This year, more than ever, it is critical for all Canadian healthcare workers to get the flu shot to prevent the flu and to reduce any further pressure on our health care system.

St. Joe's staff, physicians and volunteers can click here to sign up to get a flu shot online and avoid waiting in line at our flu shot clinics on campus.

St. Joe's on watchful alert as Ontario enters second wave of pandemic
Last Updated September 29th, 2020 at 4:13 p.m.

The premier reported yesterday that Ontario has officially entered the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the highest number of single cases in one day reported on Monday, at 700. This is a concerning trend, and all of us at St. Joe’s are watching this situation closely. While we are not seeing an increase in of COVID-19 patients in our city hospitals, we know that could change quickly.

We know many are fatigued by the past months, but we are also confident that St. Joe’s, and health care across the city and province, have learned much from the past six months and are ready to apply these learnings into this second wave.

• We have bed movement plans that will allow us to quickly create COVID-positive locations, and we have matching plans to decrease or realign services as necessary to accommodate those beds.
• We have developed a COVID-response visitor policy which provides direction on triggers to decrease visitors to the hospital as needed. We also recognize the importance of caregiver partners to help patients, and will work to keep them in our hospital as long as it is safe.
• We have region-wide systems developed to watch and secure supplies of PPE, and to monitor COVID-positive patient bed needs on a regional level.
• Safety protocols are in place to continue screening of staff, physicians, patients and visitors.
• We have dramatically increased virtual care visits in many areas of the hospital which ensure care can continue through hospital changes in the pandemic. Those systems are now built and active.

As you know, we have reintroduced and ramped up surgeries and procedures in recent weeks, to bring our operating room capacity to 105 per cent. We recognized this was the point in time to try to address the backlog of elective surgeries created when we moved to urgent and emergency surgeries during the pandemic. These surgeries will continue as long as the situation remains stable. We will be watching this very closely and have a plan to reduce elective surgeries as required.

Clinics and services have also increased through the past many weeks, and we will continue to monitor this situation closely to determine if we need to reduce services at any point.

This week, we put another call out to our community to try to fill staff vacancies. We know there are areas that need support, particularly in the assessment centres, and we are hopeful this will help to address that situation.

Also this week, our leadership team transitioned back into our COVID-19 Incident Management Structure (IMS), a system that ensures close monitoring, speedy decision making, and strong accountability to pandemic issues in our hospital. It will also help to set priority actions.

We recognize that we have asked a great deal of many of you through these past six months, and that you have had to adjust to rapid change and often increased workload. We all wish we were on the other side of this, and we will be. Today, we need to work to manage workloads under this next phase, and we need to continue to support each other, to work together, and to be kind to each other. Please, talk to your manager, supervisor or head of service if you have concerns.

We want to thank every one of you for what you have done, and continue to do, to help care for our patients and our community through this extraordinary time.

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. 

Internal swabbing centre relocated
Last Updated October 19, 2020 at 11:05 a.m.

Effective Friday, October 16th, the internal swabbing centre has been relocated to the Fontbonne Building, Level 1, Conference Room 3 (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
• Staff that are returning from travel
• Children requiring clearance to return to school
• Visiting family in RH/LTC settings

If you or your family meet criteria for a COVID-19 test at our internal swabbing centre, CLICK HERE to book your appointment online. Appointments are required, unless staff become ill during their shift or fail screening arriving for their shift. Please bring the health card of the person receiving the test to the appointment and the hospital ID of the staff member.

St. Joe's healthcare workers who have tested positive for COVID-19 reported in the media
Last Updated October 19th, 2020 11:05 a.m.

At every Town Hall we share the number of healthcare workers at St. Joe's who have tested positive for COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. Upon request, we provide local media with this number. This number includes cases that are acquired both through community and hospital transmission. There have been 37 healthcare workers at St. Joe's who have tested positive to date, 23 of the 37 cases were acquired through community transmission.

