Last Updated March 16th, 2021 at 9:26 a.m.

As of March 2021, the COVID Hotline team from Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) has led over 200 contact tracing events with over 2,500 Healthcare Workers (HCWs). Contact tracing is initiated when a COVID-19 positive patient or HCW is identified, to promote early detection of COVID-19 cases from secondary infections among close contacts of HCWs and patients.

As a progression of this work, we invite you to explore an easy-to-read live dashboard on MyStJoes (updated Monday to Friday, excluding holidays) that provides holistic HCW data related to contact tracing.

Last Updated April 8th, 2020 at 10:15 p.m.

We encourage you to get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms.

Starting Friday, April 9th, 2021, symptomatic family members from the same household as our staff, physicians, learners and volunteers can now book an appointment online for a COVID-19 test at our internal swabbing centre in the Fontbonne Building (Room F134) at Charlton Campus.

The internal swabbing centre will only test St. Joe's staff, physicians, volunteers, learners and their family members from the same household, who fall within the following criteria: 

• Showing COVID-19 symptoms  
• Have confirmed exposure to COVID-19 as informed by public health or notified through the COVID Alert app 
• Children requiring clearance to return to school 

HCWs and family members who are booking a COVID test because they are returning from travel or visiting family in RH/LTC settings will need to book a test at one of the sites listed at HamiltonCovidTest.ca.

If you or your family meet criteria for a COVID-19 test at our internal swabbing centre, visit StJoes.ca/InternalSwabbing to book your appointment online. Appointments are required, unless staff become ill during their shift or fail screening arriving for their shift. Each individual being tested must be booked in a separate appointment slot. 

Please bring the health card of the person receiving the test to the appointment and the hospital ID of the staff member. If a family member cannot bring the hospital ID of the staff member, they must provide the name and unit the staff member works on.

NOTE: Results from healthcare workers and family members may be available at different times, potentially days apart.

Last Updated April 19th, 2021 at 1:37 p.m.

It is essential that all Healthcare Workers fit-tested for the 8110 N95 Respirator model be fit tested for an alternate model as soon as possible. 3M has very recently advised us that they are retiring this model and two others (3M 8210, 8110s, and 9210+) in May 2021 from our allotment.

We want to thank everyone who quickly responded to getting fit-tested when St. Joe’s put out the call last week, and set up testing clinics and on-unit testing.

Our supply of the 8110 N95 Respirator has been further depleted in recent days and we again remind everyone who uses the three models to get fit-tested. We will be contacting individuals directly and again providing some on-unit testing.

In addition to the information below, we have opened up a 2-day fit-testing clinic today and tomorrow for healthcare workers who require fit-testing urgently. We encourage managers to sign up staff in priority groups and healthcare workers in priority groups to sign up / request to attend these clinics.

Dates:            April 19-20, 2021

Register:        3M 8110s sign up

Location:       JIT, 2^nd Floor, Classroom B 

The sessions above are in addition to the full schedule for Fit-Testing already available through the scheduler (about 150 spots daily).

Further instruction:

1. If you have not scheduled your fit-test, please do so immediately:

King St N95 Booking Schedule
W5th N95 Booking Schedule
Charlton N95 Booking Schedule

2. If you have been fit-tested for an alternate model this week, please only sign out the new model/s you have been tested for.
3. HCWs who require an 8110s model, will soon be issued an expired respirator (denoted by a black spot on the respirator). As always, inspect the respirator’s straps and nose piece to confirm that the integrity is intact. Don, use and doff as usual.
4. Please arrange to get fit-tested immediately on an alternate N95 Respirator.

St. Joe’s stock of expired N95 respirators are well stored, inspected and in excellent condition. The respirator has visually been inspected by the JHSC, OHS and IPAC teams to ensure that the nose piece and straps have maintained their integrity and will continue to provide a good seal. Additional testing has also been conducted on randomly selected expired 8110s to ensure that the filtration of the batch has remained above 95% as required. If you have any questions, please contact your supervisor or Occupational Health and Safety.

