For Your Safety

ALLERGIES OR SENSITIVITIES
Allergies: Nursing staff will ask you whether you have allergies or sensitivities such as medications, food, tape, plastic, metal, perfumes or flowers. This information will stay with your record and you will receive an allergy bracelet to alert all caregivers of your special needs.

Balloons: Latex balloons cause severe allergies in some people and they are forbidden in the Hospital. Mylar balloons without strings are allowed.

Scented Products: In consideration for the health and safety of our patients and staff, no scented products may be used in the Hospital including perfumes or highly fragrant flowers.

FIRE ALARMS AND EXITS
Fire drills are carried out on a regular basis for the training of hospital personnel. Should an alarm sound, please remain in your room until an “All Clear” is announced, or you are requested by a member of the Fire Department or Hospital staff to move. Do not use elevators or telephones.

INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL
The infection prevention and control program at HDGH focuses on prevention, control and surveillance to reduce the risk of infection within the Hospital. All hospital staff receives infection prevention and control training to protect our patients in all departments of the hospital from disease.

Patients and visitors play an important role in reducing the spread of infectious disease. Please wash your hands often while you are at the hospital and, if you are ill, please do not visit patients.

Screening Protocols: For the safety of everyone, high-risk patients are tested to make sure they do not carry antibiotic resistant germs. We also actively search for patients with respiratory infections and when a patient tests positive they are isolated. For this reason, you may see staff wearing protective equipment when caring for certain patients.

Hand washing: According to the Centre for Disease Control, “hand washing is the most effective thing people can do to reduce the spread of infectious diseases”. There are many alcohol hand wash dispensers throughout the hospital and we urge everyone to please wash your hands often while you are here. Visitors are reminded to wash their hands before and after visiting, and to avoid visiting if they are feeling unwell (e.g. cough, fever, diarrhea).

PETS
Pets can cause severe allergic reaction among patients and staff. Pets are not allowed in the hospital with the exception of Seeing Eye dogs, hearing dogs, and registered pet therapy animals.

SECURITY
To provide a safe and secure environment for our patients, staff, and visitors, Security Officers are on site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Security Officers can be found at the Emergency Room entrance and in the Security Office. Additional officers patrol the inside and outside of the hospital.

Hospital doors are secured and locked after visiting hours and reopened early in the morning. If you require entry during the night, you can enter through the Emergency Department entrance.

All hospital staff members wear a photo identification badge. You may request to see the ID badge if it is not visible.

SMOKING
To protect the health and safety of our patients, staff and visitors, smoking is not permitted inside Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital. The Tobacco Control Act permits smoking outside the premises; however you must not smoke any closer than nine metres (30 feet) from the hospital entrances.

Patient Safety Links

Emmi Patient Safety Video

Ontario Health Quality Council

Canadian Patient Safety Institute

Institute for Healthcare Improvement

Safer Healthcare Now

National Patient Safety Foundation

Health Canada

Ontario Hospital Association