Horizon introducing updated COVID-19 screening process

(HORIZON) – Horizon is introducing a new screening process at its hospitals and health care facilities.

Beginning today, patients, social visitors and designated support persons (DSPs), who are essential partners in care, will be required to self-screen for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses prior to entering a Horizon facility.

Patients, DSPs and social visitors will be required to review a series of questions about respiratory virus symptoms and other potential risks.

• Patients who fail screening are advised to go directly to their appointment and inform staff that they have failed screening.
• DSPs who fail screening are advised not to enter and contact the nursing unit for further direction.
• Social visitors who fail screening are not to enter the facility.

A screener will remain stationed at all entrances to answer any questions related to the self-screening process.

This change in process does not apply to Horizon’s Emergency Departments or Urgent Care Centres, where active screening will remain in place to ensure symptomatic patients are separated from other patients in these waiting areas.

Screening is in place to help protect our patients, staff and physicians. Horizon continues to ask the public to help protect our patients and health care workers by answering the screening questions honestly and respectfully.

If you are a social visitor or DSP and are not feeling well, please do not visit a Horizon hospital or health care facility.

If you are a patient and have an appointment or are seeking care, please continue to attend and inform your health care team.

Patients, social visitors and DSPs will continue to be required to wear a clean medical grade face  mask in a Horizon hospital or health care facility, which will be provided at screening, and asked to perform hand hygiene.

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