COVID-19

If you suspect you might have COVID-19; have come in contact with a person suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19; or would like to be tested because you are at high risk due to your employment (e.g. healthcare, grocery store/retail worker), please contact our COVID-19 Assessment Centre to be tested.

The COVID-19 Assessment Centre phone lines are open daily from 8am-4pm, and can be reached at: 705-328-6217.

COVID-19 Symptoms

Aligned with the recent provincial direction to expand and enhance COVID-19 testing, we are encouraging community members to contact our Assessment Centre if they are experiencing any of the following symptoms (new or sudden onset):

Fever/chills
Cough
Shortness of breath
Sore throat
Runny nose
Nasal congestion
Difficulty swallowing
Unexplained fatigue
Unexplained headache
Joint/muscle aches
Loss of taste or smell

Showing your support

We are so touched at the outpouring of support from our community. Here are some guidelines for supporting the RMH team during this time:

We cannot accept food donations for our staff and physicians, including food sent from restaurants or home-baked goods.

We are grateful for your support in the following ways:

We continue to accept donations of unopened/unused surgical masks, N95 respirator masks, gloves, and waterproof gowns to support our front-line workers. Please contact Marc Sorensen at msorensen@rmh.org or 705-324-6111 ext. 8952 to arrange your donation.
We've had many kind offers of homemade masks. Learn more about making and donating homemade masks.
Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation has established a special fund, called Heroes at Heart, to support urgent equipment and technology needs as the Ross responds to the pandemic. To support the COVID-19 response at RMH, please give to our Heroes at Heart fund by phone (705-328-6146), by email (foundation@rmh.org) or online (www.rmh.org/foundation).

Enhanced Measures in Place at RMH

We are screening everyone entering the hospital

To protect patients, families and our team, we are screening everyone entering our hospital. Our screening also includes temperature reading. This process helps to keep everyone safe within the hospital.

Limiting entrances to hospital

Emergency Department entrance – 24 hours/day
Main entrance – 6:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Dialysis entrance – For Dialysis patients ONLY – 6:30a.m. to 7 p.m.

Visitors

We're now offering Virtual Visits (video calls) to support patients and loved ones stay connected. Learn more.

We have made the difficult decision to ask all visitors to stay home at this time, with a few exceptions.

For compassionate reasons, please contact the unit to pre‐arrange visiting in these areas (visitors should call 705‐324‐6111 and ask for appropriate unit).
Obstetric patients are permitted one support person. The accompanying support person does not have 'in and out' privileges and may remain with the mother for the duration of the hospital stay.

Please see our Visiting Guidelines document for more information.

Care Packages for Patients

It's hard being away from your loved one in hospital. You can send them a care package to let them know you're thinking of them. Please label your package (patient's name and room #) and drop it off at the main entrance from 10am-4pm. Care packages will be disinfected before being delivered to the patient. Please limit your care package to essential items only:

One grocery-sized bag or small box per patient
Personal aids - walkers, canes, glasses, hearing aids, dentures, prosthetics - items must arrive cleaned
Communication aids - phone, charger, tablet. Item must arrive cleaned.
Toiletries and grooming items - toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, razor, brush. Items must be new.
Clothing - items must be laundered.
Food: We will accept culturally-required food that is 1. not provided by the hospital or 2. required by patients, to be assessed on a case-by-case basis. To be accepted, all food must be packaged in a sealable, wipeable container, not require refrigeration or heating, and be easily discarded,

Patient Care Programs

We are taking proactive measures to postpone elective surgeries/appointments/procedures.
Patients with essential/urgent appointments or procedures will be contacted the day before for active screening, and willl pass through additional active screening when arriving at hospital and registering.
We'll stay in touch with patients via phone, email and virtual care options whenever possible.

Volunteers & Students

All volunteer services and student placements have been temporarily suspended. As our main lobby Café and Gift Shop are run by our Auxiliary, these two services are closed. Vending options for food and beverages are available in the Emergency Department and Cafeteria.