday April 6, Homewood Health Centre (HHC) will be temporarily relocating the Short Stay Assessment Unit (SSAU) from beside our Emergency Department to Homewood. All SSAU staff and resources, aside from GGH Security Staff, will relocate from GGH to HHC to continue to support these patients.
This relocation will not change the care model in either our Emergency Department (ED) or in our inpatient beds. HHC staff will continue to complete assessments in the ED and the consult liaison team will continue to support our inpatients. Patients requiring a schedule 1 bed will transfer from the ED to SSAU as they always have, only the SSAU beds will now be across the street.
This temporary change in the location of the SSAU beds will provide us with some extra space to create additional care areas for our patients during the pandemic.
Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Below are the numbers that will be reported with each GGH weekday update. Please note, the numbers change often as information is received from a variety of sources. As of today:
Total number of staff tested to date 163 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 25 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 106 Total number of results pending 32 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 6 -
Active Staff Screening starts soon
Just a reminder everyone entering the Hospital must first go through an active screening process as of Monday, April 6. For more details, click here
New and Updated Ontario Health COVID-19 Human Resources Recommendations
Today Ontario Health released updated COVID-19 HR Recommendations for health care workers who work in multiple sites. Specifically, they identify that:
- HCWs working on a suspected or declared COVID-19 outbreak unit, a COVID-19 area within an organization, or an intensive care unit caring for probable or confirmed COVID cases may not be permitted to work elsewhere until the outbreak is cleared, or at the direction of the local public health unit or aligned with infection control practices. Organizational decisions regarding the deployment of resources in these circumstances will be made in a manner that balances the needs of patient care and safety aligned to local conditions.
- Organizations should proactively gather staffing reports to understand how many Health Care Workers (HCWs) maintain employment at multiple sites, in the event that there is a requirement to re-assess and limit HCWs to one organization.
Please stay tuned as we work out how to best implement these measures and work with our partners. Currently, if you are in doubt, please let your manager or director at any facility you work in know if you are working in a suspected or declared COVID-19 unit, a COVID-19 area within an organization, or an intensive care unit caring for probable or confirmed COVID cases.
Updated Recommendation:
On Friday, Ontario Health released a new HR recommendation entitled “Hospital Employee Sick Pay.” At GGH, when it comes to COVID-19, all staff, regardless of whether full-time or part-time, have been paid for their scheduled shifts if they were directed to be tested for COVID-19 by either the Hospital or a Public Health Unit, and paid for any scheduled shifts while awaiting their test results. This new recommendation provides additional information which may have implications for payment of sick time related to COVID-19. More information will follow early next week.Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Below are the numbers that will be reported with each GGH weekday update. Please note, the numbers change often as information is received from a variety of sources. As of Friday:
Total number of staff tested to date 157 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 24 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 91 Total number of results pending 42 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 4 -
A heart of a different colour
The Foundation’s White Heart Project launched yesterday afternoon and in a few hours it’d already received 20 responses. These will be displayed in the staff entrance so you can look at them (at least six feet away from anyone else!) on your way out of the building. Hopefully this will help you leave your shift wrapped in a hug of community support. Here's just one example:
Every time we’ve been to GGH, we’ve been treated with great care, professionalism and warmth. Thank you for working so hard to keep us all healthy - and for looking after us when we need care. I can only imagine how tough it is for you to be away from your own families, especially under these circumstances. Thank you, thank you, thank you - we see you, appreciate you, and support you!Details now available for staff screening process starting Monday
The main lobby has been set up to accommodate staff screening while maintaining a physical distance of 2 metres. For all the details of the new screening process, click here.
Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
Below are the numbers that will be reported with each GGH Update. Please note, the numbers change often as information is received from a variety of sources. As of today:
Total number of staff tested to date 157 Total number of staff with a positive test result to date 24 Total number of staff with a negative test result to date 91 Total number of results pending 42 Number of current in-patients who have tested positive 4 Important Update on Masks: Need to Conserve
To ensure staff safety, the hospital is doing everything possible to find new sources of valid healthcare grade masks. This goal is challenged by the world-wide shortage of masks and in particular medical grade N95s. In addition to sourcing more equipment, it is imperative to conserve the PPE we have available so that staff continue to have PPE they need when they need it.
Fortunately, we have been able to secure a supply of N95 masks. How long our stock of masks will last is dependent on how COVID-19 progresses and on how well we safely conserve. Every piece of PPE is needed and can’t be wasted! To find out about our current levels along with tips on how to conserve them, click here.
