COVID-19 Bulletin (No. 8 • Mai 8, 2020)

Message from Mr Gilles Lanteigne, President and Chief Executive Officer:

Our province is entering a new phase in the fight against COVID-19 with the gradual transition to the orange phase of the Provincial Recovery Plan.  Let us be clear, this is not a return to pre-pandemic ways, a new normal must take place during this crisis situation.

We have a plan to ensure that health care and services can gradually be delivered while ensuring the safety of patients, families, visitors and health care workers.  It will require openness and adapting to new ways of doing things.  It is by working together that we will succeed.

Some services to resume gradually - Orange Phase

As of Monday, May 11, 2020, some services offered in our hospitals will resume a higher level of activity. These services include elective surgeries, some ambulatory clinics and medical imaging (X-ray) services. 

Services will be provided by appointment only. Patients presenting without an appointment will be asked to return home and contact their health care provider.

Vitalité Health Network will contact patients whose appointments were cancelled due to COVID-19.  However, we are only beginning to reschedule the most critical and urgent services for people who are very ill, such as cancer patients.

Upon arrival for an appointment, all patients will be screened for COVID-19 and asked to wear a mask and wash their hands.  Home-made masks and face covers are accepted for people who do not show COVID-19 related symptoms.

Patient visits still prohibited

The Network would like to remind the public that patient visits are prohibited across its facilities, except for palliative care (or end of life) patients, pediatric patients and obstetrical patients. In these cases, only one healthy immediate family member or designated care partner is allowed to visit.  This policy is currently being reassessed and some adjustments will be made in the near future.