Our goal is to be as transparent as possible, providing you with the information you need to keep yourself safe. We must also protect the privacy of our patients and healthcare workers. Through contact tracing, anyone at risk of exposure to COVID-19 while at our hospital will be informed.

Number of St. Joe's healthcare workers who have tested positive for COVID-19 reported in the media
Last Updated October 15th, 2020 at 6:37 p.m.

Upon request, we have provided local media with the total number of St. Joe's healthcare workers who have tested positive for COVID-19, as well as the worker role with the most positive cases.

As of today, a total of 37 healthcare workers at St. Joe's have tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. These are both hospital and community acquired. Of these, 18 hold nursing roles, and the remainder are small numbers from a variety of professions such as physicians, allied health professionals and administrative support. We expect that this information will be shared in an upcoming media story.

Delays in COVID-19 lab test results require patience from everyone
Last Updated October 6th, 2020 at 12:04 p.m.

Labs across Ontario and here in Hamilton have experienced a dramatic rise in demand for COVID-19 tests, which has resulted in longer turn-around times for test results. While frustrating for those needing results, this will require patience from everyone while labs continue their hard work and are increasing capacity.

Symptomatic staff & physicians, and family members from the same household as our staff and physicians, can book an appointment online for a COVID-19 test at our swabbing centre in the Fontbonne Building at Charlton Campus.

We are offering this option to help us keep our frontline people ready and able to provide care to our community, while providing an additional safeguard to prevent the spread of infection in our hospital to help keep our patients safe.

Staff, physicians and their family members who live in the same household must book an appointment online if they meet the provincial criteria below, and would like to be tested for COVID-19 at our Charlton swabbing centre. In situations where a staff or physician becomes symptomatic during their regularly scheduled shift, they can come to the internal swabbing centre without an appointment.

Step 1: The internal swabbing centre will only test St. Joe's staff, physicians and their family members from the same household, who fall within the following criteria:

• are showing COVID-19 symptoms
• have been exposed to a confirmed case of the virus, as informed by public health or notified through the COVID Alert app

Step 2: 

If you or your family meet criteria for a COVID-19 test at our internal swabbing centre, CLICK HERE to book your appointment online. Appointments are required. Please bring the health card of the person receiving the test to the appointment.

Step 3:

Staff and physicians who are tested at our internal swabbing centre will be informed of their COVID-19 test results by the ordering physician, relayed through Occupational Health and Safety.

Family members from the same household as St. Joe's staff and physicians who are tested at our internal swabbing centre must obtain their COVID-19 test results from the provincial online portal, their family physician, MyDovetale or through HIM by emailing covidrecords@stjoes.ca. Please note, if you need to access your child’s (under 12) records, you will need to request proxy access to MyDovetale through HIM, by emailing covidrecords@stjoes.ca. A child over 12 years of age can request their own MyDovetale account. For quickest access to COVID-19 test results, we recommend registering for MyDovetale.

NOTE: Results from staff/physicians and family members may be available at different times, potentially days apart.

Reminder: If St. Joe's healthcare workers are symptomatic, they must call the COVID-19 Hotline at 905-522-1155 ext. 36131 before coming into work.

Asymptomatic swabbing for St. Joe’s staff and physicians
Last Updated June 22nd, 2020 at 7:04 p.m.

If you work at St. Joe’s, are asymptomatic, and believe you should be tested for COVID-19, you can go to employee testing at the Charlton Campus. Enter through the Fontbonne entrance and tell the screeners you are a St. Joe’s employee, are asymptomatic and wish to get tested. The screeners will direct you to testing on the third Floor of the Fontbonne. If you are already in the building, you can take the elevators to the third floor and the screening area is clearly marked for you. If you would prefer to get tested at the King Street East Assessment Centre, call 905-573-4844 to make an appointment. As has been our practice for some time, those employees and physicians who have one or more symptoms OR have been in contact with a person testing positive, will continue to be tested at our Charlton site, at the Fontbonne testing area, 3^rd Floor. Please ensure you bring your health card with you.

Testing of asymptomatic healthcare workers
Last Updated May 25th, 2020 at 8:27 p.m.

