No images? Click here FOR THE ATTENTION OF: Hospital CEOs, Chiefs of Staff/VPs of Medical Affairs, CNEs/CNOs, CHROs, Patient Safety & Quality Leads, Labour Relations Leads, Occupational Health & Safety Leads, HR Leads, Legal Counsel, Communicators and the OHA Board New Interim Recommendations on IPAC Released Today by Public Health Ontario Given the high level of uncertainty regarding transmissibility of the Omicron variant, Public Health Ontario has released new interim recommendations on personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care workers that outline when medical/surgical masks are appropriate and when N95 respirators are preferred.
The recommendations are interim and are expected to be updated as more information is learned about this new variant. Directive 5 may also be updated in the short time ahead to reflect this guidance. OHA Media Statement The OHA released a media statement today that states the hospital sector fully supports these recommendations as a precautionary measure. “The hospital sector is committed to protecting the health and safety of staff and to following the precautionary principle in the face of new scientific uncertainties. OHA Letter to Premier Ford with Recommendation to Declare Public EmergencyOn December 14, the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) sent a letter to Premier Ford recommending that the Government of Ontario once again declare a public emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA). This important step will clearly signal to all Ontarians the seriousness of the situation and the urgent need for people to get vaccinated with a first, second or third dose (if eligible) as well as underscore the need for strict adherence to public health guidance from the Chief Medical Officer of Health. Further, a declaration under the EMCPA provides government with the maximum flexibility for the management and administration of the health system in areas that are not covered by the measures currently in place under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act. Reminder – OHA Member Call with Ontario Health on Thursday Given the new challenges facing the province with the recent rise in COVID-19 cases, the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) is holding a one-hour member call with Ontario Health on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. EST. This call will be used to provide an update on the current situation in Ontario, including impact of the Omicron variant, and to provide updates and hear feedback on the COVID-19 response related to maximizing capacity across the system. The call is intended for senior leaders and pre-registration is required. If you have any questions about registration, please contact mmmacleodhourigan@oha.com Omicron in Ontario, Part 2: Anthony Dale on what's coming for our hospitals Matt Gurney from TVO.org recently interviewed Ontario Hospital Association President and CEO Anthony Dale about Omicron and what kind of shape we are in to combat it. In the interview, Anthony discusses ICU capacity, triage tools, and how to keep our health-care system working. All Ontarians 18+ Eligible for COVID-19 Booster Appointments at Three-Month IntervalOn December 15, the Ontario government announced it is accelerating the booster dose rollout by expanding eligibility to all individuals aged 18 and over, as well as shortening the interval to three months following an individual’s second dose. In addition, to provide an additional layer of protection against COVID-19 and variants during the holiday season, Ontario is launching a holiday testing blitz starting today to offer rapid antigen screening to individuals free of charge at pop-up sites across the province, as well as select LCBO stores across Ontario. Update on Data Reporting for Hospitalizations, ICU Admissions and Vaccination Status Last week, the Ministry of Health (MOH) sent a memo to all hospital CEOs regarding the daily reporting of COVID-19 related hospitalizations, ICU admissions and vaccination status of inpatients through the Health Data Collection Services (HDCS) website - COVID-19 Inpatient Admissions Form (I9). Because of the emerging threat of the Omicron variant, these metrics will become even more important to closely monitor. Recognizing potential resourcing challenges due to the approaching holidays and the ongoing requirement to provide weekend reporting, the MOH continues to assess options for more automated data collection solutions and will be prioritizing this in the new year. In the interim, the MOH is requesting that hospitals maintain timely reporting of this information, and where possible, reporting on weekends/holidays. For questions, please email askhealthdata@ontario.ca with the subject line: “COVID-19 Hospital Vaccination Status Data Collection”. Update on Enhanced Measures for Long-Term Care Homes On December 14, the Ministry of Long-Term Care distributed a memo which outlined temporary enhanced measures needed to reduce the risk of the COVID-19 virus entering long term care homes and to provide optimal safety and support to residents and staff. The following supporting documents were also provided by the Ministry:
* An OHA username and password are required to access the documents above. For a summary of recent OHA member communications, visit the OHA Wrap Up page on Health System News. |