A mandatory COVID vaccination policy for staff and physicians at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance is now in place, but what about visitors?
CEO Lori Marshall says while nothing’s been set into motion yet, the organization will be turning its focus to essential care partners at some point.
“It is not something we have currently in place,” Marshall says. “It is something we have identified that we will turn our attention to after we have completed our mandatory vaccination policy and implemented for all staff and physicians, we will be looking to visitors but I can’t say at this time what direction that will take.”
Some hospitals and health care organizations in other regions, including Windsor and Sarnia, have already implement mandatory vaccination for essential caregivers.
Most inpatients at CKHA are currently allowed two consistent essential care partners under the organization’s visitor policy, and all visitors must go through COVID-19 screening whenever they come to the hospital.