Visitors to STEGH

Visitors to STEGH

Family members and care partners are an important part of a patient’s recovery process. St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital supports patient and family-centered care and  recognizes the importance of family and caregiver presence for the health and well-being of our patients. Visiting is based on the condition, care needs, and expressed wishes of each patient, and may vary from one day to the next as the patient's condition changes or improves. Guidelines are subject to change during periods of high-risk (i.e. increased respiratory illness, measles, Public Health regulations and Provincial Infection Control guidance) and during respiratory season (October – April).

Visiting Guidelines 

Inpatients:

  • Up to two (2) visitors at the bedside at a time.
  • Visiting hours are flexible and guided by the patient’s care needs and unit activity. Patients, families, and Care Partners are encouraged to consult with the Team Lead/Clinical Resource Nurse (CRN) to determine appropriate visiting times.
  • Children under 12 years of age are permitted to visit in consultation with the care team.
  • Care partners supporting patients overnight (8:00 p.m. – 8:00 a.m.) are asked to remain in the patient’s room and notify staff when entering or leaving the unit.
  • All visitors and Care Partners are expected to follow STEGH’s Code of Conduct and treat patients, families, staff, physicians, volunteers, and others with courtesy and respect. Behaviour that interferes with safe, compassionate care will not be tolerated.

Patients who are acutely palliative, actively dying or critically ill:

  • Unlimited visitors, visiting two (2) at a time.
  • Anytime 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Obstetrical patients, pediatric patients, Special Care Nursery patients and women in labour:

  • Two (2) visitors permitted for duration of labour and/or stay.
  • Doula, birthing coach or support person for surrogate are permitted to attend birth in addition to the two (2) visitors.
  • Obstetric Triage: One (1) visitor at a time.
  • Post-natal: Up to two (2) visitors permitted at a time.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit:

  • Parents and siblings aged 6+ may visit the NICU, with a maximum of two visitors at a time (e.g., one parent and one sibling). Due to space limitations, only two additional relatives identified by the parents may visit, and these individuals must remain consistent throughout the infant's stay. Further restrictions may occur during periods of unit outbreak.
  • Visitors under the age of 18 years, other than siblings of the baby, may not visit the NICU.
  • Family members supporting a patient between the overnight hours of 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. are asked to remain in the patient’s room and advise unit staff when coming to and leaving the unit.

Outpatients and Emergency Department:

  • One (1) visitor to accompany the patient at any time.

Visitors who feel unwell should not enter the hospital (unless seeking care in the Emergency Department, or if prior approval has been granted by a leader, i.e. visiting a patient who is critically ill or palliative, or a woman in labour). Please postpone visiting loved ones until you are feeling well.

Hospital Entry 

Entry hours:

  • South Entrance: Open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Weekends open 11:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.)
  • East Entrance: Open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Weekends open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.)
  • North Entrance: Open 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Closed on weekends)
  • Emergency Entrance: Open 24/7

Mask Friendly

STEGH is "mask-friendly". This means wearing a mask will be up to you. Masks are available at all hospital entrances for those who wish to wear one. We respect and support everyone’s masking choice.

To locate a patient or department, please refer to the maps posted at all hospital entrances, ask a volunteer, or contact switchboard (519-631-2030, ext. 0).

Guidelines for Visitors:

  • Please wash your hands or use the available liquid sanitizer when entering and exiting the hospital.
  • Do not visit if you are ill or have been in contact with a person with a contagious illness (e.g. respiratory illness with fever, colds, chicken pox, flu)
  • Help us maintain a Scent Free environment. Please do not bring strongly scented flowers (i.e. Easter lilies) or use heavily scented body products (e.g. perfumes, lotion) when visiting. Flowers are not allowed in the Intensive Care Unit.
  • Do not bring latex balloons. Mylar foil balloons may be purchased in the Hospital Gift Shop or at a florist.
  • The hospital is a Smoke Free Environment. Anyone wishing to smoke will be required to leave Hospital property. The property line is defined as city maintained sidewalks or beyond the tree line should there be no sidewalk. Patients requiring assistance to leave the property to smoke will require a family member to assist them.