At Osler we understand the importance of family presence in a patient’s healing and well-being. Throughout the pandemic, we have continually re-evaluated and revised our Visitor and Essential Care Partner Policy with the goal of always balancing the needs of our patients and their loved ones with the health and safety of all those who are cared for, work or volunteer at Osler.
As a health system caring for some of the most vulnerable in our communities, Osler’s masking policy will remain in place until further notice. Wearing a hospital-issued mask while at Osler will continue to be mandatory for all staff, physicians, volunteers, patients and visitors before entering Osler’s facilities to ensure everyone’s ongoing safety. Masks can be picked up from our one of our hand hygiene/masking stations.
Osler does offer a greeting card delivery service for inpatients at Brampton Civic and Etobicoke General. Please complete our greeting card request form, and one of our volunteers will make arrangements to deliver the greeting card to your loved one.
Visitor and Essential Care Partner Policy |
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Our Visitor and Essential Care Partner Policy is as follows (see COVID-19 and outbreak policy exceptions below):
Visitors may be asked to wait in common areas such as our cafeterias or lobby areas due to the space limitations in many of our outpatient wait rooms. When possible, if support isn't needed, we ask that outpatients be dropped off and picked up. Do all units/Osler sites have the same visiting hours?While the visiting hours for most units/Osler sites are 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., there are the following exceptions:
Do I need to schedule a visit?Most visitors do not need to schedule their visits, with the exception of ECPs and visitors to Intensive Care Units, Critical Care Units, and Mental Health Units. Please connect with the patient's clinical manager to schedule a visit to these units. Are there situations in which I may be asked to postpone my visit?Yes, the health and safety of our patients, their loved ones, and our staff, physicians, and volunteers is our top priority so depending on the number of patients in the room and size of the room, you may be asked to visit at a different time to ensure all safety protocols, including physical distancing, can be maintained. Can I visit someone who is COVID-19 positive or is suspected of being COVID-19 positive?Visitors cannot visit with the exception of those visiting a patient at end of life. One approved ECP can visit to provide fundamental care needs. Those approved must:
Can I visit someone who is on a unit that has a declared outbreak?Visitors cannot visit any unit experiencing an outbreak with the exception of those who are visiting a patient at end of life. One approved ECP can visit to provide fundamental care needs. Those approved must:
What guidelines need to be followed when visiting?If you feel unwell with either a persistent cough, shortness of breath, fever, soar throat, or flu-like symptoms or if you have been in contact with a family member (or recent contact) who is self-isolating or has been diagnosed with COVID-19, you should not visit. All visitors will be:
Which entrance should visitors use?Please use the main lobby entrance when visiting either Brampton Civic, Etobicoke General or Peel Memorial. Outpatients and visitors can also enter at entrance B at Brampton Civic. For more information and for rates, see directions and parking. |
Essential care partners |
What is an ECP?An ECP is an essential care partner, usually a family member or friend, who helps support patient care at the bedside, typically for patients at risk of falling and/or who need support in three or more areas of activities of daily living (e.g., eating, going to the bathroom, mobility, cognitive support, etc.). The decision as to whether or not a patient needs an ECP is determined in consultation with the patient’s clinical team. The ECP must be approved by the clinical manager. Is there a special weekly or monthly parking rate for ECPs?Osler offers five-day, 10-day and 30-day flex passes. Each pass includes unlimited in and out privileges over a 24-hour period. Passes can be transferred between ECPs caring for the same patient (ECP and one alternate)
For more information and for rates, see directions and parking. |
Virtual visitation |
Is virtual visitation available?Yes, patients can use their own mobile devices through free guest access hospital-wide WiFi – available at all three hospital sites. We encourage patients to use their mobile devices for Skype, FaceTime and WhatsApp for virtual visits. Patients can also use Family Chat on the Integrated Bedside Terminals (IBT) available in the patient rooms and all units have unit iPads with licensed Zoom that can be used for virtual visitation. To connect with your loved one through Family Chat, you will need to know the Location ID of the IBT. Connect with a patient at Brampton Civic If you are using a computer or laptop, the supported browsers are Chrome, Edge and Opera. Currently, only mobile devices with the Android 10+ operating system with Chrome are supported. Please note that if the patient’s bed location changes, so will their Location ID. Are there any guidelines I need to follow during a virtual visit?Electronic communication is vulnerable to cyber risk. To ensure the privacy and security of patients, virtual visits may not be used for discussions with the health care team. If you have questions for the health care team regarding your loved one’s care, please speak with members of the health care team separately via telephone. To protect the privacy of all involved, the recording of virtual visits is prohibited. In certain circumstances, there may be the need to conclude a virtual visit to protect the privacy of others. |
