{"id":53238,"date":"2020-05-15T13:50:04","date_gmt":"2020-05-15T17:50:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ottawahospital.on.ca\/?p=53238"},"modified":"2020-05-15T17:54:44","modified_gmt":"2020-05-15T21:54:44","slug":"regional-hospitals-support-long-term-care-homes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ottawahospital.on.ca\/en\/newsroom\/regional-hospitals-support-long-term-care-homes\/","title":{"rendered":"Regional hospitals support long-term care homes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This message is on behalf of hospitals in the Champlain region.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Champlain Region, May 15, 2020 \u2013<\/strong> Health-care teams in the Champlain region have successfully tested residents in all 60 local long-term care homes ahead of the provincial government\u2019s May 15 deadline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the last three weeks more than 7,000 residents and 8,000 staff have been tested by teams comprised of hospital staff, public health, and paramedics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long-term care homes are the frontline of Ontario\u2019s fight against COVID-19, and health-care organizations from across the region have come forward to support this vulnerable population.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStaff are so helpful and grateful that we\u2019re there,\u201d said hospital Respiratory Therapist Rena Fulton, who volunteered to work on the testing teams. \u201cEvery time, they\u2019re always appreciative. We feel like we\u2019re making a difference in the fight against COVID.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For homes like Extendicare Starwood Manor, the support has led to a significant reduction in stress for staff said Sue MacGregor, Starwood\u2019s administrator:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe had been successful in preventing the spread of COVID-19 to the residents. However, it was at significant personal cost to our staff,\u201d she said. \u201cThe idea that someone who doesn\u2019t even know us would come to help is huge for our staff. They\u2019re tired, they\u2019ve been working so hard. This lets them take time to recover and they come back invigorated because they feel less alone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Staff members from hospitals in the Champlain region have volunteered for thousands of shifts in long-term care homes, aiming to increase staffing levels beyond normal baseline needs to allow for enhanced infection prevention and control practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHospital staff are here working shoulder to shoulder with our personal support workers,\u201d said MacGregor. \u201cThey come in ready to help and ready to work. They\u2019ve been very respectful of our staff. We\u2019re so appreciative!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Support to long-term care and retirement homes has also included advice and training on how to improve infection prevention and control practices, as well as access to a regional supply of personal protective equipment to ensure that all health-care workers in the region can work safely. Environmental services workers have been contracted to thoroughly clean and disinfect high-risk homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hospitals\u2019 COVID-19 response has been designed to be dynamic and flexible to meet the health-care needs of our community and will continue to evolve in the coming weeks and months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please see Ottawa Public health\u2019s website for the latest information on COVID-19, including criteria for testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following hospitals are involved in the regional COVID-19 response:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n