Page 13 - GBGH Foundation Newsletter - Summer 2020

AN UPDATE FROM GBGH

PRESIDENT AND CEO GAIL HUNT

To say the past few months have been challenging is We have already begun several
certainly an understatement. The COVID-19 pandemic has elective surgeries, as well as
caused us to reinvent how we do things, adding layers of procedures in Endoscopy and
complexity to our day-to-day functioning. Ambulatory Care, all which have
gone very smoothly.
We have been very fortunate in our region to not have
experienced the same volume of COVID patients as larger With more people coming to the hospital for procedures,
cities have. This has given our GBGH team time to evolve our patients may find their experience different than they
hospital operations to meet current and potential demand if anticipate. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and
a surge of COVID patients were to need GBGH’s services. patience as new precautions may make some processes
slower than usual. Detailed screening, universal masking
Our preparedness strategy has included designating “cold” and changing the flow of traffic in the hospital have all been
and “hot” zones for the care of non-COVID, and presumptive done to ensure the safety of our patients and staff.
or confirmed COVID patients. This means physically dividing
some areas of the hospital, including the Emergency To ensure safety during the initial weeks of the pandemic,
department, an inpatient unit and the ICU, and also GBGH implemented visitor restrictions in mid-March. This is
purchasing some new equipment. never a decision we take lightly as we know how important
in-person support from loved ones can be to the patient
As you’ve seen through our advocacy efforts, GBGH is not a experience. To help ensure patients and families still feel
hospital sitting on an abundant surplus from which to make connected, we’ve offered complimentary TV, phone and
these purchases. It’s a struggle to balance being fiscally internet service, established an email message delivery
modest with being prepared to face a patient surge due to program – Thinking of You – and have launched a virtual
the pandemic. visitation service.

On June 11, GBGH received approval to proceed with Phase 1 These communication channels have helped ease some of
of our plan to resume some surgical and diagnostic imaging the physical distance between patients and loved ones, but
procedures. we know it’s not the same as having them at the bedside.
In the coming weeks, GBGH looks forward to evaluating
how we can make safe visitation a reality for patients once
again.

Gail Hunt
President & CEO
Georgian Bay General Hospital
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