St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital
189 Elm Street N5R 5C4 Saint Thomas, ON, Canada

They have started to assemble the awning at our COVID-19 Assessment Centre. When finished, the awning will be enclosed to keep those coming for testing out of the elements while they wait safely outdoors. Thank you St Thomas Canvas & Awning.

Staff in our Emergency Department are once again celebrating "Twelve Docs of Christmas". Each day, for 12 days leaving up to Christmas Eve, the Emergency Department Nurses, Clerks and Emergency Department Assistants provide each physician with a gift bag during their shift. They love this team building act of kindness!

In lieu of a staff children's party this year, we challenged our little elves to enter a colouring contest... and received 99 submissions! Eight entries were randomly selected to receive gift cards from Toys R Us. Our staff have talented kids!

Yesterday, the Southwestern Public Health region moved to Restrict-orange. In response to this shift and to ensure the safety of our patients and families, changes have been made to our visiting practices and Family Presence Guidelines. Learn more: https://www.stegh.on.ca/pat/visiting-patient/visiting-hours

COVID-19 Assessment Centre at St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital HOLIDAY HOURS OF OPERATION - By appointment only. Wednesday, December 23, 2020 - 8 AM to 6 PM Thursday, December 24, 2020 - 8 AM to 4 PM... Friday, December 25, 2020 - 12 PM to 4 PM Saturday, December 26, 2020 - 10 AM to 6 PM Sunday, December 27, 2020 - 8 AM to 6 PM Monday, December 28, 2020 - 8 AM to 6 PM Tuesday, December 29, 2020 - 8 AM to 6 PM Wednesday, December 30, 2020 - 8 AM to 6 PM Thursday, December 31, 2020 - 8 AM to 4 PM Friday, January 1, 2021 - 12 PM to 4 PM Saturday, January 2, 2021 - 10 AM to 6 PM Sunday, January 3, 2021 - 8 AM to 6 PM See more

If only there was a way to protect yourself against COVID-19. Wait! There are several: - Wear a mask - Keep a safe distance (2 metres, please!) - Stay home if you feel unwell... - Wash your hands often - Limit the number of visitors in your home See more

Elgin County Midwives is a new Midwifery Practice opening its doors next week - on December 1. It is one of only two new practices approved in Ontario in 2020! Check them out: www.elgincountymidwives.com At STEGH, we are pleased to work collaboratively with these midwives.

Effective TODAY, new restrictions are in place for our region as we move to the Orange-Restrict stage under the Keeping Ontario Safe & Open Framework. Learn more: https://www.ontario.ca//covid-19-response-framework-keepin

VISITING UPDATE: We are suspending general visiting effective today at 12:00 noon. This decision is in response to a rapidly increasing number of COVID-19 cases in our community and region, and is a precaution to keep patients, families and our health care teams safe as transmission rates rise and risk a crisis point for hospitals. We recognize the impact of isolation for patients and families during this difficult time and we are doing everything we can to help patients an...d loved ones stay connected. More details are available on our website: https://www.stegh.on.ca/pat/visiting-patient/visiting-hours

To trick or treat or not? Dr. Lock shares her recommendation on behalf of Southwestern Public Health

To the incredible artist(s) in our community that dropped off bags of these adorable rock creations this morning, THANK YOU! Such a lovely gesture of kindness to brighten our day.

When COVID began and safety measures increased, our Volunteer Program was placed on hold. Lisa Minielly, Specialist in Volunteer Services, had to adapt her role in response to the continuously changing environment. We are so lucky to have Lisa on our team, and we think our fabulous volunteers would agree as well! #thankfulthursday

Today, we're talking storage and distribution in our Medical Device Reprocessing Department (MDRD). MDRD Assistants deliver case carts filled with specific instruments and items required for procedures in the Operating Room.

When we think of all the ways we keep our patients safe in hospital, this highly skilled team is top of mind. Through the pandemic, their responsibilities have expanded in many ways to support our patients and staff. We salute our Security team on #ThankfulThursday Paladin Security

Today is #GlobalHandwashingDay! Washing your hands has never been more important. To mark this occasion, we're bringing back a video that we developed several months ago. Enjoy! https://vimeo.com/413711302 (Note: This video was created prior to the mandatory masking policy, we're simply sharing it again).

