LaVerendrye General Hospital (LVGH) in Fort Frances is at the centre of a comprehensive, regional plan to cope with an outbreak of COVID-19.
Over the past five weeks, Riverside clinical leaders have worked to increase its care capacity, staffing and Personal Protective Equipment supplies, in anticipation of a potential outbreak. Through some forward planning, they are in a good place to weather an increase in cases. But work is ongoing.
Personal Protective Equipment shortages in the healthcare sector have made headlines globally. The equipment, including masks and gloves, is used daily by healthcare personnel to protect themselves, patients, and others.
“In early January as part of our COVID-19 preparedness, Riverside’s supply chain team began obtaining additional PPE. This initial risk mitigating practice allowed for us to optimize our PPE supply early on,” said Henry Gauthier, Riverside President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). “However, we are still met with increased challenges and significant measures continue to be made by our team to secure supplies. We have developed multiple strategies that identify and extend PPE. These optimization strategies will offer us options when PPE supplies are stressed, running low, or absent.”
Contingency strategies are also in place that can help stretch PPE supplies when shortages are anticipated for the most critical needs. This includes preserving and storing used PPE in order for it to be recycled according to reprocessing standards.
Presently, the majority of all PPE products are being monitored and circulated by the Federal and Provincial Governments to ensure distribution is only being directed where there is immediate need.
The Ontario Government announced earlier this week, the creation of a provincial database, which will enable hospitals facing increased demand, to find the equipment they need. They are also providing same-day delivery to hospitals.
“Ontario has been procuring vital supplies and personal protective equipment through its traditional suppliers and donations, as well as working in collaboration with the federal government, other provinces, and Ontario’s manufacturers. On Saturday, Alberta committed to send Ontario 250,000 N95 masks, 2.5 million surgical masks, 15 million surgical gloves, 87,000 safety goggles, and 50 ventilators,” the government said in a press release.
Riverside has been on the receiving end of those ventilators. In Mid-March it was reported that Riverside had five ventilators, and have since secured an additional Transport Ventilator.
“We continue to actively monitor the availability of ventilators which is administered by the Province, and other local solutions,” said Gauthier.
Under Riverside’s COVID-19 plan, LVGH would be at the centre of care, with patients transferred from across the west end of the district for care, according to Gauthier. The creation of isolation areas, and the use of existing negative pressure rooms, will become designated spaces to treat COVID-19 cases, he said.
In addition to our negative-pressure/isolation rooms at LVGH, “sectioned off areas and isolation barriers have also been established throughout the facility to minimize the spread of infection. These measures ensure we provide an appropriate care environment for COVID-19 infected patients and ensures safety of patients, staff and physicians,” added Julie Loveday, Vice President, Clinical Services & CNE.
LVGH offers an intermediate level of care for patients, including cardiac monitoring and mechanical ventilation. The Intermediate care unit has three beds, staffed by specialty trained Registered Nurses. LVGH currently has 60 acute care beds. In the event of an outbreak, Riverside’s surge plan includes expansion for an additional 10 acute beds, as necessary.
As part of our Emergency Response Plan, Riverside has worked in partnership with the municipality to make a plan for even more space, if needed. It would utilize the Memorial Sports Centre as an alternative care centre to handle overflow should a virus surge beyond hospital capacity. The arena could be used for testing, patient overflow, treatment care, food service, storage or any other operational and support needs this is part of a more comprehensive surge strategy, said Gauthier.
Staffing has been a concern across Canada, and Riverside is no different. Due to new requirements placed on staff, including working at a single Riverside facility/site and a limit of one employer, Riverside resources have become more constrained.
“We have designated nursing staff to areas to prevent cross contamination,” said Loveday. “For example, obstetrical nurses will not work with COVID-19 patients. This includes nursing staff break rooms.
Recruitment efforts have increased in areas where we are increasing activity, such as high touch cleaning, with housekeeping or where we our staffing challenges have intensified, like food services, PSWs, and nursing.
Riverside is engaging recently retired staff and physicians to determine their willingness to offer service as needs may arise, she added.
