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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 have been instructed to quarantine by public health officials or in accordance with federal travel guidelines, please do not visit The Ottawa Hospital.
If you are experiencing escalating COVID or cold and flu symptoms, you can book an appointment at a COVID-19 Assessment Centre near you. Do not go to the Emergency Department unless you have a medical emergency.
If you are having a medical emergency, go to the nearest emergency department or call 911
Everyone entering one of our sites must wear a mask.
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.
Electronic self-screening assessment
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 self-screening assessment electronically using one of three methods:
- Pre-screen using the COVID-19 screening tool on your phone, tablet or computer.
- At select entrances, follow directions to screen-in using a kiosk.
- Review the self-screening questions which will be posted at each entrance.
You will be asked:
- if you are experiencing any COVID, cold and flu symptoms, including (but not limited to):
- Sore throat or difficulty breathing
- New or worsening cough
- Runny/stuffy nose
- Shortness of breath
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
- Unexplained fatigue/muscle aches
- Loss of sense of taste or smell
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- whether you have been instructed to self-isolate or quarantine
- your contact information so that we can do contact tracing in the future if needed
You may also be asked about:
- recent exposure to someone with COVID-19
- recent travel
This screening is designed to help us ensure that visitors and Essential Care Partners coming into the hospital are not ill and/or not at risk of COVID-19 exposure from travel or close contacts. Please also note that there may be a lineup for screening because of the increased numbers of visitors.
We strongly encourage all eligible people to get the COVID-19 vaccine, as it protects from serious illness, hospitalization and death. Being immunized protects those around us, reduces the impact of COVID-19 on our health-care system, and ensures that health-care workers can continue to provide care for all who need it.
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.
How to access the hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic
Please note access to the hospital has been limited to the following entrances and are only open during the hours listed below. Please follow signage posted onsite and be prepared to be screened on arrival for symptoms, travel history and contact history. For more information on hospital activities during the pandemic, please visit our COVID-19 page.
Civic Campus
- Parkdale Clinic Entrances: open Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Main Entrance: open 24 hours daily
- J Building Entrance: open Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., drop-off only
- Emergency Entrance: open 24 hours daily
General Campus
- Rehabilitation Centre Entrance: open Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Critical Care Wing Entrance: open Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Cancer Centre Entrance: open Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Main Entrance: open 24 hours daily
- Emergency Entrance: open 24 hours daily
Riverside Campus
- Riverside Professional Centre Entrance: open Monday to Saturday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Main Entrance: open Monday to Saturday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- OC Transpo Entrance: Monday to Saturday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Information for your visit
Wash Your Hands
When you arrive at any of our three campuses (Civic, General and Riverside), you will see hand-wash stations set up at each of our entrances. Please stop and wash your hands before entering the hospital.
Balloons (Mylar only)
A latex allergy is an adverse reaction to products made from latex or natural rubber. We make every effort to provide a latex safe environment for patients, visitors, employees and volunteers. Only mylar balloons are allowed within the hospital.
Scent-free
Wherever possible, we have eliminated the use of products with scents or other properties that are known to cause health problems for patients, visitors, employees and volunteers. Please do not wear/use perfume, after-shave or other scented personal products in the hospital or when visiting a patient.
Violence in the Hospital
The Ottawa Hospital will not tolerate violent acts or threats directed at any employee, physician, patient or volunteer. Security Services will be notified and take the appropriate action.
Questions about the care you or your family member is receiving? Contact
Last updated on: March 13th, 2023