Resuming surgical and ambulatory services and procedures at St. Joe's
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton is working with our regional partners to gradually reintroduce scheduled surgical and out-patient clinical care for our patients.
We look forward to resuming these services to patients who have been waiting for care, but we must do so in a way that recognizes the pandemic is not over, and ensures there is space for any potential surge in COVID-19 patients.
St. Joe’s leadership teams have developed a plan to reintroduce services using the Ontario government’s Measured Approach which outlines criteria for prioritizing services, using an ethical framework to ensure equity of care. Our plan has been reviewed and approved by Hamilton Public Health, and Ontario Health West region. Through this process, our plan is based on a province-wide approach that is executed on a regional basis, with the Hamilton context in mind.
With the Ontario Government’s revision of Directive #2 announced May 26, hospitals are now able to begin implementing their plans, but resuming services will occur gradually over the next weeks and months using a slow, phased approach.
Patients will be notified when their surgery or appointment has been scheduled. They do not need to contact the hospital.
Throughout the pandemic, hospitals have been delivering urgent and emergency care. We have also been increasing the number of virtual visits to provide care where possible. Virtual visits will continue through this next phase of resuming scheduled services.
The hospital remains a safe place to come for care. Everyone is screened for COVID-19 upon entry and given a mask to wear at all times. We have implemented measures to ensure physical distancing, hand hygiene and increased cleaning of the environment to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Patients who have concerns about their health status should contact their clinic or family physician’s office for guidance.
If you are experiencing serious symptoms please call 9-1-1 or go to their nearest emergency department.
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