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Hospital ordered to reinstate elective surgery

Sault Area Hospital, and all other Ontario Hospitals outside the Greater Toronto Area, have been ordered tonight to reinstate elective surgeries cancelled this week because of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
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Sault Area Hospital, and all other Ontario Hospitals outside the Greater Toronto Area, have been ordered tonight to reinstate elective surgeries cancelled this week because of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

The following statement was issued at 6:48 p.m. by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care:

***************************************************************** TORONTO, April 3 - Today officials from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care clarified SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) directives for all hospitals outside the GTA. Effective immediately, hospitals outside the GTA are to reinstate all surgical services, including elective, urgent and emergent surgery.

To the extent possible, all out-patient clinics are to reopen, following both universal infection control precautions and SARS screening protocol.

For more information visit: www.health.gov.on.ca

****************************************************************** Fact Sheet - SARS hospital directives

In order to contain the spread of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has directed all Ontario hospitals to undertake a number of procedures.

Greater Toronto Area Hospitals

- Hospitals in the Greater Toronto Area are under very strict controls. This includes all hospitals in Toronto, York, Peel, Halton, and Durham.

- This means hospitals are operating essential services only. The hospitals are still open to receive patients requiring urgent medical attention, but many elective services are suspended or reduced. These hospitals must also create SARS-specific isolation units.

Hospitals outside the GTA

- Hospitals outside the GTA can now continue providing elective services including surgery. These hospitals must plan for the possibility of establishing an isolation unit.

All Ontario hospitals

All hospitals in Ontario are operating under the following conditions:

- Restricted access. Ideally, access is restricted to one staff entrance and one public entrance for each building.

- Controlled entrances staffed by security personnel. - Signs posted on all entrances. - Anyone entering the facility, including healthcare workers, patients, emergency transfer and visitors, must: - Have a valid reason for entry, which includes hospital staff with valid identification, visitors entering on compassionate grounds (such as palliative care, parent of an admitted child, visiting a patient whose death may be imminent, or a partner attending a birth), or patients requiring urgent care. Volunteer and auxiliary staff visits are suspended. - Be screened for SARS. Based on screen, the person may be allowed entry, allowed entry with a mask and isolated until diagnosed, denied access until they have undergone a medical assessment ruling out SARS.

- Ten Day History: After entering the hospital, patients must list all other hospitals they have visited in the last 10 days. This list is maintained by hospital staff to report to local public health authorities if needed to ascertain contacts. - Contacts at the hospital: All patients admitted to the hospital must carry a daily contact sheet they use to record their contact with everyone, listing their names, time of contact, and phone number. This sheet becomes part of the patient's medical record for future follow-up if needed.

- Suspect SARS patients placed in isolation rooms either by themselves or with other SARS patients and treated using contact and respiratory precautions. - Contact with SARS patients: Anyone entering the room of a SARS patient in ANY location must wash their hands and wear N95 mask, isolation gown, gloves, and protective eyewear or face shield. - Health Care Workers: all health care workers with direct contact with any patient in Intensive/Critical Care Units or Emergency Departments must also use SARS contact precautions.

- Health Care Workers with symptoms: any health care worker who develops symptoms while at work must leave their post, notify their supervisor and be assessed immediately by occupational health service or designate.

- Infection Control: Hospitals are under 24-hour Infection Control coverage, including holidays and weekends. - Hand washing: Anyone in any hospital must wash their hands frequently and thoroughly.

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David Helwig

About the Author: David Helwig

David Helwig's journalism career spans seven decades beginning in the 1960s. His work has been recognized with national and international awards.
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