Media

Staff, physicians and volunteers will return to using an infection prevention and control Point-of-Care Risk Assessment to determine the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) that is required. Healthcare team members will consider each individual scenario, including the patient, environment and circumstances to assess what PPE they need to wear.

“The Point-of-Care Risk Assessment is a routine practice that healthcare providers use to help prevent the spread of infections,” explains Cindy McDonell, Senior Vice President of Clinical Operations at Halton Healthcare. “In this case the risk assessment is used for the selection of appropriate PPE, including face masks, eye protection, gloves and gowns. For example, if a patient is coughing or experiencing respiratory symptoms, healthcare providers will wear a mask and eye protection when caring for the patient.”

Halton Healthcare facilities are mask-friendly in all settings and anyone who wishes to continue wearing a mask is encouraged to do so. Face mask dispensers are available at all main entrances and at care stations.

Visitors coming to Halton Healthcare facilities should review standard self-screening questions and sanitize their hands. Patients with a fever or respiratory symptoms coming to the Emergency Department or outpatient appointments will be required to wear a mask.

Halton Healthcare continues to monitor respiratory illness in our hospitals and communities and will make changes to masking policies as needed. Decisions on when and where to use personal protective equipment, such as masks, will continue to be based on Public Health Ontario guidelines, and informed by our Infectious Disease experts. More information related to Halton Healthcare’s COVID-19 safety protocols are available on our website at www.haltonhealthcare.com.