Confusion about who is deemed an essential visitor has officials at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH) clarifying their policy.
This week, the hospital announced it had “slightly modified its COVID-19 visiting policy to accommodate a limited number of ‘essential’ visitors in most areas of the hospital.” Still, some people have shown up at OSMH, hoping to see a patient, and have been turned away because they aren’t deemed essential visitors.
“We recognize, as an organization, that every family member, every support worker is essential to a patient,” said Kristen Dawson, OSMH’s manager of patient experience, but she added, “We are not, by any means, reverting to our pre-pandemic visitor policy.”
Visitors can be deemed essential for a variety of reasons, and Dawson encourages people to check with the patient’s health-care team to determine whether they would fit that criteria.
A number of factors are considered, including whether the patient is palliative or has suffered a life-threatening injury or condition. The patient might also have cognitive issues or trouble communicating.
“There are situations where a patient requires someone to be with them,” Dawson said. “The ‘essential’ nature is to recognize that, at all times, the safety of our patients is the top priority.”
If patients are in hospital for a short-term stay and do not have issues that require someone to be there with them, “it is quite likely that they will not be able to have a visitor,” she said.
Getting back to the regular visitor policy is the “ultimate goal,” Dawson explained, but added the hospital is not able to do so yet.
Some of the confusion might stem from the easing of restrictions on other businesses, but hospitals are a completely different story.
“It is a challenge and people are very anxious to see their loved ones. We’ve been grateful for the community support during the pandemic,” she said, noting most people have been understanding of the policy. “I hope they can recognize that … we have to take every precaution.”
More information about the hospital’s policy can be found on the COVID-19 page of its website.