The Canadian government has introduced the COVID Alert app in Ontario. The app can let people know of possible exposures to COVID in the community. Similar apps have been used internationally as a way to help trace and stop the spread of COVID. While St. Joe’s will continue to do contact tracing for any potential exposure in our hospital, we encourage everyone to consider the app as an additional way for all of us to stay safe. Click here for information. 

Requirement to follow masking and distancing, regardless of vaccination

Last Updated March 12th, 2021 at 6:15 p.m.

St. Joe’s requires everyone in the hospital to follow public health measures for safety during COVID-19, regardless of if they have been vaccinated.

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance has changed to allow people who have completed a vaccine series to get together without masks and distancing, it should be noted that this is in their own private residences.

As we have many staff who have not been vaccinated, as well as patients, and visitors, it remains paramount that public health measures remain the same within the hospital.

Staff are expected to mask at all times, and eat only in designated areas with distancing, or privately. While the risk may be low for an individual interaction, there is still an ongoing risk to others.

Our staff and physicians follow meticulous hand hygiene practices. Click here to learn more about hand hygiene at St. Joe’s.

To prevent the spread of infectious diseases and to keep healthy, follow these simple steps:

• Stay home if you are sick
  Return when you are well
• Wash your hands
  Use soap and water or hand sanitizer
  WATCH HERE as our expert shares the DOs and DONTs of proper handwashing with Ben Mulroney on CTV's Your Morning
• Cover your cough or sneeze
  With a tissue or into your sleeve
• Keep your distance
  Avoid shaking hands and close contact with people who are sick

A reminder to all staff and physicians that, at all times, if you are sick or feeling unwell with respiratory symptoms and fever, or nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea stay home and only return to work when you are well.

New Guidance Regarding Eye Protection Usage

Last Updated April 6th, 2021 at 2:26 p.m.

In response to ministry guidelines regarding COVID-19 Variants of Concern, all staff, physicians and learners will be required to wear eye protection when performing facing activities. This change will occur Wednesday, April 7, 2021.

Current Situation

Since December 9, 2020, eye protection has been required for:

1. All hospital front-facing emergency settings (PES, ED, UCC, L&D) 
2. In any inpatient setting and outpatient clinics where the healthcare worker is within 6 feet of a patient who has removed or is unable to wear their mask.
3. For community care providers (e.g. COAST) where the members in the home or Long-Term Care may not all be masked. 
4. When caring for inpatients in all types of Droplet Precautions (Enhanced droplet contact, Airborne Droplet or Droplet/Contact Precautions)

Revised Guideline

Effective Wednesday, April 7, 2021 the expanded requirement for Eye Protection in all clinical areas will require that eye protection is worn, except when the HCW is in an area that is not accessible to patients.

Face shields are to be worn for all patients in Droplet Precautions and during Code blue/white. These must be discarded on exit from the isolation room. Safety glasses/goggles can be worn for all other situations.

All staff, physicians and learners who independently purchase safety glasses or goggles are responsible to ensure they meet the following criteria for acceptable eye protection:

1. Must fit securely and not interfere with visual acuity 
2. Prescription glasses must not interfere with the appropriate fit of eye protection
3. All forms of eye protection can be worn with extended use; some forms of eye protection can be re-used if cleaned and stored safely in between use
4. Should provide full coverage of the eye, and not have large venting holes

For more information:

• Click here for examples of acceptable eye protection
• Click here for Frequently Asked Questions
• Click here for a Tip Sheet

New Guidance Regarding N95 Respirators and Fit-Testing

Last Updated April 6th, 2021 at 2:26 p.m.

The province will be retiring the supply of three current models of N95 respirators (3M 8210, 8110s, and 9210+) in May 2021. 

Healthcare workers tested on certain N95 respirator models must get a new fit test within the next three months, starting April 12, 2021.