We are hiring for a Manager, Ambulatory Services. Visit our website to learn more about the type of candidate we're looking for: https://cho.tbe.taleo.net/cho//careers/v2/viewRequisition Deadline to apply is September 29.

...because who doesn't want a pink pumpkin? So cool! Pick yours up tomorrow night and support the Breast Assessment Program at STEGH!

When scheduling appointments at our COVID-19 Assessment Centre, priority is given to people with symptoms of COVID-19, those working in health care/long-term care, and those with an upcoming surgery. *Please advise in your email or phone message if you have symptoms, work in health care or have surgery pending. More details: https://www.stegh.on.ca/in-the-c/covid-19-assessment-centre

Join us on Sept 24 for a virtual "doc talk" and learn more about diagnostic imaging at STEGH! Register by email: [email protected]

At STEGH, visits to our COVID-19 Assessment Centre are by appointment only. We schedule appointments based on priority. For example, those with symptoms of COVID-19, health care workers, long term care workers, and those scheduled for upcoming surgery. https://london.ctvnews.ca//london-looking-to-st-thomas-onl

We're taking the pledge to protect our loved ones and our community from COVID-19. Are YOU? #stopthespread https://www.ontariocovidpledge.ca/

In keeping with MDRD Week, we're explaining the Assembly and Sterilization processes today. MDRD Assistants inspect instruments for cleanliness and function, assemble them into "sets" to be used for procedures, and package them for sterilization. Before releasing the sterilized instruments for use, our MDRD Assistants verify that strict parameters are achieved.

Robert Biron, our President & CEO spoke with CTV London this morning about our COVID-19 Assessment Centre, wait times and how to book an appointment. Be sure to watch CTV London & visit our website for more info: https://www.stegh.on.ca/in-the-c/covid-19-assessment-centre #Covid19 #assessmentcentre

Although we appreciate our emergency nurses year round, we take a moment this Emergency Nurses Week to recognize these heroes for making a difference throughout an incredibly difficult year. THANK YOU to our emergency nurses for their commitment to care. #HeartofGold #ENWeek #ENDay

The weather is going to be perfect this week for a run! YOU can do it!

A Medical Device Reprocessing Department has five main areas of work: Decontamination, Assembly, Sterilization, Storage & Distribution and Endoscopy. Let's take a closer look at Decontamination... MDRD Assistant's must sort, disassemble, manually clean and inspect all instruments before they are cleaned in the automatic washer disinfector. Are YOU considering a career change? MDRD Technicians are in demand!

Coming October 1! You could win BIG in the STEGH Foundation Online 50/50 Raffle!

How can an Occupational Therapist help? - Maintain function so you can live independently or with minimal support; - Regain skills after an illness or injury; - Develop new skills when illness, disability or learning problems interfere with normal skills development; ... - Enable the person you're caring for to do as much as they can safely do for themselves. #otmonth

You can now book an appointment at our COVID-19 Assessment Centre by email: [email protected] Please provide your full name, phone number, Health Card Number and describe any symptoms you are having. An employee will contact you with a scheduled appointment time. To book an appointment by phone: 519-631-2030, ext. 6210. Please do not leave multiple messages as it impacts our ability to return messages in a timely manner. ... *Patients without symptoms of COVID-19 will be scheduled 3-4 days out.

It's MDRD Week! Medical Device Reprocessing Department (MDRD) Assistants are a skilled group of staff that have vast knowledge of the instructions for assembly, disassembly, cleaning & sterilization of reusable medical instruments and devices. Our MDRD staff take pride in the strict reprocessing standards that they adhere to. THANK YOU for the important role that you play in providing safe patient care!... Watch for more posts this week that outline the important work of this team!

Wishing you a safe and wonderful weekend, from all of us at STEGH.

This week, we're celebrating #ThankfulThursday on a Friday, because... well... it's 2020! A HUGE shoutout to our social workers in hospital! These individuals help patients and their families navigate the process of illness and injury, from hospitalization to recovery. In recent months, they have also played a crucial role in supporting staff throughout the pandemic. THANK YOU for all that you do. We couldn't do it without you!

900 apples sorted and ready to be distributed to our hospital staff today. Thank you, Great Lakes Farms for delivering the healthy treats for our hardworking teams.

