With plans underway to create field hospitals in Collingwood and Barrie, the region’s medical officer of health said off-site facilities could be key for keeping hospitals open during future waves of the COVID-19.
“With this first surge, we had to put elective surgeries on hold,” said Dr. Charles Gardner. “That is highly undesirable.”
The medical officer of health for the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit suggested the field hospitals could be kept on standby and if another wave of the virus hits, hospitals can keep their operating rooms and other services running and treat COVID-19 patients at the off-site facilities.
“If we are going to see future waves of this pandemic, it would be far better if we built into the system ways to manage those waves without having to lose elective procedures,” said Gardner.
He and the health unit staff have been speaking with area hospitals and municipalities to communicate the idea of a plan to keep hospitals open while still accommodating potential surges in COVID-19 patients.
He conceded, originally, that was not the plan.
“To me, originally, the idea was they would be needed now,” said Gardner. “They were working very quickly to get them established now … it’s a good thing we flattened the curve … they would have been hard-pressed to have them up and operating now for many reasons.”
Collingwood General and Marine Hospital announced last week it is “actively working” on an off-site facility they are calling an alternative health facility. Mayor Brian Saunderson announced in a council meeting the facility would be at the Collingwood Legion.
The town is kicking in up to $100,000 toward installing a generator for the facility.
Hospital CEO Norah Holder didn’t confirm specifically what the off-site facility would be used for now or in the future, except to say the hospital is “planning for a number of potential patient populations” that could be treated there.
“As the situation continues to change rapidly, we expect the patient population to be cared for will depend on the ever-changing state of COVID-19,” said Holder.
In Barrie, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre announced a 70-bed regional pandemic response unit would be ready by June. The structure will be 8,250 square feet and will be located in the volunteer/visitor parking lot at RVH’s Simcoe entrance.
Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital officials said the RVH unit is a “regional” resource and hospitals throughout the region have been involved in planning it.
While it appears local and Ontario cases have plateaued, the “curve” is not trending downwards yet, officials warn.
Gardner has said evidence collected about the virus indicates it’s likely Ontario will see waves of infections wax and wane as restrictions are lifted and then replaced again as cases surge.
“To me, the strongest rationale for proceeding with these field hospitals at this time is for the future waves,” said Gardner.
Part of the Ontario plan for lifting control measures indicated public health rules about social distancing, business closures and gathering restrictions would only be lifted when new cases are decreasing and when it is clear the province’s health care facilities have the capacity to handle another surge in the virus.
Gardner said having field hospitals at the ready would help provide that capacity.