During the pandemic, given PPE shortages and supply chain issues, N95 respirators were distributed to hospitals through MMC and the provincial warehouses. St. Joe’s Healthcare Workers (HCWs) had multiple N95 models available – 3M 1860, 1860S, 1804, 1804s, 8210, 8110s, 9210+ and 1870 (expired only). 

Over the past year, 3,284 St. Joe’s HCWs were fit-tested on at least one available N95 model.

The Ontario Government is building greater stability of PPE supply through domestic production. As part of this strategy, the province has made a five-year commitment to purchase a large annual quantity of the N95 1870+ model from a new 3M production line in Brockville, Ontario starting in April 2021. This model will then be distributed to hospitals, replacing numerous existing models in May 2021.

The province has:

• Recommended that hospitals commence fit-testing (primarily on the 1870+) model by April 2021.
• Advised that N95 models available in the future will include 3M 1860, 1860S, 1804, 1804S, 1870+
• Advised that N95 models not be available or available in limited quantities will include 3M 8210, 8110S, and 9210+. 

Fifty-five per cent of our HCWs are currently fit-tested on the models that will no longer be available or available in limited quantities (3M 8210, 8110s, and 9210+). These 1,800 HCWs require urgent fit-testing on one of the models that will remain available (3M 1860, 1860S, 1804, 1804S, 1870+).

The hospital will operate two full time fit-testing clinics over the next three months, with 60 fit-testing spots available each day.

If required, please schedule an appointment for your N95 fit test by using one of the links below:

• King St N95 Schedule
• Charlton N95 Schedule
• W5th N95 Schedule

For more information, click here for Frequently Asked Questions.

Masks used at St. Joe’s do not contain graphene

Last Updated April 6th, 2021 at 2:26 p.m.

You may have read media reports over the weekend regarding a Health Canada notice advising consumers to avoid using disposable face masks containing graphene. Health Canada believes these products may have been distributed for use in health care settings. St. Joe’s sourcing team has confirmed with our contracted PPE distributor, Mohawk Medbuy Corporation and our direct suppliers of masks, that they do not contain graphene.

Guidelines for patients who are unable to wear a mask

Last Updated February 11th, 2021 at 10:31 a.m.

To protect the safety of our healthcare workers, patients and visitors, it is important to identify patients who may be unable to mask and to follow the below guidelines to ensure care is still provided safely to these individuals:

• Screeners are NOT responsible for making a medical determination of a patient’s ability to wear a mask. It is up to the patient’s physician and healthcare team to assess the rationale for inability to wear a mask, and inform the screening desk in advance when possible if a patient is having a planned hospital visit. Screeners should call the clinic to have the patient escorted directly to the clinic each time they present for an appointment.
• If a patient is given a mask at the hospital entrance and refuses to wear it, screeners should then offer the patient a face shield and notify the unit. If care is non-essential or can be deferred, or if an alternative safe arrangement can be provided, the patient can be sent home with appropriate follow-up. If care is considered essential then the patient should be brought into a private room, and a point of care risk assessment should be performed by staff for personal protective equipment.
• If an inpatient cannot wear a mask while you are entering their room, please wear eye protection.
• For wandering patients who cannot comply with wearing a mask please try to redirect them back to their room. If this is unsuccessful, staff will need to wear eye protection when within six feet of the patient.

For examples of reasons that may make it challenging for a patient to wear a mask, please see the Screening During COVID-19 Pandemic policy (002-ADM PAN), section 4.3 (LINK) This is an internal link.

The following resources have been made available:

• Proper mask usage
• Mask and respirator guide
• Point of Care risk assessment guide for PPE

Protected Code Blue

Last Updated April 15th, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.

St. Joe’s has implemented a Protected Code Blue Policy (PCB) to help protect our healthcare workers and patients, and to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Protected Code Blue is a specialized response to a life-threatening event and will replace the normal code team response to ALL Code Blue calls during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Protected Code Blue response should be triggered early, at the first signs of decompensation, when possible (such as increasing oxygen requirements or increased work of breathing).