On Friday the Premier announced testing for frontline healthcare workers who are asymptomatic. If you work at St. Joe’s, are asymptomatic and believe you should be tested for COVID-19, you can call 905-573-4844 to make an appointment to be tested at the East End Assessment Centre.

As has been our practice for some time, those employees and physicians who have one or more symptoms OR have been in contact with a person testing positive, will be tested at our Charlton site, near the Fontbonne entrance. 

Take a measure - are you 6-feet away? Wearing a mask?
Last Updated August 7th, 2020 at 1:43 p.m.

A reminder that we are all responsible for keeping each other safe.

If you are outside, please respect physical distancing guidelines. We have added additional smoking extinguisher poles along the perimeter of the hospital property to assist in physical distancing while outside.

Inside – are you wearing your mask? Masking is required in all public areas of the hospital, and all other areas where 6 feet cannot be maintained. Please also follow these guidelines when on breaks. Is there 6 feet between you and others when you are eating lunch?

Thank you for respecting these guidelines and for helping to keep each other safe.

Conservation approach to PPE and use of expired N95 respirators
Last Updated June 15th, 2020 at 7:22 p.m.

Ensuring we have enough PPE and the right PPE continues to be a priority for St. Joe’s. We continue to follow the Ontario Health Guidelines for conservation of PPE to ensure we have the right protective equipment available to our healthcare teams to keep them safe throughout this pandemic.

Hospitals are generally following these conservation guidelines: 

• Use current stock first (This includes our current supply, and supplies coming in)
• Use pandemic stock (This includes donated supplies) 
• Use expired stock (Those approved for use) 
• Use reprocessed stock (Those approved for use) 

St. Joe’s stock of expired N95 respirators are well stored, inspected, and in excellent condition. Expired N95 respirators will be marked with a green or black dot. We will use these, as required, once the current stock of an individual N95 model is depleted. Expired stock will not be used in the operating room nor on crash carts. We are following evidence and recommendations from the World Health Organization, Ontario Health and Health Canada to support our approach in using expired respirators.

While we take appropriate steps to ensure our stock of current and expired respirators are fit for use, we always encourage our healthcare workers to check that the straps, nose bridge, and nose foam are intact, and that the straps remain elastic; and to perform a user-seal check each time they put on a respirator to check that it was donned correctly and that a tight seal is formed on their face.

If you have any questions, please contact your supervisor or Occupational Health and Safety.

PPE selection and mask guides
Last updated April 30, 2020 at 4:46 p.m.

With the move to everyone wearing a procedure mask once they pass screening at the hospital entranceways, there have been some questions about proper mask wearing and how to select proper PPE. Remember - procedure masks must now be worn in all areas of the hospital at all times at all sites, with some exceptions such as when other PPE is required, when working alone, or when eating lunch in an area where 2-metre social distancing can be done.

The following resources have been made available:

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

Mask use and conservation
Last updated April 27th, 2020 at 7:21 p.m.

It is essential that everyone at St. Joe’s follow proper mask use, social distancing and meticulous hand hygiene. Last week, St. Joe’s announced three areas of Healthcare Worker COVID-19 outbreak. Effective this past weekend, everyone is St. Joe’s is expected to be wearing a procedure mask at all times, in both clinical and non-clinical areas. Exceptions are areas where individuals are working alone, or on breaks where appropriate social distancing can be maintained.

To help with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) conservation, these two guides have been updated for the Charlton and West 5^th sites.

• West 5^th Mask conservation visual guide
• Charlton Mask conservation visual guide

Two masks for all staff/physicians working in clinical areas
Last updated April 9th, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.

Effective at 7 p.m. tonight, all staff and physicians working in clinical areas will be provided two procedure masks after passing through screening at the designated staff entry points to our facilities.

This is for everyone working in clinical areas, and that includes the support services such as porters and environmental services who enter into clinical areas.

Two new masks will be supplied each shift.

We have made this decision now in the interest of safety across the organization, knowing that spread of COVID-19 is well into the community, and with a recent arrival of procedure masks to our organization to support this move.

