QHC tightens visiting restrictions in its four hospitals

Quinte Health Care has created a new “Care Partners and Visiting During COVID-19” policy, outlining who is permitted to enter the four QHC hospitals in Picton, Belleville, Trenton and Bancroft during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The policy is being implemented gradually this week and applies to all QHC hospitals and all individuals attending a patient – including during an emergency visit, outpatient appointment and inpatient stay.

“With COVID-19 cases on the rise in our communities, we feel that now is the time to take appropriate and measured steps to mitigate transmission within our hospitals by putting tighter controls on visiting,” said Mary Clare Egberts, President and CEO, Quinte Health Care. “Our ultimate goal is to keep our patients, staff, physicians and communities safe.”

Egberts notes the new policy offers a phased approach to visiting restrictions, allowing QHC to adjust restrictions easily and transparently as a response to local COVID-19 activity, health system capacity, PPE supply and staffing/resources.

The policy also distinguishes between a visitor (someone who provides social support) and a care partner (a loved one and advocate who provides ongoing and essential social, emotional and physical support).

In implementing the policy, QHC is moving to a more restrictive phase – Phase 2 (yellow) – of care partner and visitor access.

The current focus is on allowing essential care partners into the hospitals, as appropriate, to provide necessary support to patients, while limiting the number of people coming in and out of the hospitals.

“Please review the information on Quinte Health Care’s website before accompanying a friend or loved one to an appointment or visiting a patient in hospital,” said Egberts. “Our restrictions are meant to protect our most vulnerable. We hope that our communities understand the need to take extra precautions during these uncertain times.”