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Apr 14, 2022

Headwaters continues to 'ride the wave' of pandemic surge by putting patient safety first - masking requirements will continue

As COVID-19 cases in the community continue to rise – the latest estimates show anywhere from 100,000-200,000 cases per day in Ontario, based on wastewater and testing data – Headwaters remains vigilant but challenged.

We have entered a new period of managing our resources responsibly to ensure we continue to meet the evolving needs of our communities.

Our most significant challenge is related to staffing. We currently have more than 30 staff off work due to community acquired COVID-19 and we have many vacancies waiting to be filled. Recruitment is challenging because Headwaters is only one of many health care organizations in this situation; we are all competing for highly skilled employees. This puts extra strain on remaining staff and requires us to carefully plan schedules to ensure patient care is never compromised and that we can continue to provide excellent care. Please continue to have patience and show kindness to our extremely dedicated and hard-working staff, physicians and volunteers.

All of this means that Headwaters, like many other hospitals across the province and country, is approaching the coming months with careful and measured decision making regarding the services we provide to our communities. We are doing our best, for example, to manage wait lists for diagnostic and surgical procedures that have increased during the pandemic, and all of our ramping up activities in a safe yet expeditious manner. We are delivering services to the highest capacity that we can with our own staffing situation.

We have been very fortunate to have received new diagnostic imaging equipment that is helping to alleviate waiting lists for diagnostic services. A new Thyroid Uptake System allows us to diagnose concerns with the thyroid gland and monitor the impact of medication and surgery. A new mammography machine with advance imaging capabilities is invaluable for supporting breast screening. Two new ultrasound machines are in place and in steady use as well. We are incredibly fortunate for the support of the Headwaters Health Care Foundation and the many members of the community who generously donated to the equipment fund, enabling these purchases.

In addition to the new technology, we have also expanded hours of service for diagnostic procedures, added evening and weekend shifts where possible, are hiring additional staff to ensure shift coverage and are reviewing and adapting our booking systems to support more efficient scheduling. We are doing all of this while keeping in mind that future disruptions are possible. Rest assured, we have contingency plans in place and continue to move forward keeping our patients’ health, safety and well-being front and centre.

Masking Requirements will remain indefinitely

With that in mind, something on many people’s mind right now is Headwaters’ intentions related to updated mask protocols announced by the provincial government and Chief Medical Officer. While the announcement included the lifting of mandatory mask requirements in hospitals and other health care settings on April 27, 2022, at this time Headwaters intends to continue with our current guidance related to masking, vaccination, screening and PPE. We believe taking a cautious approach to this is the safest course of action for our patients and all of us. We are continually monitoring the situation and will update our policies as needed as time goes on. With the surge of positive cases in the community, I also urge everyone to continue your efforts to stay safe and take care of yourselves and your families as we move forward. Vaccination and masking are key to containing outbreaks and minimizing the impact of COVID-19 on your family.

I remain optimistic about the future while understanding the reality of what we have been through and what we continue to face. It reminds me once again of how grateful I am to work with such a strong and dedicated team of professionals at Headwaters. I also remain grateful to work in such a generous and kind-hearted community that has shown patience and fortitude during the pandemic. We are committed to moving forward responsibly with the safety of our patients and those who work and volunteer here, always foremost in our minds.
 
Kim Delahunt
President & CEO