Mask conservation remains vital as getting supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) remains a challenge. St. Joe’s is committed to having appropriate PPE for our healthcare workers today, and in future days and weeks ahead as the pandemic evolves. This can only be accomplished through measured, judicious use of PPE.

Proper infection prevention measures are essential at all times. It is safe to wear your mask for multiple patient encounters; in fact, you may reduce the risk of self-contamination by reducing the number of mask changes. Please consume masks wisely with both conservation and safety in mind.

Effective 7 p.m. tonight (April 9 2020):

• When you go through screening at the designated staff entry points, as always, have your ID badge ready in a manner that is easy to view
• After showing that you have passed the screening questions on the digital app (or answering the screening questions), you will be asked if you work in a clinical area. As a reminder, this includes anyone required to enter clinical areas such as porters, environmental services, nutrition services, social workers, nurses, physicians, etc.
• If you work in a clinical area, you will be given a paper bag with 2 masks inside.
• You will be expected to don the mask before you enter the clinical area.
• The intent is to use one mask for each half of your shift.
• Used masks will be deposited in the procedure mask collection bins on the  units.
• If you are taking a break at times other than half-way through the shift, the expectation is to carefully place the mask on a clean surface. Please ensure you follow infection prevention control measures of washing hands before donning and doffing your mask.
• Those travelling between units (example porters) will be asked to leave the mask on between clinical units, to help to reduce the risk of self-contamination by reducing the number of mask changes.
• There may be other areas where masks will be provided if proper physical distancing is not possible (Example: information desk).

A procedural mask can be used over the course of many patients. Conserve your mask for as long as possible, but once wet, damaged, or soiled, you should immediately dispose of the mask. If your mask is visibly soiled or damaged dispose of it in the usual garbage. All other masks should be placed in the collection bin to be sent for potential reprocessing. Please do not take any used masks out of the hospital.  Take care not to touch your mask when it is on your face, and if you do, immediately perform hand hygiene.

The plan for use and distribution of procedure masks will be refined and adjusted as we move forward. If you have further questions please pass them along to your supervisor, so that we may work through any further changes based on feedback.

Personal Protective Equipment
Updated April 3rd, 2020 at 12:40 p.m.

St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH) is doing everything possible to keep everyone safe now, and throughout the pandemic. The appropriate stewardship of our supply of N95 and procedural masks requires consideration of safety combined with strategies to both reduce inappropriate use and conserve supply.

With this in mind, effective March 30, 2020, based on the Provincial Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Recommendations on the use of conservation of PPE from Ontario Health, released on March 25, 2020, and developed by our own experts, we are implementing a new framework on the use of masks. Click below to learn more:

• COVID-19 Update on Masks and Healthcare Worker Personal Protection (Included in Email Update #29, Sent April 3rd 2020)
• Healthcare Worker Personal Protection Decision Framework PDF - Updated April 16, 2020
• Mask Conservation Visual Guide PDF - Updated April 16, 2020

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: http://mystjoes/policies/Policies/PROTECTED%20CODE%20BLUE.pdf

West 5th: http://mystjoes/policies/Policies/CODE%20BLUE-%20Protected%20Code%20Blue%20West%205TH%20Campus.pdf

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, please go to:
*Note: you must be on the St. Joe's network to access this policy via the link below.  http://mystjoes/policies/Policies/CODE%20WHITE.pdf

Staff/Physician Screening and Entrances
Last updated March 25, 2020 at 8:30 p.m.

Everyone entering Charlton, West 5th and King Campuses will be screened for COVID-19 effective Tuesday, March 17 at 6 a.m. We are restricting access to these buildings by locking doors and designating specific entrance points. 

We have also begun checking temperatures of both staff/physicians and patients/visitors as part of the COVID-19 screening process when entering the building. We are using no-touch thermometers.

Access to buildings are restricted and staff and physicians must use designated entrances, noted below. Do not forget your St. Joe's ID badge. 

