Shared on behalf of Jennifer Wintermans, EVP, Communications and Corporate Relations, COVID-19 Lead; Adam Vinet, EVP, Patient Experience & Chief Nursing Executive, Planning and Operations, IMS Section Lead
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Northwestern Ontario and across the province, hospitals are doing everything they can to ensure that patients can continue to receive the right care when they need it.
Effective Monday, January 17th, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) will temporarily expand the range of services provided by its COVID-19 Assessment Centre.
In addition to testing, TBRHSC’s COVID-19 Assessment Centre is offering clinical COVID-19 assessments.
Under the Ministry of Health’s guidance, assessment centres are adapting their testing spaces to begin providing care to patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms and who would benefit from a clinical assessment and treatment. These spaces will also serve as an Emergency Department (ED) alternative so that our staff can provide care to others who are seriously ill in our community.
Patients will be able to access this assessment through referral from the Emergency Department, Primary Care, Public Health or Telehealth Ontario. Appointments must be made in advance. Walk-in appointments will not be available.
For those who meet eligibility requirements, Monoclonal Antibody Therapy is also available. Patients will be assessed by a nurse and physician and provided with symptom management advice or referred for additional services. This program provides treatment for outpatients with COVID-19 who are at high-risk of progression to severe illness. While the first line of defense against COVID-19 is vaccination, this treatment will help to address the growing number of hospitalizations in high-risk individuals.
Physicians who wish to refer a patient are asked to use the attached referral form, which is available for download at www.tbrhsc.net.
For more information, please contact monoclonalinfusionclinic@tbh.net.