Montfort and COVID-19

While most masking requirements are being lifted in Ontario, all staff members, patients and visitors must continue to wear a mask in all clinical areas of the hospital. Masks remain recommended in public and non clinical areas, like hallways and the cafeteria.

For more details on these directives, click here.

How do visits work?

There are visitors' restrictions at the moment.

For the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and most other care units:

• Visiting hours: between 11:00 am and 8:00 pm.
• Two visitors at a time
• There are no restrictions on the number of visitors during the stay.

For patients with COVID-19:

No visitors are permitted in the following instances (except in exceptional circumstances):

• When a patient is in isolation awaiting a COVID test result;
• If the patient has a positive COVID-19 result (with exceptions for compassionate reasons); - If the patient is in a unit where there is a COVID-19 outbreak. Check the status of outbreaks in units in the "Outbreak Management" section of this page.

For the Emergency Department:

• One accompanying person may be allowed in the Emergency Department, according to the patient's condition, or two people in the case of a newborn or a child.

For patients with an appointment: 

• One person may accompany a patient who has an appointment.

For persons accompanying a child or newborn to an appointment or Emergency Department:

• Two persons may accompany a patient who has an appointment.

For the Family Birthing Center:

• Two persons are permitted at the bedside of the person giving birth;
• After the birth:
  • Visiting Hours: 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm;
  • Visits are limited to a maximum of two people at a time (including the attendant);
    Please note: only children 12 years and older are allowed to visit the unit.
• There are no restrictions on the number of outings.

Nursery:

• Access is restricted to parents (or designated persons). Exceptions may be made with the agreement of the Care Facilitator.
• Both parents may visit the nursery at the same time.

To be designated as a caregiver

Speak with the patient's charge nurse to be designated as a caregiver. To do so, call 613-746-4621 and press 0. Tell our operator the name of your loved one and ask to speak to their charge nurse.

Exceptional circumstances

There are certain exceptions that allow for the presence of a loved one:

• For hospitalized patients : end-of-life patient, etc. The days, hours and length of visits can be adjusted to suit the patient's needs. Each situation will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
• Emergency Room: for accessibility or communication barrier, etc. Please discuss this with the nurse at the Emergency reception desk if you have any concerns. 
• Patients with appointments: for accessibility or language barrier, etc. If an accompanying person is required, please mention it when making the appointment, and the team will evaluate your request according to the patient's needs. 
• Family Birthing Centre: the person permitted at the bedside of the person giving birth is exempt from proof of immunization.  
• Medical exemption: Visitors with proof of medical exemption to vaccination 

To talk to a patient

We encourage family and friends of hospitalized patients to stay in regular contact with their loved one, as each patient has access to a telephone in their room.

• To reach a patient, call 613-746-4621 and enter the room phone number.
• If you do not know the patient's room number, call 613-746-4621 and press 0.
• We also launched a new service to help you connect with a patient.

Questions and answers

What's a care partner? 

An essential care partner is not a visitor. It is a support person whose presence is deemed essential to the safety and well-being of a patient in the hospital. It is someone who can help with activities of daily living and contribute to the patient's care. For example, helping with meals and personal care.

Essential care partners:

• must not have symptoms of COVID-19 or respiratory infection
• must not have tested positive for COVID-19 or be awaiting test results
• are not allowed in outbreak areas
• are not allowed for patients who have tested positive for COVID-19, are awaiting test results, or are in post-exposure isolation

Exceptions may be made in exceptional circumstances.

How can I be added to the list of designated care partners?

If your loved one is hospitalized at Montfort and requires the presence of a care partner, 

• Call 613-746-4621, press 0. 
• Tell our operator what your loved one's name is and ask to speak to the nurse in charge of their care.
• The charge nurse will assess the situation on a case-by-case basis.

Can children visit a Montfort patient?

This depends on the circumstances. Talk to the nurse in charge of your loved one. 

• Please note that children are not allowed at the Family Birthing Centre.
• All children must be constantly supervised by the accompanying adult and must be able to follow the instructions of the staff members.
• If staff members determine that a child cannot meet these requirements, they will ask the parent and child to leave the hospital.

What are the rules while I'm visiting someone at Montfort?

Our staff will ask you screening questions when you arrive at the main entrance, to assess whether you have symptoms or are at risk of infection. 

At your first visit, you will be given instructions on good practices and then sign a "Care Partner Access Card" confirming that you have seen and understood instructions and that you agree to follow them. 

We will provide you with a mask at the main entrance.

• In the hospital, you must wear this mask at all times. 

• Do not touch your mask. If you touch it, wash your hands.

• If you need to take the mask off for a few moments to eat or drink, make sure you are at a distance of two metres (six feet) from the person you are visiting, other patients and staff.

Keep your movements around the hospital as short as possible.

• Keep a distance of 2 meters (6 feet) from others. 

• Elevators are limited to three people at a time. If the elevator is already occupied, wait for the next one.

• When arriving at the unit, stop at the station to advise the clerk of your presence and sign the visitors registry.

If your loved one is identified as requiring "additional precautions" due to an infection:

• A sign will be posted on his or her room door.

• Unit staff will explain how to put on personal protective equipment before entering the room and how to remove it when you leave.

You must wash your hands when entering and leaving the room.

You can help your loved one to eat or sit down while wearing your mask.

Leave the hospital as soon as your visit is over. Go to the exit by the same route you took when you arrived. When you leave the hospital, wash your hands, remove and discard your surgical mask, and then wash your hands again. 

Thank you for your support in keeping our patients and our team members safe.