MANITOULIN—Manitoulin Health Centre (MHC) has moved forward with the latest provincial directives for Ebola, including patient/visitor risk screening and with increased staff protection, despite the low risk of local transmission.
Patients and visitors to MHC’s two sites will notice new signs around the hospitals with screening steps in place, designed to identify those who may be at increased risk for Ebola infection.
The screening is designed to identify those who have travelled recently to potential problem areas and who may be showing symptoms, including fever.
In addition, MHC’s Ebola Readiness Committee has been moving forward with plans across many departments, leading the various steps that would be required to safely handle the assessment, initial treatment and transfer of a positive case to Health Sciences North in Sudbury (the designated treatment site for Northern Ontario). Initial stocks of gloves, gowns, masks and other types of personal protective equipment (PPE) are on hand to aid in staff safety. Training for staff in the proper use of PPE is a priority for the Readiness Committee.
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Although the risk of contracting Ebola remains low in Ontario, local hospitals are working closely with the Ministry of Health, Public Health, the North-East Local Health Integration Network and the Ontario Hospital Association to make sure the local health system is ready to respond to any potential increases in positive cases in the province.