Free parking begins for everyone(!)
We appreciate this is a challenging time for our staff, physicians, patients and families. We hope to lessen some of the burden by temporarily waiving the cost of parking for everyone. Effective immediately, entry and exit gates at our main lot and in front of 73 Delhi will be lifted.
Effective April 5, 2020, the hospital will implement free parking for all staff including professional staff. Please note, for professional staff who have pre-paid their parking, the hospital will establish a reimbursement process. Please be patient while the process is developed.
This show of support is being made by all Waterloo Wellington hospitals. How long it lasts will depend on many factors.
Capacity Planning - both within and outside
Our team continues to do an amazing job in increasing capacity to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. All departments working together this week has resulted in:
· Increased capacity of 8-10 critical care beds
· increased capacity of medical beds by including the use of Same Day Surgery spaceWe thank all of you for preparing for our patients.
We are also working with our community partners and the Waterloo Wellington hospitals to develop innovative strategies to reduce the number of Alternate Level Care patients including the movement to retirement homes, exploring the use of hotels with home care support and planning for a field hospital if needed. This continues to evolve at a fast pace and we will continue to explore all non-traditional options at a regional level.
Temporary recruits begin to arrive
We have had strong response to our public hiring blitz with individual responses and support from partners like Linamar, the University of Guelph and Guelph and Area Ontario Health Team members. Approximately 10 new employees will start as soon as Monday in a number of roles. If you know of anyone who might be interested in temporary work with us, send them to www.gghorg.ca/careers. Our typical hiring process is measured in weeks or even months – this has happened in days. Sincere thanks to those in the all the support departments who have made this possible.
COVID-19 Assessment Centre moving to a new location
Beginning Monday, April 6, the Centre will be located at the Victoria Road Recreation Centre at 151 Victoria Rd., N., Guelph. The new location will provide increased accessibility and better parking. It will also facilitate capacity increases to the Assessment Clinic as the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve. The Centre will close Sunday at 4 p.m. in order to facilitate the move. For the media release, click here.
Foundation helping community identify what PPE to donate
Sourcing PPE continues to be a focus for Materials Management, supported by the Foundation when it comes to community donations. In addition to the hospital’s regular supply channels, over the last couple of weeks the Foundation has fielded more than 275 inquiries about PPE and other supplies and supports. Materials Management keeps a very close eye on supply levels, and the Foundation’s newly launched PPE page outlines what is needed. If an item is not listed, that’s because our supply is strong. If you know someone who is interested in supporting, please direct them to www.gghfoundation.ca where they can find our PPE page.
What do I do if I feel sick and can't come to work?
All employees are to follow their normal absence notification process as per their department. If employees are experiencing any communicable disease symptoms and/or fever >38, new or worsening cough and/or difficulty breathing they are to contact Employee Health at the dedicated line ext. 3330. Please leave a message and indicate their name, department, symptoms and contact info. An Employee Health Staff member will return their call.
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Appreciation comes in all forms
Guelph Police Services dropped by to show their support and our “thank you” rock garden continues to grow! (click on photo to enlarge) Gathering words of encouragement
Tomorrow, the Foundation launches the “White Heart Project” as a way for our community to show appreciation for those on Guelph General Hospital’s front lines, and for those who are supporting them during the COVID-19 crisis. Community members will be able to submit words of support which will be printed and posted for all to see (likely main lobby or staff entrance, or both). Details can be found here.
How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- Send your feedback to a newly set up email: covidquestions@gghorg.ca. We're developing a process as to how to share responses in a timely manner.
New phone extensions
3 east medicine unit – ext. 2244
Day surgery (in their new location) – ext. 3205Staff screening delayed until Monday
There’s still a few details to work out such as ensuring social distancing and other safety issues. So, active staff screening will begin Monday, April 6. At that time, the only way for staff to get into the main building during the day is through a door by the Ambulatory Care registration desk (photo right). More details to follow tomorrow.
FAQs
Our COVID-19 resource page on the Intranet has been completely updated with new information and an extensive FAQ section. For now, this page can’t be accessed outside the hospital.
Supporting virtual visiting
The Foundation is working with a local business to supply 20 tablets our patients can use to communicate with loved ones who are not able to visit. We hope to have these tablets here within the next couple of weeks.
Return to work process
The details continue to change often based on the direction from the province. For staff and physicians intending to return to work, please contact Employee Health Services.
