Press Release
Pembroke Regional Hospital
PEMBROKE – With guidance from the Renfrew County and District Health Unit, the Pembroke Regional Hospital will once again be welcoming visitors back into the hospital for admitted patients – one per patient per day during the hours of 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., effective this Thursday, June 10th.
These visitors will be allowed in addition to the patients’ essential caregivers / care partners who have 24/7 access as long as they pass entrance screening.
“We fully appreciate the benefits of social interaction for our admitted patients and know how difficult it has been for them to not have in-person access to loved ones, family members and friends who might like to spend time with them and lift their spirits,” said Sabine Mersmann, Senior Vice-President of Clinical and Support Services / Partnerships and Integration.
“While safety measures remain in place as well as restrictions on the number of visitors each patient can have per day, we are hopeful that this change will provide some additional comfort to our inpatients and allow for some positive connections to take place.”
This latest change to the hospital’s visitor policy does not affect outpatient appointments to areas such as the Emergency Department and Ambulatory Clinics where only one essential caregiver/care partner is able to accompany patients as required. Special considerations continue to be in place for patients nearing end of life.
Different from “visitors” in terms of the role that they play, essential caregivers / care partners are designated by the patient – one for the duration of their hospital stay and provide:
• Assistance with meals, mobility and personal care
• Communication assistance for patients with hearing, visual, speech, cognitive, intellectual or memory impairments
• Assistance as the designated representative for patients with disabilities
• Emotional support
• Supported decision making
All visitors coming to PRH are required to sign in at the patient’s Nursing Station before the visit can take place.
In addition, all visitors and essential caregivers / care partners must pass the hospital’s entrance screening criteria in order to be allowed to visit and must:
• Be feeling well.
• Continuously wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth.
• Refrain from bringing in food or drink for consumption since a mask must be worn for the entire duration of the visit.
• Remain in the patient’s room and minimize movement within the facility.
• Perform hand hygiene (hand washing or using hand sanitizer) when entering and leaving the facility and when entering and leaving the patient’s room.
“We are hopeful that as we gradually welcome people back into the facility that, in the interest of safety, our patients’ friends and loved ones will respect the rules and help to keep their family members and our staff safe,” Ms. Mersmann said.
