ORANGEVILLE, ON – June 15, 2020 – Headwaters Health Care Centre (HHCC) has begun a gradual resumption of procedures and surgeries that were paused on March 19, when the provincial government directed hospitals to stop non-urgent procedures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
HHCC has worked closely with regional hospitals, its community partners including primary care physicians, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health and patients to develop a phased plan that is focused on scheduled surgical procedures and endoscopies. That plan received government approval late last week.
“We will start with 50 per cent capacity on re-opening today, with a gradual ramp-up, as mandated, to 100 per cent capacity in a month, with daily and weekly re-evaluations of the impact, within our hospital, locally and regionally,” said Dr. Peter Cino, Chief of Staff.
He stated that during the mandatory ramp down, “Headwaters’ surgery and procedure volumes in the operating room dropped 90 per cent as all elective and non-elective procedures were deferred and we provided only urgent and emergent care.”
The provincial government has set-out a strict framework that hospitals must follow during their ramp-up. The number of COVID-19 cases in the region and in the hospital must remain manageable. Hospitals must ensure they have enough protective equipment, medication, staff and community services to care for recovering patients, and hospital occupancy rates cannot exceed 85 per cent, so they can allow for an additional surge of patients who require admission, if that happens.
“We know this pause in procedures has caused some anxiety for patients and families, but we are confident that we are now ready to begin a safe, slow and steady ramp up at our hospital,” said Kim Delahunt, President & CEO HHCC. “The COVID-19 pandemic has also shown us what we can accomplish as community partners, when we work together with a common purpose.”
She added, “We have also been more innovative in our approach to providing care during the pandemic, using technology to ensure patients who urgently needed that connection could connect with their team or specialist.”
HHCC urges people to remain patient. It will be months before the hospital is able to manage the backlog of cases. There will also be a new normal at Headwaters in the future. Additional infection prevention and control measures will be in place for some time, including screening upon entry, enhanced cleaning, masks, swab-testing for any patients with symptoms and visitor restrictions.
Physical changes to the hospital, in addition to new precautions and procedures mean patients will have a different hospital experience than they have had in the past and things will likely take longer.
The hospital also urges people to continue to be vigilant and protect themselves against the COVID-19 virus and to follow public health guidelines that include hand washing, wearing a mask and practicing physical distancing of two metres.
About HHCC
HHCC, is an innovative, community centred medium-size hospital located in Orangeville, caring for the residents of Dufferin County-Caledon. Accredited with Exemplary Standing by Accreditation Canada, Headwaters offers acute and complex continuing care with 24/7 Emergency Department coverage as well as extensive outpatient services in its Ambulatory Care Centre. HHCC is also a proud partner in the Hills of Headwaters Collaborative Ontario Health Team. Visit
www.headwatershealth.ca or
www.hillsofheadwaterscollaborative.ca
Additional Resources
Provincial Government’s
Framework to help hospitals prepared for the gradual resumption of scheduled surgeries and procedures
For More Information:
Jennifer Hamilton, MA, MBA Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relations, Headwaters Health Care Centre | Cell/Text: 519-278-5085| Email:
jhamilton@headwatershealth.ca