Please do not visit if you are ill (e.g., fever, runny nose, cough, sneezing, vomiting or diarrhea) until your symptoms are gone.
Masking Update
Masks are recommended but no longer required in public areas such as hallways, elevators, and our coffee bar and gift shop. This applies to staff, patients and visitors.
Staff will continue to wear masks when engaged in patient care. Masks are required to be worn by everyone in clinical areas including patient rooms, the Emergency Department, Diagnostic Imaging, clinic appointments and waiting areas.
Visitor Guideline Update
In our ER: Adult ER patients may be accompanied by one family member/friend. Children may have two people accompanying them.
People accompanying Day Surgery patients: Please do not enter the hospital. Our staff will call you when your loved one is ready for pick-up. You may wait outside or in your car. Your loved one will be brought down by wheelchair to the Emergency Entrance for pick-up.
Inpatients: We request that no more than two fully vaccinated visitors come in to see a patient at a time. For visitors of patients on our medical-surgical unit, fully vaccinated means having received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. For visitors of residents in Convalescent Care and Interim Long-Term Care, fully vaccinated means having had three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Unvaccinated visitors are not permitted to visit; however, exceptions may be made at the discretion of the healthcare team and in consultation with public health when a patient is at end of life. We encourage outdoor visits when deemed appropriate by our nursing and medical teams.
If you have additional questions related to visiting a loved one in the hospital, please call our ward clerk at 613-258-6133 ext. 172 between 8am and 8pm for clarification.
Screening Information
Visitors and essential caregivers coming to visit a resident in our Interim Long-Term Care (ILTC)/Convalescent Care Unit will now perform self-screening on arrival to the ER Entrance. For the safety of our patients and staff, please clean your hands and wear a mask while in the hospital. ‘Self-screening’ means reading the signage at the point of entry to help you determine if you are safe to enter based on your health status. The removal of the screening function at the entrance to the ILTC Unit is the result of new provincial guidance regarding pandemic response measures in Long-Term Care homes. The rest of the hospital transitioned to self-screening in January 2023.
Suggestions for Visiting
Studies have show that having visitors while in hospital can help speed up a patient’s recovery. We ask you to follow these guidelines:
- Watch and listen for cues that your family member or friend needs to rest or have time alone.
- Be considerate of roommates, who may be sleeping or having a procedure done.
- Please don’t visit if you are sick. Patients can be put at risk if germs are brought into the hospital. If you have a fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, diarrhea or new rash, please stay home.
- Hand-washing is the best way to stop the spread of germs. Even if you are feeling well, you may be carrying germs that could make patients sick. Please use the hand sanitizer provided at hand cleaning stations throughout the hospital before and after each visit. Learn more about patient safety at KDH.
- KDH is a scent-free facility. In consideration of others who may suffer from allergies or chemical sensitivities, we ask that you don’t bring or send live flowers, or wear perfume or other scented products while at KDH.
- Please make sure any balloons you bring to the hospital are made of mylar, not latex. Latex balloons can cause severe allergic reactions in some people.
Page updated: April 20, 2023
