With the coming of the holiday season and the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in the community along with the announcement of the shift of the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit (LGLDHU) area to a Yellow (Protect) zone, the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital (PSFDH) is taking additional steps to protect our patients, staff, physicians, and community.  

Visitor Policy Update

Effective immediately, individuals who reside in, have visited, or had guests from a Grey (Lockdown) or Red (Control) zone, or from any location outside of Ontario in the previous 14 days will not be able to be a visitor at the hospital except under exceptional patient circumstances.  More information about the colour-based Ontario COVID-19 Response Framework can be found here.

For any visitor to PSFDH, the hospital continues to have restrictions and any visits must be approved and pre-booked by calling the care area where a patient is located.  All visitors must successfully pass screening upon entrance to the hospital.  

Mandatory Use of Face Masks

All individuals visiting or seeking care at the PSFDH must wear a face mask.  This is essential to help us protect the hospital, our patients and our community, and it complies with provincial direction.  If you are coming to the hospital as a visitor or to receive care and are using a personal mask, you will be provided with a new medical mask upon entry.

The PSFDH understands that there may be exceptional circumstances where some individuals may not be able to wear a mask for medical or other allowable reasons.  If your visit to the hospital is elective or non-urgent in nature, refusal to wear a mask for reasons other than medical or allowable reasons may result in the need to reschedule your visit or care at later time when a mask will be used or the use of a face mask is no longer mandatory.

Thank you to the community for your patience, understanding and adherence to our guidelines. We will continue to monitor the evolving situation and change our policies as the hospital continues to implement a carefully thought out and measured approach focusing on safety and quality of care. 

Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Article submitted.