Appointments & Visiting

Limited entry in place

As we continue to monitor the COVID-19 activity in our community, we are asking for your help to ensure we can continue to safely support Care Partner visits at NBRHC.

Care partner access is subject to change based on a number of internal and external factors including COVID-19 activity in the community and Health Centre and the individual patient’s progression of care.

To continue to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission and protect our most vulnerable people, NBRHC visitor restrictions are still in place at all its sites. We are now moving to a +1 for inpatients—this direction is based on availability of space to allow for physical distance.

Each inpatient may have one dedicated care partner (plus a designated alternate) for the patient’s length of stay between the hours of 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. or 5 and 8 p.m. (only one entry and one exit each day)

Children could be a dedicated care partner. A care partner who is a child (a young caregiver, defined as children and youth as young as 8 years old) has to be accompanied by one parent, guardian or family member.

Two dedicated visitors are allowed in the building at one time to provide end-of-life support to a patient. These visitors are also not restricted to the two-hour limit and could be different people each day. Everyone must be able to appropriately physically distance.

PREVIOUS RESTRICTIVE ENTRY IS STILL IN PLACE IN OUTPATIENT AREAS (Emergency Department, Outpatient Clinics).

Up to one person may remain with an inpatient or outpatient at all times and is not restricted to the two-hour time limit if they are:

support for a vulnerable patient (under the age of 18, cognitive impairment, significant developmental and/or intellectual disability, unable to effectively communicate)
support for a patient experiencing a life altering event (end of life, critically ill, trauma)

We appreciate the community’s cooperation with this direction and recognize that it is difficult not to visit with friends and family—these are necessary steps for the safety and protection of our patients, staff and physicians.

Please click on the buttons below for specific information for patients and designated care partners during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Is the hospital safe?

Although your patient experience might look a little different, staff and physicians at NBRHC want our communities to know that your Health Centre is open and safe.

If you are sick and need help, the North Bay Regional Health Centre is here for you. Please don’t postpone essential care because of the pandemic.

Stringent health and safety measures are in place to protect the well-being of all patients and designated care partners.

What safety measures are in place at NBRHC?

We have taken a number of measures during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the safety and well-being of our patients and those providing care to them, including:

Designated entrances for entry and exit
Screening before entry for respiratory illnesses (including COVID-19)
Everyone will be asked to sanitize their hands and will be provided with a mask to wear the entire time they are in our facility
Floor markings, signage and barriers as well as fewer seats in waiting areas to manage traffic and practise physical distancing
Enhanced cleaning of elevators, door handles and common areas

Is there screening for patients and designated care partners entering the building?

Patients and visitors are screened before entry for respiratory illnesses (including COVID-19). Active screening is done to keep our patients, staff, physicians, and volunteers safe while also identifying those individuals with symptoms and travel history or possible exposure to a COVID-19 positive case.

Which entrance should patients and designated care partners use?

Patients and care partners can access our 50 College Drive campus using the following entrances. Please note the hours of operation.

Entrance and exit: patients and care partners

Entrance and exit: public accessing Emergency Department services and evenings & weekends

Entrance and exit: public accessing physiotherapy/rehabilitation and appointments in Ophthalmology and Women & Children’s Unit

Due to additional screening activity, please allow extra time upon arrival (approximately 15 minutes). Please note that you might have to wait in line.

For infection prevention and control, once inside the facility, care partners are required to wear a mask at all times. For this reason, we ask that they do not eat or drink with loved ones in their room. Please remain in the patient’s room at all times and limit travel within the building.

Click here for the entry and exit points to Kirkwood (680 Kirkwood Drive, Sudbury, ON).

Do I have to wear a face mask? Can I bring my own?

Patients and designated care partners coming to the health Centre will be provided with a hospital-issued face mask to wear during their visit.

All care partners must wear a mask when in any of the NBRHC facilities and for the duration of their visit. Although the Ministry of Health and North Bay and Sudbury Public Health Units list the conditions and circumstances for exemption from wearing face coverings, NBRHC cannot allow entry of an individual who meets an exemption and can’t wear a mask.

Anyone who present to our screening entrance wearing a homemade mask will be asked to replace with a hospital-issued mask. Your procedural masks should be combined with other key infection prevention and control measures such as hand hygiene and physical distancing.

Tips for safely using a mask