By rdnewsNOW staff

Stronger Measures

AHS announces new screening protocols at Red Deer Regional Hospital

Mar 24, 2020 | 4:28 PM

Officials with Alberta Health Services (AHS) have announced new screening protocols now in place at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre (RDRHC).

Effective Mar. 24, access to RDRHC for patients and visitors will only be permitted through the main entrance (open 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.) and through the emergency department after hours.

Cancer patients and those with laboratory tests can continue to access the collection lab in the ambulatory annex and the Cancer Centre as usual and are not required to come through the main entrance.

“To protect the health of patients, staff and physicians, we have implemented new measures at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre that restricts access to the hospital for patients and visitors to the main entrance, and through the emergency department after hours,” reads a statement from AHS communications director for Central Zone, Heather Kipling. “We are also temporarily closing public access to the underground parkade at this time. Limiting access points will enable us to better screen patients and visitors coming to the site to help limit the risk of respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 traveling within the hospital.”

The statement goes on to say that all visitors and patients not arriving for urgent/emergency care will be screened before they are allowed to proceed to appointments or inpatient units.

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“This screening does not pose a risk to those coming to the site,” adds Kipling. “Staff and volunteers will be assisting those arriving and providing PPE to those who need it. They will also enforce social distancing practices among anyone who may be waiting to be screened.”

Kipling notes anyone who is showing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 will be isolated immediately for further assessment.

“Measures like this are being implemented at hospitals across the province, in some shape or form, as part of our efforts to protect those we care for and our staff and physicians on the frontlines during this pandemic,” she explains. “Additional screening protocols for staff at clinical sites are also being implemented. This work is being done in conjunction with the measures already in place in the community which are designed to limit transmission of COVID-19, and “flatten the curve” to minimize impact on the healthcare system.”

As was already in place, Kipling points out that no individual who is ill will be permitted to visit a patient in any AHS facility, including patients ill with known or suspected cases of COVID-19, or any other illness.

“AHS will allow only one visitor at a time, for the duration of a patient’s stay at an acute care facility,” says Kipling. “We are asking families to coordinate visiting schedules that allow for one person to be at the hospital at a time. Exceptions will be reviewed and approved by a unit manager or nursing staff on a case-by-case basis.”

Additionally, Kipling says no children will be allowed to visit.

“We recognize this may be difficult for families and loved ones but we must do all we can to minimize the risk of infection to our residents and staff,” she explains. “We encourage families and facilities to consider alternate methods for communication, such as Facetime or Skype, to connect.”