Reducing the amount equipment being shared between patients
Last year, Foundation donors funded enough vital signs monitor to ensure one at every bedside. The monitors arrived pre-COVID-19 but we had been waiting for our census to be down so they could be wall-mounted in rooms. Some of this work has been done in the last week or so and poles should arrive soon so the rest of the machines can be deployed.
Save these bottles
Why? Local distilleries are now producing sanitizer for hospitals but may not have the bottles available. We can get our empty ones refilled!
Just set aside any empty bottles and give them to the next housekeeper you see.
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Our community’s gratitude comes in all forms.
To little Aayush, nurses are heroes.
To the community at large, we all are. (click photo to enlarge)
Expanding our in-house capacity
Today, we’ll start opening additional beds and continue over the next few days as follows:
- Day Surgery: Emergent or urgent surgical patients who would normally come through Day Surgery will now be cared for in the Cataract and Endoscopy areas on Level 3.
- The 27 bays in the Day Surgery Unit will be activated in our IT system and will show up as 3 East Medicine. ALC patients will be prioritized and starting today and for the next two days, 8-10 patients will be moved to this new location.
- Also today, six additional intensive care beds will be opened. These will be located in the OR and/or PACU. The priority patients will be decided in collaboration with our ICU and surgical teams.
Donated Supplies – Foundation update
Our Foundation working with community with respect to donated supplies including masks, face-shields and gowns. Over 200 contacts have been made and thousands of items have been received, primarily masks. Most are not our usual brand/model so they are being evaluated.
A campaign for sewn masks is about to begin. These will be given to visitors and discharged patients. Please direct anyone interested in helping in any way to this link: www.gghfoundation.ca/covid-19-ppe-critical-response/
Finally, community members have already donated more than $110,000 to our COVID-19 Critical Response Fund!
Local discounts and promotions
We’ve receive a variety of offers to support staff. Some local hotels are offering discounts to hospital staff. When booking, identify yourself as a GGH employee and ask for their discount rate.
- Days Inn at Wyndham – 519 822-9112
- Comfort Inn Guelph – 519 763-1900
- Staybridge Suites Guelph – 519-767-3300
Airbnb is also doing their part to support First Responders. To see if there are local accommodations on offering, follow this link Airbnb First Responder Support
Signing in clarification
Staff working clinical areas are required sign in and out of the unit. Those staff making multiple entries during a shift such as food services are only required to sign in once at each unit visited during a shift.
Recruitment campaign
Our drive to hire at least 100 temporary workers is off to a fast start. The marketing has begun and applications are coming in quickly.
Empowering video
Dr. David Price is a NY physician who has been treating COVID+ve patients for the past month. In a 10-minute video, “Empowering and protecting your family during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he shares some of what he’s learned and what to do to keep yourself and your family safe.
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Even though we haven’t officially started promoting our recruitment campaign until tomorrow, the positions are now posted on our web site and from Friday to Sunday we’ve had a lot of applicants. It’s yet another great example of how we are surrounded by a community that wants to support us in any way possible. Some of the applicants include 23 Health Care Aides, nine RPNs and four RNs. You can do your part by reaching out to those you know who might be looking for work.
PPE and community donations
PPE supplies have been pouring in from the community. Our Foundation is creating a web page to let the community know what PPE we need and what we don’t at this time. That list can change almost daily. Although the community support helps, staff still need to conserve PPE. It’s critical we get the most use out of what we have.
Community donors are encouraged to email covidsupplies@gghorg.ca with their intended donations. From there, they’ll received instructions on how to drop off or even be redirected to other organizations who might need their donation if we are unable to use it.
Video counseling now available
Our EFAP provider Homewood continues to provide free crisis support. During this pandemic, they are now offering video counselling, as well as the telephone counselling. Call 1-800-663-1142 for support.
Change to food discount promotion
Swiss Chalet Guelph’s participation in the 50% off invitation has ended but the team at all Harvey’s in Guelph and Swiss Chalet Fergus will be extending the offer for the full four weeks ending April 17.
Tips for protecting yourself and your loved ones
Transitioning from work to home means doing your best to keep eveyone safe. Tips have been developed to help do just that.
- When possible, change out of work clothes and shoes before driving home or taking public transit. There arechange rooms and showers available on Level one for staff use. Alternatively, remove clothes and shoes immediately after getting home and before interacting with your family.
- Wash your hands frequently; remember to wash your hands with soap and water before leaving work and upon returning home
- Practice good respiratory hygiene: Cough and sneeze into your flexed arm or use a tissue. If you use a tissue, discard it into a closed bin immediately.