Digital Tool for Screening at Entrances

Use the digital tool available for staff/physicians to move through the screening process faster.

Visit https://sjhhscreening.com to use your St. Joe's username and password to login. We have adjusted the online digital screening tool so that those without a St. Joe’s login have the option to use before they enter the building. This includes staff such as Environmental Services, Nutritional Services (anyone without a St. Joe's email). 

If you pass the screening, you can show the confirmation screen on your smart phone to the screener, along with your ID badge. A reminder to staff/physicians using the digital screening tool, that the questions must be answered each day before arriving for your shift.

Click here to access a User Guide.

Screening Entrances Per Campus:

The following entrances are the only points of entry and exit for staff and physicians, per Campus:

*NOTE: if you are a patient/visitor, please click here for details on your dedicated entry points.

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

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.

Monitoring low incidence of COVID-19 in Hamilton region
Last Updated October 6th, 2020 at 12:04 p.m.

As we watch the slow climb of COVID-19 cases in Canada and various parts of the world, it’s important to take a look at what is happening here in the Hamilton area, and in our hospitals to provide some perspective. The world numbers are frightening and important to take into account, but we must also be aware of the numbers more locally, and the work being done here. As of late last week, the global case count for COVID-19 reached more than 34 million, with over 1 million deaths. In Canada, the number is just over 160,000 cases, with just over 9,000 deaths, and in Ontario, the case count was just over 52,000 with more than 2,800 deaths.

Here in Hamilton, as of late last week there were 1,166 total cases and there have been 46 deaths. 1020 of the total COVID-19 cases in Hamilton are considered resolved by Public Health. By end of last week, there were 100 active cases, and at St. Joe’s, we were taking care of one patient.

We are hearing stories about increasing cases and hospitalizations. Most of that is focussed on the Greater Toronto Area, to which we are a close neighbour. Locally, while our hospitals are experiencing pressures in demand for acute care services and high occupancy levels, hospitalizations for COVID-19 are low, and there are very few outbreaks in the community.

Some St. Joe’s healthcare workers have contracted COVID-19 in the community, however extensive contact tracing has shown that the COVID-19 infection has not been transmitted in the hospital.

All this is to say that we remain in a fairly stable state here in Hamilton, although this requires continual close monitoring. We want to thank you for all of your diligence following public health safety measures that have brought us to this point, and ask that you continue to practice physical distancing, masking and hand hygiene throughout the hospital, and in your personal lives.

Opening up rooms for larger groups
Last Updated August 28th, 2020 at 2:23 p.m.

St. Joe’s has updated our classroom and conference room bookings to better reflect the government’s guidance for gatherings in Stage 3 of reopening and the low number of cases of COVID-19 in our community and hospital.

Under the government direction, group gatherings allow for up to a maximum of 50 people, if physical distancing can be maintained. Conference room information has been updated to show the maximum number of people the room will accommodate as long as physical distancing of 6 feet is maintained. A sign has been placed on the door of each conference room to remind occupants of the maximum occupancy and the need to maintain physical distancing and masks. Note: masks must still be worn at all times – even when maintaining physical distancing. 

Gathering for group sessions
Last Updated August 7th, 2020 at 1:43 p.m.

We are slowly reintroducing in-person group sessions for inpatient and outpatient services. A maximum of 10 people can gather at one session. All physical distancing and masking guidelines must be followed. Additionally, our staff and learners may need to gather in small group sessions and must follow the same COVID-19 restrictions for size and physical distancing.

Recognizing that booking of conference rooms for group sessions requires an understanding of capacity during COVID-19 physical distancing requirements, online booking now includes information on the maximum number of people each conference room can accommodate within the guidelines. To book conference rooms online, go here on MyStJoes.

Physical distancing for safety
Last Updated April 29th, 2020 at 8:18 p.m.

Are you doing everything possible to maintain a safe distance from others? It’s critical that we continue to practice physical distancing to keep everyone safe and limit the spread of infection.

