Riverside Health Care

The Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, is taking further action to protect the health and safety of residents, staff and from COVID-19 and the Omicron variant.  This is necessary to provide optimal safety and support while balancing the mental and emotional well-being of patients, residents and their families, and to safeguard the staff who are critical to providing care.

Accordingly, Riverside Health Care (RHC) has likewise adjusted its COVID-19 visitation requirements for Long Term Care (Rainycrest), Acute Care (LaVerendrye Hospital –LVGH) and combined Long Term Care and Acute Care (Emo Health Centre and Rainy River Health Centre)

Visitor and Vaccination Requirements

General Visitors and Caregivers

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination status must be shown to be considered vaccinated.

Long-term care sites:

•    Vaccinated visitors require rapid antigen testing two (2) times a week
•    Unvaccinated visitors require rapid antigen testing prior to entering the home

Acute care sites:

•    Vaccinated visitors do not require rapid antigen testing 
•    Unvaccinated visitors require rapid antigen testing prior to entering the hospital

 Up to four (4) fully vaccinated visitors at a time will be allowed entry (includes caregivers).

 Fullly vaccinated means: the full series of a COVID-19 vaccine authorized by Health Canada, or any combination of such vaccines, OR  one or two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine not authorized by Health Canada, followed by one dose of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine authorized by Health Canada, OR three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine not authorized by Health Canada.

Exemptions

 All sites:

•     Valid medical exemption
•     Palliative end of life situations

 Acute Care:

•     Patient in labour
•     Emergency Department patients
•     Patients in critical condition
•     Paediatric patients less than 18 years of age – 1 caregiver
•     Patients with cognitive, mental health, or behavioural issues that impact the care team’s ability to provide safe care – 1 caregiver

For these exempted cases, a negative rapid antigen test will be required prior to visiting, if unvaccinated.

Rapid Antigen Testing Requirements

 All sites will require all staff, contract staff, students, volunteers and caregivers/general visitors to have a negative rapid antigen test regardless of vaccination status.

Rainycrest Long Term Care Caregivers and Acute Care (LVGH) ALC Caregivers please call the COVID-19 Assessment Centre at 807-274-3261 ext 4913 to book regular appointments for rapid antigen tests.

Emo Health Centre and Rainy River Health Centre will provide rapid antigen testing onsite when you present for your visit.

General Visitors tests can be completed at the site you are visiting or by appointment at the Covid-19 Assessment Centre.  Please note very limited capacity for testing on Sundays at Rainycrest.

With this new process there could be a delay in the screening process to accommodate rapid antigen testing, please be patient and respectful as we adjust to this new process.

Rapid antigen testing is not required for those registering for care or appointments.

Visiting Hours

LaVerendrye General Hospital: 11:00 am – 8:00 pm

Rainycrest Long Term Care: Monday-Saturday: 10:00 am – 8:00pm, Sunday 10:00 am - 6:00 PM

Emo Health Centre: 11:00 am – 4:00pm

Rainy River Health Centre: 11:00 am – 4:00pm

• Urgent Care Clinic closed.

• Patients presenting at Emergency may have one(1) designtaed visitor/suypport person with them in the Emergency Department. 

• Front street doors open 6am to 8pm daily.  After 8pm essential visitors and patients must enter the building via the emergency entrance.