RELEASE — In a continued effort to protect the people we serve and our staff, Providence Care is enacting a mandatory visitor vaccination policy for its hospital and transitional care sites.
Effective Oct. 27, anyone visiting a patient at Providence Care Hospital and/or Providence Transitional Care Centre must show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination to enter the buildings.
“Our top priority since the start of the pandemic is protecting the safety of the people we serve and our staff. We have a vulnerable patient population which depends on us each and every day. We also have a responsibility to provide a safe working environment for our staff,” said Krista Wells Pearce, Providence Care’s COVID-19 Incident Command Leader. “Asking visitors to show proof of full vaccination is yet another way of ensuring our sites remain safe places to work and receive care.”
Only registered visitors are permitted on inpatient units at the hospital and transitional care centre, with a maximum of two visitors allowed at a time per patient.
They will be asked to show proof of full vaccination, along with photo ID, at screening desks. If they do not show proof, they will not be allowed to enter.
“We are committed to providing safe, compassionate and high-quality health care, and we are taking every precaution to secure the safety and well-being of everyone who enters our sites,” added Diana O’Grady, Patient & Client Care Vice-President. “This latest protective measure mirrors what other hospital and healthcare facilities have implemented, and with the provincial digital vaccine passport program now in full swing, we felt this is the best time to roll this out.”
There may be instances when an individual who is not fully vaccinated is permitted to enter the sites, including:
- Individuals who have a loved one nearing end-of-life
- individuals under the age of 12
- individuals with a documented medical exemption, proof is required
- individuals who are essential to participate in care planning discussions or other critical or urgent circumstances that cannot be done over the phone or virtually
In these instances, an individual must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test (conducted in the last 72 hours) or agree to a self-administered rapid antigen test on site.
Antigen tests will be provided by Providence Care. The individual must take the test in an assigned location, wait the 15 minutes for the results to process and show their negative test result to the screeners.
If an individual tests positive, they will not be permitted to enter the building.
Please note children under 5-years-old are not required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR or rapid antigen test.
“We will continue to review and update our visitor policy on a regular basis. We want to thank everyone for their patience and cooperation as we take every step possible to ensure the health and safety of all who enter our sites,” said Wells Pearce.
Release | Image: Providence Care