Please maintain a safe physical distance of six-feet (two-metres) from others at all times. Here are some key areas where this is especially important:

• Team rooms and cafeteria during mealtime or breaks
• In the elevator; If the elevator does not allow for physical distancing, wait for the next elevator
• When talking and/or walking with others
• During team huddles
• While waiting in lines

Thank you for helping to maintain a safe patient care and work environment for everyone.

Last Updated April 17th, 2020 at 7:30 p.m.

Each day we need to be intentional in keeping each other safe. We are all going through screening, we are using more alcohol hand hygiene than we ever have before to make sure we are meticulously cleaning our hands, we have prompt testing for any of us that have symptoms, we are using technology to help with social distancing. The social distancing is not always easy, but in this regard we are asking everyone to think about staff congregate spaces like staff rooms. We are in this together but must all be keeping each other safe.

In your area work out how many people can be in the space at the same time. Some areas have removed chairs and marked the floor as a way of queueing each other and stressing how many people can be in this area.

The best ideas on this will come from your direct team. Just like we have said for years on hand hygiene "remind me if I don’t wash my hands," keep that up and ALSO "REMIND me if I am in your space."

Taking further measures to help keep us all safe
Last Updated April 24th, 2020 at 8:31 p.m.

St. Joe’s is currently experiencing three healthcare worker COVID-19 outbreaks. This is a situation facing many hospitals today. Our patient-related COVID-19 outbreaks have been well-controlled thanks to you coming to work only when well and completing active screening at the beginning of every shift. Your diligent hand hygiene and appropriate use of PPE have all contributed to this good outcome.

We need to focus on healthcare worker-to-healthcare worker transmission. We are providing additional informational resources and adding precautionary measures:

• Universal masking across all areas of St. Joe’s

Effective Saturday, April 25, all staff and physicians entering St. Joe’s facilities will be asked to wear a procedure mask at all times.

Since April 9, clinical staff were provided 2 masks after passing screening at staff entranceways. Now all staff and physicians will be provided the masks and are expected to wear them immediately.

Masks must be worn in all clinical and non-clinical areas. Please wear your mask at all times except when eating or when alone in a room, including common areas where you are likely to come into contact with others such as the lobby, line-ups, elevators and lounge areas. Help us keep each other safe as we depend on each other to do this well.

• Greater physical distancing at breaks

It is difficult to know where transmission happens, but we need all healthcare workers to follow strict physical distancing of at least two metres when we are not wearing masks. This includes shared time at breaks whether having a meal or just a conversation while not wearing a mask.

We recognize that sharing time together and supporting each other is important. We are trying to help do that in a safe way. To that end we are trying to open up other areas within the hospital to allow you the ability to share space but maintain the physical distancing that is so critical to prevent transmission of infected droplets. We will be creating signage to guide you and remind you where you can be space-safe.

• Resources to better understand contact tracing and keeping each other safe

Please review these printable resources on what we can do to keep each other safe, and information on contact tracing:

1. Contact tracing
2. Helping to keep each other safe

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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.

Update to healthcare worker safe return to work after COVID-positive test
Last Updated October 15th, 2020 at 6:37 p.m.

St. Joe’s has updated its guideline on healthcare workers’ safe return to work after testing positive for COVID-19, based on the provincial government’s updated guidance document.

On October 1, 2020, the Ministry of Health released an updated version of the Public Health Guidance on Testing and Clearance for COVID-19, which was reviewed by SJHH together with our regional partners. There are no changes to the post-exposure follow-up for healthcare workers. In cases of either a high-risk exposure (close contact with a person in the household, community, or workplace who is positive for COVID-19), or a history of travel outside of Canada, the healthcare worker must self-isolate at home for 14 days.

With updated scientific evidence we now know that a person infected with COVID-19 cannot spread the infection to others after 8 days. As a result, healthcare workers who have a positive COVID-19 test will now be able to safely return to work after being off 10 days (i.e. return on Day 11) rather than the current 14 days, as long as they are recovered from their symptoms and are fever-free (without using fever-reducing medication) for at least 24 hours. 

