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Information for patients and visitors to The Ottawa Hospital
COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses continue to circulate in our community. Please ensure you continue to follow public health recommendations to help keep you, your loved ones and our community safe.
If you are having a medical emergency, go to the nearest emergency department or call 911
Visiting the hospital
The Ottawa Hospital is currently allowing visitors, in accordance with our Visitors and Family Presence policy.
This policy encourages patients, families and care teams to determine how many people should be present at any time. Essential Care Partners (ECPs) and visitors will still be expected to complete screening before entering the facility (see below for more information) and must always wear a mask.
There are no defined visiting hours as part of this policy, and loved ones are welcome to visit patients at The Ottawa Hospital at times that work best for patients in collaboration with care teams.
Due to space limitations, we recommend only a fully vaccinated Essential Care Partner may accompany a patient to their outpatient appointment. It may not always be possible to wait with the patient due to space limitations in waiting rooms.
Yes. Patients who are coming to the hospital for appointments, Essential Care Partners and visitors will be given a disposable medical mask when they enter the hospital. Masks must be worn at all times while in the hospital.
Masks help prevent the spread of respiratory illness, including COVID-19, when important measures such as physical distancing are not possible.
Important information about properly and safely wearing a mask.
Essential Care Partners and social visitors are not the same. An Essential Care Partner is a support person whose presence is considered essential to the safety and wellbeing of a patient while they are in the hospital.
Learn more about The Ottawa Hospital’s Essential Care Partner Program
While a unit is experiencing an outbreak, there may be increased precautions on that unit to ensure the safety of patients, staff and Essential Care Partners. This means that in some cases, visitors may not be allowed on that particular unit. Before visiting a unit experiencing an outbreak at The Ottawa Hospital, visitors are advised to consult with unit staff. Entrance screening staff will verify all visitors with unit staff.
For more information about having a baby at The Ottawa Hospital during COVID-19 precautions, please visit our COVID-19 obstetrics patient information and visitor restriction page.
All children who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 are asked not to visit patients in the hospital whenever possible. This will help reduce risk because we know that it can be difficult for children to wear a mask properly and maintain physical distancing.
We know that sometimes children need to visit patients. In those cases we will work with you to see if a visit can be done safely. If you would like to bring a child to visit someone in the hospital, please talk to your loved one’s care team in advance.
We will continue to monitor the situation in the hospital and the community, and we will adapt our visitor policy to help ensure safety for everyone. Thank you for your cooperation.
Patient access to the hospital
Do not come to The Ottawa Hospital for any appointment, test or procedure if you have a fever, new or worsening cough, or any other symptoms of respiratory illness. Please call the clinic beforehand and tell them about your symptoms. They will advise you about what to do.
Although we strongly recommend that all eligible people get their COVID-19 vaccination, patients do not need to be fully vaccinated to receive care from The Ottawa Hospital.
COVID-19 vaccines and our staff
To ensure the safety of our entire team and our patients and families, beginning November 1, 2021, all staff, medical staff and learners will be required to have been fully vaccinated with a World Health Organization (WHO)-approved COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment and/or credentialing at The Ottawa Hospital.
Those who are not fully vaccinated (or do not have an approved medical and/or other exception in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code) will be deemed non-compliant with the COVID-19 vaccine policy and placed on an unpaid leave of absence.
Please check this web page for updates. If you have any questions, please call the unit to speak with the care team.
Resources
What to do if you think you might have COVID-19 (Ottawa Public Health)
Information about COVID-19 the Assessment Centre (Ottawa Public Health)
Information about COVID-19 in Ontario
Information about having a baby at TOH during COVID-19
Interpretation Services Update during COVID-19
Do you want to help us?
While our community continues to rally, our very own healthcare workers continue to gear up each day, standing alongside our patients during this difficult time.
Together, we’ll take care of each other.
If you have personal protective equipment that you would like to donate to hospitals and health-care services in our region, please send an email to COVIDDonations@toh.ca. All donated equipment will be assessed and then distributed to hospitals and health-care services in the region as needs arise.
Questions about the care you or your family member is receiving? Contact
Last updated on: July 6th, 2023