Note: The example of a care partner previously provided in this article – the parent of a young child – was provided by Guelph General Hospital. However, after the article first appeared, the hospital provided a correction notice and the example provided in the article was changed.
Full vaccination may soon be required for anyone attending Guelph General Hospital to assist with patient care, such as patients with language barriers.
Hospital officials are currently reviewing that policy, confirmed spokesperson Perry Hagerman, with a decision expected next week.
On Wednesday, just such a policy change was announced for Grand River and St. Mary’s hospitals in Kitchener.
Beginning Nov. 9, care partners arriving to visit with or accompanying patients will need to provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination and government-issued identification in order to enter.
“Care partners are an integral part of a patient’s journey,” said Bonnie Camm, executive vice-president of clinical services at Grand River Hospital, in a news release. “We want to enable that level of support, while ensuring that we incorporate this additional measure to protect the health and wellness of patients, staff and our community.”
Care partners are people identified by patients or substitute decision-makers as being essential for their well-being and providing direction in their care, and/or whose presence positively contributes to the overall healing process.
Hospital visitors in general are still not allowed.
In order to prepare for the change in policy, Grand River Hospital screeners will begin asking care partners to show proof of full vaccination and ID beginning this Friday, however no one will be turned away at this time, the news release explains.
Care partners who aren’t fully vaccinated but have an exemption will be allowed to enter the hospitals.
“We must do everything that we can to protect our patients and staff. This policy has been developed after much thought, consideration and consultation with St. Mary’s Patient and Family Advisory Committee, our Clinical Services Leadership Team and board,” said Lee Fairclough, president of St. Mary’s General Hospital, in a separate news release.
“We remain committed to supporting our patients and their Care Partners as we work towards the same goal of a successful, safe healing journey for everyone. This is one more step that we are taking to protect everyone; that has and will always be our first priority.”
