St. Mary’s to allow more frequent visits to patients in ICU

St. Mary’s will be increasing the number and frequency of visitors for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) starting this weekend. This will be a significant benefit to patients and families and will more closely align with other area hospitals.

Effective Saturday, June 19, patients in the ICU will be able to receive one visitor once per day for one hour. Two total Care Partners will be allowed to alternate visits.

One of our very own staff members, Nicole—an RN who works in the MSICU—selflessly shared her story. She recounted when she was in the ICU last year. Her partner Adam also spoke to us about what it was like as a family member of someone in the ICU during that time.

Nicole has a unique perspective as someone who both worked in an ICU and was a patient there. Please watch the video below to hear Nicole’s story.

In light of the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in Waterloo Region, St. Mary’s continues to enforce COVID-19 safety protocols to reduce transmission. Late last month, however, the province’s Science Table stated the following:

“Available research suggests that family/essential caregivers do not play a substantial role in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, an extensive body of literature demonstrates that family/essential caregivers are important in the delivery of patient-centred care.”