Protecting the safety of everyone at Headwaters is top priority. Effective June 19, 2023, Headwaters will be shifting to a mask-friendly environment as pandemic measures continue to wind down.
As we continue to deliver quality care and services, our objective is to reduce risk to our patients, families, staff, physicians, volunteers, students, and the community.
Updated COVID-19 guidelines
- Masks are no longer universally mandatory in all areas of the hospital.
- Headwaters will return to pre-pandemic routine practices with the continued support of a Point of Care Risk Assessment (PCRA), a decision-making tool widely used in healthcare to determine when personal protective equipment is required.
- Patients may request that staff, physicians, and volunteers wear a mask while receiving care.
What remains the same
- Everyone entering the hospital is required to self-screen at hospital entrances. Please do not enter if you are unwell or have any illness symptoms.
- To reduce the spread of infection, patients with any respiratory illness symptoms are required to wear a mask while moving throughout the hospital and outside their patient room.
- Hospital patients coming for surgery will continue to complete pre-operative COVID-19 testing only if they are symptomatic at the hospital and will be provided with instructions by their Surgeon's Office.
- Headwaters will support anyone who chooses to wear a mask at any time or point in the hospital, and masks will continue to be provided at hospital entrances and elsewhere in the facility.
- Staff, caregivers and visitors will continue to have access to all PPE when required
Entry Points:
Our Ambulatory Care and Main Entrances are open between 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and the Emergency Department entrance is open 24/7.
Everyone entering the hospital needs to self-screen before entry. Please do not visit if you are unwell or have any illness symptoms.
Designated Care Partners
A Designated Care Partner is a person who has been identified by the patient or substitute decision maker, who can provide support to a patient during their visit with us (e.g. a patient under 18 years of age).
While we strongly encourage vaccinations, proof will no longer be required as a condition of entry for Designated Care Partners.
Unpaid caregivers are supported through Hills of Headwaters Collaborative Ontario Health Team’s
Caregivers in the Hills program – learn more and apply today.
Designated Care Partner Access & Mask Policy
We understand how important it is to have a loved one by your side when you are in the hospital.
All admitted patients are permitted two Designated Care Partners at the bedside at one time during a 24-hour period.
All Emergency Department, Ambulatory Care, Diagnostic Imaging, Dialysis, and Operating Room patients are permitted one Designated Care Partner.
Children under the age of 16 who are visiting the hospital must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Exceptions to the policy include, but are not limited to, end of life; childbirth; pediatrics; mental health crises, and some vulnerable patients.
If you wish to appeal denial for visiting, please see our
policy for the appeals process.
Stay connected virtually
The hospital supports the use of technology to connect with your loved ones through virtual options, like FaceTime, Zoom or telephone calls.
Headwaters’ Wi-Fi is available free of charge, for patients to enable video calls to family and friends. The guest network can be found in your wireless settings with entry of a contact email address.
Call a loved one in their room through the switchboard at (519) 941-2410 – 0
Patients can bring their own devices when possible to stay connected to loved ones through FaceTime, Skype, Zoom etc. When patients do not have access to their own personal devices, assistance may be provided to access to technology and assist with virtual visitation.
More COVID-19 assessment information
To ensure the community remains safe and protected, symptomatic patients seeking an appointment for a COVID-19 assessment and patients eligible for PCR swab can call 1-888-530-1319 to make an appointment.
For more information about where to access COVID-19 assessments, treatments and testing eligibility visit https://covid-19.ontario.ca/covid-19-clinical-assessments-and-testing.
If you have general questions about COVID-19, please call the COVID-19 Call Centre at Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health at (800) 265.7293 x7006.