'Not business as usual': Ottawa Hospital making changes to operations amid Omicron wave
The Ottawa Hospital says "It's not business as usual," as it deals with staffing shortages and an increase in patients during the Omicron wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ottawa's largest hospital continues to actively recruit nurses and other health care professionals to support patient care, while using "unconventional spaces" for patients including the hospital gymnasium.
It's been one week since the Ottawa Hospital implemented its next phase of surge plans to deal with increasing patient capacity and staffing pressures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"As the current COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, this wave is unlike anything we have seen during this pandemic, at the hospital & in our community," said the Ottawa Hospital in a statement on Twitter.
"We've had to make changes to how we operate. As much as we hate to say it – it's not business as usual."
The Ottawa Hospital says while the severity of many COVID-19 cases in hospital is lower than in previous waves, "The high transmissibility of Omicron, combined with staffing & space challenges, has created a tremendous strain."
The Ottawa Hospital has implemented new measures to address the rising number of patients, minimize the impact on staff and continue providing acute care, including redeploying staff and physicians to new areas.
CTV News Ottawa reported this week the hospital's surge plans during the Omicron wave includes moving some patients to a gymnasium at the Rehabilitation Centre for treatment.
"Rest assured that our teams have worked extremely hard to identify temporary spaces that could become care areas if needed," said the Ottawa Hospital on Twitter. "They are chosen carefully and are adapted to ensure they are safe and appropriate for patient care."
This week, the Ottawa Hospital issued an urgent request for doctors and medical students to fill in for nurses as the hospital deals with staffing shortages.
"This is a new initiative for The Ottawa Hospital, as part of our overall response to the pandemic. Like other hospitals in the region, TOH is redeploying staff to assist with the increased need for patient care during this wave of the COVID-19 pandemic," said the Ottawa Hospital in a statement to CTV News Ottawa on Friday.
"We thank our health-care workers for their tireless efforts, many of whom have taken on new tasks and been redeployed to different areas. TOH continues to actively recruit nurses and other health-care professionals to ensure patients receive the support they need."
As of Friday, 94 nurses and staff members are currently off due to COVID-19 related illnesses.
'HOPEFUL SIGNS'
While the Ottawa Hospital deals with a surge in patients and staffing challenges, it says, "There are many hopeful signs on the horizon."
Those include internationally trained nurses providing support in hospitals and increasing third dose rates amongst hospital staff.
"Thank you #OttCity for all the support you have shown healthcare workers," said the Ottawa Hospital. "There may be some tough days ahead, but as always, we will get through this because we are #StrongerTogether."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.