Visiting Patients

Info for Care Partners and Visitors 

QCH has guidelines and policies for both Care Partners and Visitors.  

Who is a Care Partner?

A person designated by the patient or substitute decision-maker as being especially important to the patient’s recovery. They should be someone who is deeply involved in the patient’s healthcare journey and is integral to the overall well-being of the patient. The designated Care Partner is welcome to be at the bedside at all times.

This person may also be the patient’s spokesperson who will tell friends and family about the visiting guidelines and serve as a first contact for any questions on the patient’s condition.

QCH welcomes up to two Care Partners to stay at the patient’s bedside 24 hours a day on the medical, rehab, childbirth, and surgical units. The Day Surgery Unit, Post Anesthesia Care Unit and Intensive Care Unit limit this to one Care Partner only given space constraints and complexity of care.

Care Partner Etiquette

• Please use the public washrooms, not the washroom in the patient’s room.
• Please keep noise to a minimum. Use headphones when listening to music or watching TV.
• During the night, use minimal lighting.
• It is important for Care Partners to be rested however, if you are staying the night, please provide your own blankets and pillows.
• Please do not wear scented products or bring scented products to the hospital.

Who is a Visitor?

A visitor is a guest of the patient or family who wants to provide well wishes and social connections. A visitor may be a friend or relative of the patient or family. Our visiting policy reflects the needs of our patients: to rest, to take part in care and treatment, and to have the support of family and friends.

Visitor Etiquette

• Please keep your visits short to approximately 20 minutes.
• Please be respectful of the patient’s roommate’s need for privacy, rest and recovery.
• Children under 14 years of age must be always supervised by an adult (not the patient).
• Please follow the infection control guidelines posted on the door. If you are unsure of what to do, talk to the Nurse prior to entering the room.
• Please do not wear scented products or bring scented products to the hospital.

Unit Specific Notes and Instructions

Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Two care partners can be identified for each patient. One Care Partner is encouraged to stay at the patient’s bedside and may stay 24 hours-a-day. Please communicate the name of the Care Partners to the ICU team. Care Partners and family are encouraged to attend multidisciplinary rounds from 9-11 a.m., but visitors may be limited.

Visitors may visit any day between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. In normal circumstances we limit visitors at the bedside to two people at one time, but more may be allowed in certain circumstances. Please discuss with the nurse.

Mental Health Inpatient Unit

Visitors may visit Monday to Friday from 4-8 p.m., and weekends from 12-8 p.m. Additional restrictions may apply, please consult your nurse.

Childbirth Program

Here is what you need to know about visiting QCH

Queensway Carleton Hospital is currently in low visitor restrictions:

• Two individuals (visitors or essential care partners) can be present at the bedside at the same time.
• Medicine Patients may have up to two visitors at a time, preferably between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Restrictions apply for Childbirth, Mental Health, Surgery and ICU. See below for details.
• Every patient can identify two Essential Care Partners who will have access to that patient even if a visitor is present. The patient should identify them to their clinical team.
• For outpatients, one Essential Care Partner may be permitted if they can be safely accommodated.
• For the Emergency Department, a maximum of two persons may accompany the patient if space permits.

Policies you need to know:

• Staff, volunteers, patients, and families are required to wear a mask at all times in clinical areas, such as patient rooms, the Emergency Department, clinics, and waiting rooms.

• Masks are recommended but not required in public areas outside of clinical areas, such as hallways, elevators, cafeterias, and coffee shops.

• Masks will continue to be available throughout the hospital for all who need or want them. If you would like your care provider to wear a mask in other areas of the hospital, please let them know. We will support those who choose to wear a mask because they feel vulnerable or to keep their loved ones safe. Liberal use of masks is part of our new normal.

• All essential care partners and visitors must pass self-screening upon entry and must not be showing signs of any COVID-19 symptoms.

• Essential care partners and visitors must follow safety guidelines as outlined by the staff for the duration of their visit.

• Only one care partner is permitted on a unit if it's on an outbreak. Updates on outbreaks can be found on our COVID-19 page.

Handwashing 

Whether you are a patient, visitor or staff, when you arrive at Queensway Carleton Hospital, you will see handwash stations set up at each entrance and outside patient rooms. We are asking all patients and visitors to wash their hands before and after entering the hospital and before and after entering a patient room.

Self-screening

Here is a checklist of questions to ask yourself before entering QCH. Do you have:

• A new cough (not associated with your current illness)

• A fever

• Shortness of breath (worse than usual)

• Severe headache (worse than usual)

• Unexplained muscle aches

• Unexplained extreme fatigue

• Vomiting and/or diarrhea

 Please postpone your visit if you have experienced these symptoms in the last 72 hours.

Mask requirements

All our patients, visitors, volunteers, and essential care partners must wear a medical-grade mask in clinical areas such as patient rooms, the Emergency Department, clinics, and waiting rooms.

If a patient or Essential Care Partners (ECP) is unable to wear a mask, staff will ask if there is any ability to wear a mask temporarily for movement through occupied spaces in the facility. If the patient or ECP is unable to tolerate a mask for any period, a face shield will be offered or staff will ask the individual to stand at least 6 feet away from all other persons and will contact a member of the clinical team who will further discuss the limitations, including medical exemptions. Those patients who are unable to wear a face shield will be accommodated to the extent possible. Efforts will be made to find an appropriate location in which the patient can wait for their assessment. All triage decisions in the Emergency Department are based on the presenting medical issue for the patients. A patient’s inability to wear a mask is not a factor in speeding the assessment of that patient ahead of others.

Units in outbreak

If a unit is experiencing an outbreak, there will be increased visitor restrictions 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, please consult with unit staff.

Communication

Patient Line: 613-721-2593. Call this number to speak to the patient if they do not have access to a cell phone. This is a common phone line for all patients on the unit. Only patients answer this phone; you may tell whoever answers the phone the patient's name, and someone will call them to the phone or else leave a message.

Nursing Station: 613-721-2000 ext. 2860. Call this number to speak to a staff person. Keep in mind that the patient must give permission for staff to provide you with information regarding their care.

Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Visitors may visit Sunday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (we may limit the number at the bedside depending on the patient’s condition). Flowers and plants are not permitted in the ICU.

Cafeteria

The hospital's cafeteria is located on Level 1 of the Main Building. Breakfast and lunch are available Monday to Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

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