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A lot has changed at The Ottawa Hospital since the beginning of the pandemic, but our approach to providing world-class, compassionate care to every person who comes through our doors has not. Here are some measures we have in place to continue to keep patients, Essential Care Partners and staff safe within our walls.

Infection prevention and control

Hospital staff continue to take every necessary precaution to ensure the health and safety of our patients, Essential Care Partners, staff and community. Our staff are ready and able to care for you in the safest way possible.

Staff follow strict infection prevention and control practices, like physical distancing where possible, wearing a mask and other personal protective equipment (PPE), washing their hands often and other rigorous cleaning routines, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Ottawa Hospital has many infection prevention and control experts on staff to guide our practices and keep everyone safe. We also have a mobile team of PPE Safety Champions who observe staff from across the hospital when they’re putting on and taking off PPE to provide real-time input and specialized instruction to units.

Entrance

Image of screeners

To ensure the safety of everyone at The Ottawa Hospital, we have implemented a digital entrance screening model.

Patients, visitors and care partners will be asked to complete a COVID screening assessment electronically using one of three methods:

  1. Pre-screen using the COVID-19 screening tool on your phone, tablet or computer.
  2. At select entrances, follow directions to screen-in using a kiosk.
  3. Review the self-screening questions which will be posted at each entrance.

Masking

All patients, Essential Care Partners and staff are required to wear a mask in the hospital. Patients who are coming to the hospital for appointments and Essential Care Partners will be given a disposable medical mask just before they enter the hospital. Masks may be removed while eating or drinking in designated areas when physical distancing, remaining at least two metres (six feet) away from others, is possible.

Patients are also asked to wear a mask when healthcare workers are within two metres of you to provide care. This is an added step to protect the health and safety of you and our staff.

Masks help prevent the spread of respiratory illness, including COVID-19, when physical distancing is not possible.

Find more information about how to properly and safely wear a mask on our website.

Physical distancing reminders

Throughout the hospital and in elevators, there are helpful markers and reminders to practice physical distancing, which means staying at least two metres (six feet) away from others.

Distancing Floor sticker icon
Distancing icon

Virtual care

The Ottawa Hospital and health-care teams across Ontario have been using virtual care for some time, which reduces how many people need to come to the hospital. This helps protect our patients, Essential Care Partners, staff and the community from the spread of respiratory illnesses, including RSV, flu and COVID-19.

During a virtual visit, you do not come to the hospital to meet in person. Instead, you speak to your care team using a regular phone, smartphone, tablet or computer.

Please speak to your care team about whether virtual care options are available to you.

Last updated on: March 16th, 2023