October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month, with October 15^th being the day of awareness. This day is observed nationally since 2002 when the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day Campaign was started. Each year thousands of families across Canada mourn the death of their babies.

For several years the Hope Box Team has generously donated Hope Boxes to Temiskaming Hospital, providing resources and support for families who are experiencing pregnancy and infant loss.  There have been 65 boxes distributed locally this year.

“Our team is privileged to be able to provide our local families with a hope box to create heartfelt memories to acknowledge the life of their beautiful child and provide hope” stated Rikki Hendrickson, Obstetrics/Level 1B Nursery Manager at Temiskaming Hospital.

“Hope Boxes were created as a grief support resource to encourage and support families on the grief journey. Families are not alone. We also want to equip medical staff to provide compassionate care at a time that can be confusing and difficult for families.  We are greatly appreciative of those in the community, including Temiskaming Hospital, that have supported families practically through Hope Boxes. It means a lot to grieving families.” said Jenita Naylor.

(Left to Right, Rikki Hendrickson, Ayda Naylor, Jenita Naylor, Mikayla Naylor)

Rikki continued, “On behalf on Temiskaming Hospital, I would like to thank Pete & Jenita from the Riverside community church, the founders of Hope boxes, for their generous donation of Hope boxes to Temiskaming Hospital. The ongoing donation of these beautiful boxes for Pregnancy and Infant Loss enable us to provide resources and support to our local community during a time that they are experiencing such a tragic loss.”

New Liskeard, Ont.: Beginning Saturday, April 3rd, 2021, Temiskaming Hospital will be reinstating visitor restrictions as the province heads back into lockdown. Only Essential Care Partners will be permitted in the hospital in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 as provincial and ICU cases continue to climb.  

“This difficult decision is intended as a precaution to keep patients and our healthcare teams safe as transmission rates rise within the province and as do the number of cases of variant strains,” said Erin Montgomery, Chief Nursing Executive and Director of Patient Services. “Temiskaming Hospital is committed to ensuring the needs of patients and families are met as best as possible while these measures are in place. 

Under the following circumstances an Essential Care Partner may be permitted:

• Patient who is actively dying;
• Pregnant patient in labour;
• One parent/guardian of an ill newborn or pediatric patient (child or )

There will be no visitation for patients who have a confirmed or suspected/probable case of COVID-19.

An Essential Care Partner is a support person whose presence is considered essential to the safety and well-being of a patient while they are in the hospital. They provide essential support for a patient (i.e. pediatric, vulnerable – cognitive impairment, significant developmental and/or intellectual disability, language/communication barriers) and are required to accompany a patient where assistance is required and would be at-risk if alone.

Essential Care Partners permitted to enter the facility will continue to be actively screened for COVID- 19. Essential Care Partners who are not feeling well should not come to the hospital.

Temiskaming Hospital will continue to monitor COVID-19 activity including community transmission, availability of personal protective equipment and other critical supplies and additional infection prevention and control progressions.

“We’d like to thank our community members for their continued cooperation of the public health measures put in place to keep our community and our staff safe,” said Mike Baker, Temiskaming Hospital President & CEO. He continued, “We have been fortunate to have low numbers of COVID-19 cases in the district which has helped us to keep COVID-19 out of the hospital. Although numbers are low, we mustn’t let our guards down during what will now be the third wave of the virus. Family members are encouraged to use Temiskaming Hospital’s Virtual Visiting Program which is supported by the Government of Canada's Emergency Community Support Fund and the Temiskaming Foundation and remains available by contacting 705-647-1088 ext. 2230.”

Temiskaming Hospital’s mission is to provide quality, patient-centered health care and education close to home. For more information about Temiskaming Hospital, please visit www.temiskaming-hospital.com.

Feeling unwell and not sure if you should be tested for COVID-19?

• A COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool has been posted to the Ontario Government site. If you suspect you have COVID-19, you can use this online tool to determine if and how you should seek further care. 
• Call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000
• Consult your family physician or nurse practitioner
• Call Timiskaming Health Unit at 705-647-4305 or 1-866-747-4305
• Call the COVID-19 Regional Assessment Centre at 705-648-1844
• If you need immediate medical assistance, please call 911, and tell first responders about your symptoms and any recent travel, so that appropriate precautions can be put in place