As cases begin to stabilize in the province, Temiskaming Hospital will be easing its Care partner restrictions allowing all Long-Term Care patients to have access to two Designated Care Partners with only one present at a time beginning Monday, February 14, 2022. Temiskaming Hospital’s previous Care Partner Policy, which went into effect on November 30, 2021, allowed for only end-of-life, obstetric and pediatric patients to have Designated Care Partners. General visitation is still on hold.

For all palliative patients, including those at end-of-life, Designated Care Partners will be allowed to rotate over the patient’s stay with two caregivers being allowed to visit at a time.

“With provincial health care indicators now improving and district indicators levelling out, we will begin cautiously lifting previous restrictions,” said President & CEO Mike Baker. He continued, “Putting Care Partner restrictions into place is a very challenging decision as we know how important a role mental health plays on patient outcomes, so we are happy to announce the lifting of some restrictions on Monday with further easing of restrictions expected in the near future, if conditions continue to improve.”

Previous Care Partner visitations for Obstetrical and pediatric patients are still in place. Care partners are also allowed to accompany outpatients who need support due to physical, intellectual, cognitive and emotional conditions or needing a substitute decision-maker while attending the hospital for appointments, tests, procedures or emergent care.

Care partners will need to show proof of vaccination and identification prior to entering the facility. Proof of third dose required by March 14, 2022. Consideration may be made for care partner vaccine exceptions in the following instances:

  • Patients who are near end-of-life.
  • Patients admitted to obstetrics.
  • Pediatric/Adolescent <16 years of age.
  • Patients who may be experiencing a mental health crisis, or who have a significant development or intellectual delay (ex: dementia, inability to effectively communicate).

All Designated Care Partners must pass the screening questionnaire administered by the hospital’s Screening Agents prior to entering the hospital.

“I empathize with the families of those who have been negatively impacted by the changes we had to make and would like to thank our community for their support,” said Baker. “These past several weeks have been the most difficult time of this pandemic and we have come through this in much better shape than would have otherwise been the case, because of our dedicated team at the Hospital and because of your support!”

The team at Temiskaming Hospital continue to meet weekly to evaluate policies, while ensuring patients’ health and well-being are at the forefront of every decision.  

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.