- Avoid shaking hands. Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Maintain physical distance at work and in the community. This mean maintaining two metres of distance between you and others.
- If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early.
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Over the past week, we learned several staff members tested positive for COVID-19. It may not be the last time this happens. As a result, measures need to be put in place to both reduce the possibility of transmission and to clearly track it should it happen. These measures where developed by Dr. Murdock, GGH’s Infectious Disease Physician, and IPAC with input from staff. As always, staff and patient safety remains paramount..
1. Signing in and out of Hospital units
To assist COVID-19 contact-tracing procedures, starting Monday there will be a tracking sheet on each unit. All staff will sign in and out of each unit visited.
2. The creation of a COVID-19 Unit
With input from staff, a decision has been made to create a COVID-19 unit in the hospital. Other than those needing to be in an ICU bed, the 4 East unit will house confirmed or suspect COVID-19 patients as well as those patients who may have been exposed to COVID-positive staff. Should more beds be required, 4 West would be the next unit designated.
3. Personal Protective Equipment
As a reminder, to reduce potential spread from asymptomatic/pre-symptomatic health care workers, a procedure mask is to be worn at all times in clinical areas. Continue to adhere to recommendations regarding appropriate use of PPE for Droplet/Contact precautions. N95 masks for COVID-19 should only be used for aerosol-generating medical procedures.
4. Staff screening to begin
Starting early this week, staff will be screened when entering the hospital. More details to follow as we work out how to do this while maintaining social distancing.
5. Cancelling food donations It’s clear our community wants to support us in any way possible. However, donated food presents a risk as staff gather around the donations and to eat. As an alternative, the community will be encouraged to send gift cards for restaurants or food delivery services which we will distribute to staff.
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Cupcakes, pitas, fruit...our community wants to feed us! But, as everyone knows, there are strict rules about food sharing so we've been encouraging individually wrapped items rather than, for example, pizzas. We've had a couple of donations of 100 coupons for a pizza and will be figuring out a process to distribute those.Recruitment campaign
The hospital is launching a significant campaign to recruit almost 200 people for a wide variety of positions. Based on pandemic predictions, hospitals need to plan to have up to 30% of its staff unavailable due to illness or self-isolation requirements. We will be asking people in our community to step up and join us in making a difference. It is essential that we recruit additional temporary part-time and full-time staff in both clinical and non-clinical roles. One of the new listings will be Health Care Aids. We are hoping to recruit a large number to support nursing staff on the units. These health care aids will be an additional resource and will be able to complete activities of daily living and other basic care tasks for patients.
Calling in sick
This is just a reminder to call both your Director and Employee Health Services and to follow our Absence Notification Process.
Hand hygiene
Staff have really stepped to complete their Hand Hygiene eLearning module. Currently, we’re at 73% compliance for all staff- 87% full-time staff, 80% part-time staff and 40% for casual. Thanks to those who have completed and if you haven’t, please do asap.
Did you know that certain fingernail practices can prevent hands from getting fully clean? In fact, there’s a GGH policy just for fingernails.
Provincial Planning and Actions
Recently, Ontario Health shared some of what it’s done and a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes planning going on. Some of their activities include:
- Increasing testing capacity
- Investing in enhanced bed capacity in hospitals
- Significantly increased Telehealth capacity
- Address shortages in critical supplies and equipment
For more details, click here.
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The rate of change and the required communication can seem overwhelming. Still, it is expected staff will review their emails in a timely manner. There, you’ll find important information about changes to hospital procedures, updates and potential exposure follow up. Emails are an important, timely way to communicate with ALL GGH staff. For example, it was just shared that Tim Horton’s is changing its hours starting Saturday (March 28) and closing its food line. For details, click here.
PPE supplies and use
Vendors and the community in general are coming forward to help keep us supplied with PPE. Our end of the bargain is to make sure we’re conserving whenever possible. Each day the Incident Management Team monitors our current stock of all necessary supplies. Although we are not at critically low levels of stock today, this could easily change. We want to ask all of our GGH staff to help us protect our precious commodities.
For example, the use of N95 masks. To reiterate, we are supporting approved guidelines for when N95s are and are not to be used. Our approach was recently reinforced with an onsite visit by the Ministry of Labour which gave its endorsement. The Ministry also reviewed two complaints today, one of which involved the use of N95s. For all the details, please click here.
Another area of concern is the discarding of surgical/procedure masks when they’re still usable. Below are some quick guidelines.
