An Ottawa hospital has declared an “Internal Code Orange” due to staff shortages caused by COVID-19.
A Queensway Carleton Hospital (QCH) spokesperson confirmed the protocol to Global News on Thursday, a day after the hospital announced it would slow down some services due to staff shortages.
An internal code orange prepares staff so they can be reassigned to work in other areas of the hospital or be mandated to work “if absolutely necessary,” spokeswoman Caroline Hafner said.
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The protocol differs from a general “Code Orange”, which indicates a community disaster that requires emergency treatment for a large number of people, affecting hospital operations.
“Staffing is the main challenge facing the hospital,” QCH said in a statement.
The hospital currently has more than 40 staff members who have tested positive for COVID-19, primarily from home contact, “creating staff shortages in several areas.”
To address the shortage, QCH will reassign staff from other departments, “slowing down services” in outpatient care, therapeutic services, endo / cysto, and other areas. QCH will also perform emergency and cancer surgeries this week.
Occupancy at the hospital was 107 percent as of Wednesday morning, which, according to the hospital, is not “unusually high” for this time of year.
However, the hospital has a 141% occupation in medicine and 150 patients in isolation.
“We appreciate how difficult this is for our patients whose care needs may be delayed,” Vice President of Patient Care Kerry Cook said in a statement.
“Please know that this is not a decision that was made lightly. The team is working very hard to provide the highest quality care and to get back to normal operations as soon as we can. “
The hospital warns that those admitted to the emergency department may face “longer than usual” waiting times.
Ottawa reported 683 COVID-19 cases on Thursday, as the province recorded 13,807 new cases in the past 24 hours, a new record.
The province currently has 965 hospitalizations for the virus, 239 more than the previous day, with 200 patients in the ICU.
Ontario also reduced the isolation period required for fully vaccinated people who test positive for COVID-19 from 10 days to five days, following the onset of symptoms, on Thursday.
– with files from Gabby Rodrigues of Global News
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