Vitalité Health Network adjusting to the transition to Orange level in the Edmundston region (Zone 4)
Edmundston, Friday, December 11, 2020 – Due to the transition to Orange level in Zone 4 (Edmundston region) and the COVID-19 outbreak at the Edmundston Regional Hospital, Vitalité Health Network announces a temporary reduction of some services and a suspension of visits for the Edmundston Regional Hospital, the Grand Falls General Hospital and the Hôtel-Dieu-Saint-Joseph de Saint-Quentin.
Visits prohibited
Visits are prohibited at the Edmundston Regional Hospital, the Grand Falls General Hospital, and the Hôtel-Dieu-Saint-Joseph de Saint-Quentin, except in the following cases:
- Visits will be restricted to one designated visitor per patient at the Obstetric, Pediatric and Intensive Care units and to two designated visitors (one at a time) for Palliative Care (end-of-life) patients;
- As for patients who will receive medical assistance in dying, the presence of two designated visitors will be allowed (one at a time), except in exceptional cases where one of the visitors would require assistance to go to the patient’s bedside.
Temporary reduction of Patient services
In accordance with the provisions of the Orange level of New Brunswick's Recovery Plan, some ambulatory care services and elective surgeries will be reduced temporarily at the Edmundston Regional Hospital, the Grand Falls General Hospital and the Hôtel-Dieu-Saint-Joseph de Saint-Quentin. "These measures allow us to continue our investigative work while preparing for a potential influx of COVID-19 patients," said Dr. France Desrosiers, President and CEO of the Network.
For the moment, the Network is asking people in Zone 4 to present for their hospital appointments at the scheduled date and time. In the event that certain services would be impacted, the Network will contact those directly affected to postpone their appointments to a later date.
Reduced Traffic at Emergency Departments
The Network would like to underline that the emergency departments of the Edmundston Regional Hospital, the Grand Falls General Hospital and the Hôtel-Dieu-Saint-Joseph de Saint-Quentin are open for people who require emergency care and want to see a doctor. However, we ask that people whose health condition does not require urgent care make an appointment with their family doctor or nurse practitioner, consult with their community pharmacist, visit a walk-in clinic or call Tele-Care (811).
Health care Workers Screening and Isolation
The Network is conducting a massive screening of employees at the Edmundston Regional Hospital. The exercise began yesterday and could continue until December 13. The Network confirms that 24 of its health care workers in the Edmundston region are currently in isolation due to a positive COVID-19 result or close contact with a confirmed or potential case.
The Network also reiterates the importance of Public Health measures to ensure everyone’s safety: respect distancing measures (two metres), wash your hands often and wear a mask.