It may be the last example we're sharing today in celebration of #WorldPatientSafetyDay, but it's not the last example of how we protect our patients from harm while in hospital. At STEGH, everyone plays a role in patient safety. Patientsafety

This morning, Sylvia Jones presented me with a face mask from Ivegotyourback911. They are a great organization from St.Thomas dedicated to creating awareness, eliminating stigma and reducing #PTSD for our First Responders. #OntarioSpirit #ivegotyourback911

We protect our patients by using two patient identifiers. Every time. Canadian Patient Safety Institute ##WorldPatientSafetyDay

We are committed to keeping our patients safe during COVID-19. Patientsafety #WorldPatientSafetyDay

We also protect our patients through medication reconciliation. Patientsafety #WorldPatientSafetyDay

We protect our patients by participating in regular accreditation. DID YOU KNOW? Last year, STEGH achieved Exemplary Standing! Patientsafety #WorldPatientSafetyDay

We protect our patients by using Surgical Safety Checklists. Patientsafety #WorldPatientSafetyDay

#WorldPatientSafetyDay Patientsafety

September is #ProstateCancerAwarenessMonth. DYK? Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Canadian men, affecting 1 in 9 during their lifetime. Learn more about possible risk factors: https://www.cancer.ca//cancer/cancer-type/prostate/risks/ Canadian Cancer Society - Prostate Cancer

Earlier this week, the Middlesex-London Health Unit declared a COVID-19 community outbreak in response to several Western University students testing positive. The students had interactions at downtown bars and restaurants. The Health Unit is advising anyone who may have frequented downtown clubs, bars and restaurants to monitor themselves for symptoms and to get tested should they develop. Prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections:... Ensure your social circle includes a maximum of 10 people Maintain physical distancing of at least two metres Wear masks in enclosed public places Get tested if you are concerned you have COVID-19 or that you may have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 Wash your hands frequently Cough/sneeze into your elbow Clean high-touch areas frequently Download the COVID Alert mobile app See more

This week, we celebrate our year-round heroes of housekeeping. These individuals are faced with one of the most important tasks in the hospital, which is keeping the environment clean and free of germs. This has never been as important as it is now in the middle of a pandemic. THANK YOU to our entire Housekeeping team, for all you do to keep our facility clean and safe. VIDEO: https://vimeo.com/456920872 #housekeepingweek

In addition to it being the first day of school for many, it's also the first day of #SmileCookie Week! Get yours today and support our hospital! #nomnom

The takeaway is simple: Be kind. Always.

It's an exciting week! Kids in Thames Valley District School Board are heading back to class! Be sure to review out these checklists developed by Southwestern Public Health for tips on how to stay safe & healthy throughout the year. #backtoschool2020

Today, as you go about your morning routine, take a few moments to remember the tragic events that took place 19 years ago. We pay tribute to the victims and honour the survivors. #NeverForget #September11 #WeWillNeverForget

Today we recognize World Suicide Prevention Day. In Canada, approximately 11 people die by suicide each day (that's approximately 4,000 deaths by suicide each year). For someone considering suicide, a genuine conversation can make all the difference. When someone is struggling:... - check in with them regularly; see how they are doing - listen supportively to what they have to say - remember that you dont have to have all the answers - know and introduce the resources of their area - be prepared to assist them in finding information, but dont take over as that reinforces their sense of helplessness. https://suicideprevention.ca/Need-Help @CanadianAssociationforSuicidePrevention

Our Transforming Care Office has assumed many additional responsibilities throughout the pandemic. They are our focus today, on #ThankfulThursday

She did it! 12 hours in support of our hospital! Incredible!!!

Incredible! THANK YOU, Angie!

To everyone who is running, walking, supporting and volunteering in the Railway City Road Races, we THANK YOU!

SMILE COOKIES ARE BACK NEXT WEEK!

Help to keep our hospital and community clean. Please dispose of your used face mask in a garbage can. Thank you!

We shared this video a few months ago, but with school starting for most students next week, we thought it was important to share again. Clean hands have never mattered more. https://vimeo.com/413711302

HAPPY LABOUR DAY! Looking for something to do today? Why not register for the RCRR? Its a new virtual format this year, with lots of cool swag up for grabs! Thank you for supporting our hospital!