The rare exception is where the person was sick enough to be admitted to the ICU, or had severe immune compromise, and they would need to be off for 20 days.

Asymptomatic COVID-19 positive staff (no symptoms but positive test) can return to work 10 days from specimen collection (i.e. return on Day 11). In exceptional circumstances based on severe staffing shortages/needs and on a case-by-case basis, an asymptomatic positive healthcare worker may be asked to return to work in work-self-isolation after 72 hours post-test assuming they remain asymptomatic. 

At this time, although the Ministry document discusses earlier return to work for healthcare workers who are COVID-19 positive, once symptoms have resolved for 72 hours, SJHH will continue to recommend that healthcare workers who are COVID-19 positive remain off work for the full 10 days.

Changes to testing of healthcare workers returning to work after COVID-19 infection
Last Updated May 11th, 2020 at 7:23 p.m.

The Ontario government on May 2^nd changed its recommendation around the return-to-work requirements needed for healthcare workers (HCW) who have tested positive for COVID-19.

As a result, effective Saturday, May 9, St. Joe’s healthcare workers who have tested positive for COVID-19 must follow these criteria to be cleared for returning to work:

• Self-isolate for 14 days after onset of symptoms; and have at least 72 hours of improved symptoms and no fever
• If the person developed no symptoms, return to work would be after a full 14-day self-isolation from when they tested positive
• A worker who was sick enough to be hospitalized requires two negative NPS tests for COVID-19 at least 24 hours apart prior to return to work.

Previously, all healthcare workers who tested positive for COVID-19 required two negative test results after the 14-day self-isolation. Increasing evidence shows that, in most cases, after 10 days the person is no longer transmitting live virus particles that can infect someone else. Because tests are so sensitive, swabs may still detect bits of the virus particles and result in a positive test for up to several weeks later.

Returning to Work After COVID-19
Last updated March 18th, 2020 at 5:30 p.m

To follow Public Health’s current clearance protocol for returning to work after confirmed COVID-19, staff, doctors, and learners must:

• Be asymptomatic
• Have 2 negative nasopharyngeal swabs at least 24 hours apart
• Notify Employee Health/Occupational Health and Safety of your return to work at 905-522-1155 ext 36131 or email Covid19@stjoes.ca

Travel Between Sites
Last Updated March 13, 2020 at 8:00 p.m.

Effective immediately we are asking staff and physicians to avoid all non-essential travel between sites. Please work with your manager or chief if you have any questions about this.

Guidelines on meetings and gatherings at St. Joe’s
Last Updated March 13th, 2020 at 8:00 p.m.

Effective immediately and until further notice, we are asking staff and physicians to: Consider whether a meeting needs to happen at all. Replace in-person group meetings with virtual meetings using teleconferences and video conferencing when possible. If face-to-face meetings are essential, the room must be large enough to accommodate space (ideally two metres) between participants. Cancel conferences, corporate events and corporate social gatherings (example Retirement Tea). Do not attend in person conferences or speaking presentations for work. Note that in-person Employee Wellness programs are being suspended until further notice. Digital resources remain available on MyStJoes > Employee Wellness.

No Food or Drinks in Clinical Areas
Last updated March 20, 2020 at 7:15 p.m.

Eating and drinking are not allowed in the hospital’s clinical areas. This includes all lidded cups, thermoses and water bottles. Please restrict those to staff lounges and the cafeteria.

Last updated April 9th, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.

In the midst of COVID-19, Zoom videoconferencing tools have allowed us to safely continue to provide care to our patients, and to work together from a distance during this exceptional time. At the same time, we are very aware of the various concerns and allegations currently circulating about the privacy and security of Zoom, unfortunately generating an issue around perception of trust.