- A surgical mask can be used over the course of many non-isolated patients
- Conserve your mask for as long as possible until it is wet, damaged or soiled.
- Take extra care when removing this mask as this is when self-contamination may occur.
- It is safe to wear your mask for multiple patient encounters. Take care not to touch your face.
Finally, there’s a growing concern about a shortage of scrubs. As mentioned in Wednesday’s update, scrubs are disappearing at an alarming rate. The theory is staff are taking home a supply for using while at work. If this keeps up, we will run out so please return any stockpiled scrubs at home. Those scrubs need to be here for all your colleagues to use.
A message of solidarity about redeployment
The Hospital and your Unions are working together to support staff through this time of pandemic. This includes working through the recent provincial government order that allows the hospital to take any reasonably necessary measures that facilitates the safe and efficient deployment of staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. To read the message of cooperation from the Hospital and our three Bargaining Union Presidents please click here.
Incident Management System (IMS)
Your IMS team has been meeting daily since March 5. IMS uses a standardized approach to managing emergency situations. The team consists of eight designated roles supported by other resources (see diagram). These updates will now include information about the important work being done mostly behind the scenes. Today’s featured role is the Planning Coordinator.
Planning Coordinator – Increasing capacity in preparation for a surge in patients
Most likely, everyone is wondering what we are doing to plan for an increase in patients throughout the pandemic. There have been multiple groups working inside GGH and with members of community. The Assessment Centre is a great example of how we partnered with the Guelph Family Health Team, the City of Guelph and Public Health to help reduce some pressure on the Hospital. This incredibly helpful strategy has significantly reduced the number of patients coming to our Emergency Department for testing.
We have been also been planning for additional capacity for patients in the hospital. For all those interesting details, click here.
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New fundraising campaign begins
The Foundation is launching its COVID-19 Critical Response Fund appeal today. An early donor said, “I have made the donation this morning and it cheered me up to do something to help.”
Conserving our PPE - scrubs
Our scrubs inventory is being used up faster than usual. As a reminder, staff should come to work in their street clothes and if necessary change into their uniforms/work clothes. At the end of the day, staff change back into street clothes. Lockers and locker rooms are available. Ideally, staff should wash the clothes they wear at work after their shift or have additional work clothes to wear on subsequent shifts.
Community donations of supplies
A process has been established to manage requests to and from the community for supplies. The Foundation is actively and strategically reaching out to community supporters and has had great early success in accessing all kinds of PPE. We are not issuing a general call for assistance at this point. If you have a suggestion for us, please email: covidsupplies@gghorg.ca
Expanded service from our Stores Department
To support frontline caregivers during these extraordinary times, your Materials Management/Stores Department will be increasing its hours of operation and support to seven days a week effective Wednesday, March 25.
Monday to Friday: 0700 - 2000
Saturday and Sunday including holidays: 0800 – 1600After hours, please contact the Director on Call to assist with accessing supplies.
These extra hours will support more scanning and replenishing supply carts and supply locations. You may start to see us twice a day, every day for the next while.
Materials Management – we’re in this together.
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It has been a difficult day with the news that two staff have tested positive for COVID-19. It was likely to happen but it’s still a bit unnerving. Please continue to follow good hand hygiene and routine infection prevention protocols. In addition, continue to self-monitor for signs of respiratory illness (fever >38, new or worsening cough and/or difficulty breathing). If you develop symptoms, go home, inform EHS and your director.
In the meantime, IMS continues to work hard behind the scenes making contingency plans, ensuring adequate supplies, keeping staff well informed, to name just a few of its activities.
Now, more than ever, it’s important for everyone to complete their Hand Hygiene elearning module and we ask everyone who has not completed it do so this week. To make it more accessible, the module has been converted to a PDF and uploaded to our web site. That way, it can be reviewed anywhere. For those who do it this way please email your Director when completed. Directors will be following up with staff to ensure this module is completed asap. We recognize this is a very stressful time, and our OD department has refreshed its staff wellness resource page with available options and FAQs.
In order to better meet clinical needs, Stores is expanding its hours and enhancing its restocking. More details to follow.
By the way, Social Distancing also applies to smokers. Please don’t congregate out front while taking your break.
