Resuming health-care services at St. Joe’s will be done in a gradual, phased approach over the coming weeks and months, and in collaboration with our regional partners. Services will resume in a manner that recognizes the pandemic is not over, and ensures there is capacity in the hospital for a potential surge in COVID-19 patients. Clinical programs have worked out plans to slowly and gradually resume services that will allow for proper screening, masking, physical distancing and hand hygiene.
To ensure the health and safety of patients, staff and the community, St. Joe’s is taking a gradual approach to resuming health-care services, such as surgeries, medical procedures and clinical programs. As more health-care services open, you will be contacted by your clinic/care team with details about your upcoming appointment.
If you are experiencing severe symptoms, our emergency department and urgent care centre remain open, and safe, places to receive the care you need. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, do not hesitate to call 911 right away. If you are not sure where to seek care, please visit needadoc.ca.
At this time, all hospitals are using an ethical framework to prioritize patient care based upon the most urgent care needs. This framework considers multiple factors, such as a patient’s condition, procedures required, and resources available. The ethical framework also takes in to account implications of delaying care, considers equity of services, and impact on vulnerable populations
We are using this ethical framework to ensure we are providing care for patients waiting for treatment, while maintaining capacity in the hospital in preparation for any surge in COVID-19 patients. As our capacity to provide services to more patients opens, you will be contacted by your clinic/care team with details about an upcoming appointment.
Click herefor the latest visitor policy.Those needing additional support during an appointment are kindly asked to consult with their clinic/care team.
While we are doing everything possible to keep appointments as scheduled, at this time, all hospitals are using an ethical framework to prioritize patient care based upon the most urgent care needs. As such, appointments can change to allow our teams to attend to emergency and urgent cases. Moreover, as the pandemic is not over, we may need to alter our services should there be a surge in COVID-19 cases.
Rest assured the hospital has a plan in place to ensure our sites remain safe spaces to receive care. We’re screening the public and staff upon entry to the hospital, providing masks for use when inside the hospital, and implementing physical distancing measures while offering various checkpoints to ensure hand hygiene is maintained.
Patients, visitors, families and caregivers will no longer be screened by a screener at hospital entrances effective June 15. Patients, visitors, families and caregivers will be asked to self-assess their health before coming to the hospital. Signage will be posted at patient/visitor entrances with reminders about self-screening and masking requirements. Mask dispensers will also be available at patient/visitor entrances. Patients, visitors, families and caregivers are permitted to wear the mask they come in with, including cloth masks.
Please call your care team and let them know your symptoms so that they can assess next steps.
Before your appointment, please call your care team and let them know your symptoms so that they can assess next steps.
Please arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled appointment, and avoid arriving too early. Clinics have carefully scheduled appointments to limit the number of people in the hospital’s lobbies, waiting rooms, and public areas at all times, and to make physical distancing easier.
Please note, if you arrive to your appointment to early, you may be asked to remain in your car to ensure we are able to maintain safe physical distancing inside the building.
As we have limited the number of entry points into our Charlton, West 5th, and King Campus sites to screen those entering the hospital for COVID-19, your clinic may have a recommended parking area based on these entrances. Click here for information about parking availability and rates.
Click here to learn more about the food services open at this time.
Owing to COVID-19, many care providers and patients have embraced the ability to use virtual care for appointments, rather than in-person hospital visits, when appropriate. We expect virtual care to continue during the pandemic, and beyond. Please talk to your clinic/care team about whether virtual care is an option for you.