The Privacy and Digital Solutions teams at St. Joe’s have been monitoring media coverage, and have been consulting with Zoom directly, as well as partner organizations. Our objective is to understand the real risks and take action where necessary to ensure that both patient and employee privacy and security is protected. While the risks identified are concerning, staff should know that the version of Zoom integrated with Dovetale to support virtual care was carefully reviewed by our Privacy and Security experts and has been configured to minimize risks to patient privacy and system security. Virtual care sessions are never recorded, nor are chat messages retained, so patient information is not stored. Furthermore, St. Joe’s uses a paid version of Zoom carefully configured to maximize protection and avoid the exposures identified in recent articles. The vendor is bound by agreement not to access or use St. Joe’s patient information, and our Virtual Care instance lives on Canadian servers – not U.S. servers. 

Importantly, the Ministry of Health distributed a Zoom Advisory and guidance earlier today (Link: April 9 2020 Cyber Security Advisory - ZOOM), and we can tell you that we exceed the Ministry’s recommendations for ensuring safe use of Zoom.  We will also continue to adjust configurations and update Zoom clients as needed to maintain this protection. Further guidance on how to continue using Zoom in a safe and effective way will follow next week.  

Click here to read more on 'Meetings by Zoom, not conference calls'.

COVID-19 Operations Dashboard: Check out our hospital’s surgical and in-person ambulatory service levels at a glance
Last Updated October 6th, 2020 at 12:04 p.m.

St. Joe’s is monitoring our hospital and the situation in our region to help determine if and when we may need to modify our non-emergent, in-person surgical and ambulatory services during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Corporate Pandemic Framework:

Click here to check out the COVID-19 Operations Dashboard to learn more about our hospital’s current level of service. (Note: This link is only available through Citrix.) Right now, our hospital’s service level is Tier 3: “New Normal” Operations.

• View the descriptions of the other tiers to learn more about the balanced, tiered approach we will take if ramping down non-emergent, in-person surgical and ambulatory services is required again, and what re-ramping these services back up would look like. 
• If key indicators demonstrate a need to shift tiers, our Incident Management Team (IMS) will evaluate and communication will be shared organizationally on the requirement to reduce surgical and in-person ambulatory services.

Also on the COVID-19 Operations Dashboard:

• Continue to find the status of organizational activities or operations at St. Joe’s, like visitors, learners, screening, group meetings and masking,during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

As always, your manager will continue to provide relevant updates about any changes in our hospital’s service levels or operations during the COVID-19 pandemic to you and your team. If you have any questions, please connect with your manager.

St. Joe's opening testing centre on grounds of Mohawk College, temporary increase in testing at West 5th
Last Updated October 7th, 2020 at 10:03 a.m.

Mohawk College will be the location of a new COVID-19 Testing Centre for Hamilton Mountain, opening its doors October 23, 2020. The new centre will be staffed by St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. The centre will be housed in a self-contained, stand-alone building separate from the main college campus and will operate on a daytime schedule to include weekends. The new location will accommodate 400-500 appointments daily.

The new testing centre will replace the Drive-thru Testing Centre at the Dave Andreychuk Arena scheduled to close on Thanksgiving Weekend. Its last day of operation is Sunday, Oct. 11.

In the interim, the COVID-19 Testing Centre at West 5^th will temporarily extend its hours beginning Tuesday, October 13, to run from 4:30 to 10 p.m. The additional 2.5 evening hours will support the ability of the West 5^th centre to more than double the number of appointments to cover testing that would have been done at the Drive-thru centre, and will eventually move to the Mohawk site. Visitors to the West 5^th testing centre will continue to use a separate, marked entrance to the left of the main Outpatient Entrance, and parking will remain the same.

St. Joseph’s Testing Centre at West 5th will cease operations once the Testing Centre at Mohawk College is launched. Its 10 days of extended hours will allow time for the site at Mohawk College to be fully equipped and operational. The last day of COVID-19 testing at West 5^th will be Thursday, Oct. 22. As with everything related to this pandemic, we may need to revisit the decision about the West 5th Testing Centre at a later date if demand increases again.

We want to extend a sincere thank you to our staff and members of Hamilton Paramedic Services who quickly came together to establish this temporary testing site. We are grateful to all West 5^th patients and staff for understanding the community need and accommodating the centre in such challenging times.