Redeployment of staff
Finally, over the weekend the provincial government announced that a temporary order had been issued under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA). The order gives hospitals the ability to implement redeployment plans to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The details as shared from the Ontario Hospital Association are:
The temporary order applies to hospitals, psychiatric facilities and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. It directs and authorizes these health service providers to take reasonably necessary measures that facilitate the safe and efficient redeployment of staff to those areas where they are most required to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The order also authorizes these providers to take these measures irrespective of any collective agreement, statute, regulation, policy, arrangement or any other type of agreement.
The temporary order refers to redeployment activities such as:
- Redeploying staff within different locations in (or between) facilities of the health services provider;
- Redeploying staff to work in COVID-19 assessment centres;
- Changing the assignment of work, including assigning non-bargaining unit employees or contractors to perform bargaining unit work;
- Changing the scheduling of work or shift assignments;
- Deferring or canceling vacations, absences or other leaves, regardless of whether such vacations, absences or leaves are established by statute, regulation, agreement or otherwise;
- Employing extra part-time or temporary staff or contractors, including for the purpose of performing bargaining unit work;
- Using volunteers to perform work, including to perform bargaining work;
- Providing appropriate training or education as needed to staff and volunteers to achieve the purposes of a redeployment plan;
- Conducting skills and experience inventories, requiring the collection of information from employees about their ability to provide services and likely or actual exposure to COVID-19; and
- Temporary suspension of the grievance process for the duration of the order.
For clarity, this order does not suspend the operation of all of the provisions of collective agreements or human resources policies. It only applies with respect to the suspension of those provisions that are necessary to satisfy the redeployment objectives outlined in the order. Other collective agreement provisions continue to be in effect.
And finally, to end on a positive note, there has been an outpouring of support from our community. As an example, we’re working with many businesses that have supplies to donate. Just today, we’ve sourced masks, gowns and face-shields. And tomorrow, the Foundation will be launching a COVID-19 Critical Response Fund to give the Hospital the ability to address changing circumstances and priorities head on, and support the most urgent needs during this pandemic. Even before its launch, close to $50,000 has been raised!
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Our community continues to reach out with offers of support. Here’s one example. It’s an email from a Foundation board member, Khalil Khamis, to Suzanne Bone and Marianne Walker.
“It has been truly amazing to watch our community come together in difficult times. While we are coming together and staying home, our Health Care Employees and First Responders are risking their lives on a daily basis to help us come out stronger on the other side… At Harvey’s and Swiss Chalet, we want to say THANK YOU to the Health Care Employees and First Responders in our community. Starting immediately, we will be offering ALL Government Health Care Employees and First Responders 50% off for themselves and their families when they visit a Guelph or Fergus Harvey’s or Swiss Chalet, for the next four weeks. We kindly ask that your show our team a piece of ID and they will be happy to serve you (via take out and drive thru of course!).”*
*Correction. Swiss Chalet Guelph’s participation in the 50% off invitation has ended but the team at all Harvey’s in Guelph and Swiss Chalet Fergus will be extending the offer for the full four weeks ending April 17.
Main entrance congestion
Now that active screening of all patients and visitors is in place at our main entrance, staff are asked to avoid using it to enter. Instead, please use other staff-only entrances.
Staff self-screening
A reminder that any staff member who has COVID-19 symptoms or has returned from international travel in the past 14 days is to not come to work. Instead, please contact Employee Health. Signs have been placed above each touch-in station (shown left) as an additional memory prompt. For all the GGH details about the new travel rules, click here.
Appropriate use of PPE
Up-to-date Public Health and Ministry of Labour guidelines state Droplet/Contact precautions are for routine care of patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. When aerosol-generating medical procedures are planned or anticipated to be performed on these patients, the guidelines state Airborne plus Droplet/Contact precautions are required.
Droplet/Contact precautions means a procedure mask, NOT an N95 mask for routine care. Unfortunately, some staff continue to use N95s inappropriately which puts everyone else at risk because we do not have an unlimited supply. Those masks need to be available when truly needed so please, let’s do our best to conserve N95s as well as all PPE as much as possible.
Main entrance to open daily at 7 a.m. instead of 6 a.m. to support staffing the screening area
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Changes to rules about staff returning from international travel
The big news today is the Ministry of Health and the Chief Medical Officer of Health updated their recommendations regarding healthcare workers and international travel. Now, like almost everyone else in the province, healthcare workers will be required to self-isolate for 14 days if returning from international travel. For all the GGH details, click here.
Know the difference: self-monitoring, self-isolation, and isolation for COVID-19
The Public Health Agency of Canada has come out with this handy, one-page reference on what to do under the various circumstances.
Balcony Bistro encouraging cashless transactions