In addition the Department of Anesthesia has organized to have 24/7 coverage for anesthesia support for protected intubations and for protected code blues effective April 14, 2020. There will be a dedicated anesthesiologist for these calls and he/she can be reached at ext. 31210.

Please read more about Protected Code Blue here:
*Note: you must be on the St. Joe's network to access these policies via the links below. 

• Charlton
• West 5th

Protected Code White

Last Updated 3:01 p.m. on April 16th, 2020 

St. Joe’s has implemented a Protected Code White as a means to provide added safety measures for our healthcare workers and for our patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Protected Code White is an enhanced emergency procedure that provides an immediate and safe response to assist with a situation in which there is violence or threat of violence to self or others where additional resources are required to manage the situation safely. During COVID-19, Code White teams will respond to all Code White situations using the Protective Code White protocol. The Protected Code White Response Team provides a timely response and are equipped, skilled and trained in de-escalation techniques and the use of restraints for patients for all Code Whites, including those that are suspected/positive of COVID-19.

For information about Protected Code White at both the Charlton and West 5th Campus sites, on MyStJoes. *Note: you must be on the St. Joe's network to access this policy.

Important new guidance on quarantine for household members of those travelling outside of Canada 

Last Updated March 12th, 2021 at 6:15 p.m.

New guidelines require that staff members who have a person in the household who has travelled outside of Canada in the past 14 days will be required to quarantine, and will not be allowed to return to work. 

Staff members should notify their managers in advance of any planned travel for members of their family who live in their place of residence that will now be required to quarantine.

Employees should request a leave of absence due to support their absence from work for family member travel isolation. To mitigate a reduction in pay, staff members can seek approval by their manager to switch known shifts with peers and/or request payment of vacation days and/or stats. Staff will not be paid isolation pay due to any personal and/or family related travel. 

Last Updated April 8th, 2021 at 10:15 a.m.

The following question has been added to the required screening for all those entering St. Joe’s campus buildings: “Does anyone in your household have COVID symptoms and is either waiting for a test result or choosing not to be tested?" 

Please remember that it is important to read and answer each question carefully every time you are going through screening to enter the building to help keep our patients and our healthcare workers safe.

We remind everyone that while we are no longer doing temperature checks at our entranceways, that screening everyone who enters are buildings is essential to keeping our staff, patients and visitors safe through this pandemic.

• Please be kind to screeners. Remarkably, this is not always the situation. Screeners are enforcing hospital policies intended to protect each one of us.
• If you want a quicker way through screening, we remind everyone of the screening app available on your phone. Patients and visitors can also use the screening tool by going to sjhhscreening.com. Click here to access a User Guide
• Please remember, if you are showing symptoms, do not come to work, inform your manager, and get tested. .

Staff and physician entrances: 

Charlton Campus:

• Fontbonne Entrance
  Open 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., 7 days a week
  Note: this entrance is also for patients and visitors
  
• Roof deck Entrance (St. Joseph's Drive) 
  Open 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., 7 days a week
  Note: this entrance is also for Labour and Delivery patients and Patient Transport
  
• James Street South Entrance (South of the main patient Emergency Department Entrance) 
  Open 24 hours, 7 days a week
  Note: this entrance is also for EMS
• Juravinski Innovation Tower, Level 0 (off of Charlton Ave. East)
• Parking Ramp to Pedestrian Bridge
  Open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., 7 days a week

West 5th Campus:

• Main Entrance (West 5th Street), Level 1 
  6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., 7 days a week
• Outpatient Entrance (Fennel Avenue), Level 0 
  6:00 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday to Friday

King Campus:

• Main Entrance
  6:25 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday
• Dialysis Entrance 
  6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Monday to Friday
  6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday

REMINDER: You will need to answer screening questions before you can enter. 

Watch the video below to learn how to use the online COVID-19 screening tool for staff, physicians, patients and visitors.