After-hours Transportation for COVID-19 Positive Patients Post-discharge

Shared on behalf of Jennifer Wintermans, EVP, Communications and Corporate Relations, COVID-19 Lead and Adam Vinet, EVP, Patient Experience & Chief Nursing Executive, Planning and Operations Section Head

In the event of COVID-19 positive patients not being able to secure their own means of transportation home following discharge from Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC), a process has been in place in coordination with Diamond Taxi services between 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday.

An additional mode of transportation has now been arranged for after-hours transfers of COVID-19 positive patients who fall outside the above weekday timeline.

Granite Town Cars will provide transportation to discharged patients who are COVID-19 positive and are medically discharged from TBRHSC to home addresses within the City of Thunder Bay on an on-call / as needed basis.

Description of Service:

  • Available Monday to Friday from 5:00 pm to 9:00 am.
  • 1-hour minimum notice of transfer is required.
  • 1 patient per trip.
  • Weekend transportation is available from both Diamond Taxi and Granite Town Cars with advanced notice but both are limited (based on other bookings and driver availability).
  • Patients must be ambulatory (no wheelchairs).
  • The patient will be required to print and sign a form from the driver which will only be used for invoicing purposes.

Cost:

  • ($60) plus HST for each transfer to be billed to TBRHSC.
  • The process and travel distance must be approved by the Patient Flow Manager or the Administrative Coordinator at TBRHSC to ensure cost containment.
  • Granite Town Cars will NOT take cash as payment for this service
  • Sending department must fill out Taxi slip inscribing ‘COVID -Granite Town Cars’.

Safety:

  • Granite Town Cars must be informed that the patient has or is suspected to have COVID-19. As such, a CS-348 Consent Form (patient agreement to disclose health information) must be signed by the patient prior to the transport request being made;
  • The patient must wear a Level 2 procedural mask and gloves (supplied by self or hospital) to board the vehicle
  • The patient must remain masked and practice self-distancing where possible (not sitting in the front seat with driver). 
  • Vehicles are equipped with hand sanitizer
  • Granite Town Cars will provide its’ drivers with appropriate PPE and adhere to COVID-19 protocols

If required, transportation for COVID-19 positive patients can be arranged by calling the Office of Patient Flow at (807) 627-9052.

All Hospital COVID-19 updates and resources are available on the iNtranet at https://comms.tbrhsc.net/covid-19-information/.