Shared on behalf of Jennifer Wintermans, EVP, Communications and Corporate Relations, COVID-19 Lead and Adam Vinet, Executive Vice President, Patient Experience and Chief Nursing Executive
In response to the increase in cases of COVID-19 in our community and across the province, as well as the growing threat of the Omicron variant, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) has moved its internal COVID-19 Pandemic Response Level to Red (Control). As such, mandatory COVID-19 testing for all Cardiac Catheterization Lab (Cath Lab) patients is required.
Effective immediately all patients, regardless of vaccination status, booked for any Cath Lab procedures will be required to have a COVID-19 PCR swab completed with the testing results available prior to their scheduled procedure. A result from a COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test will not be accepted. Cath Lab procedures include: cardiac catheterization/coronary angiogram, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)/angioplasty, permanent pacemaker insertion, pacemaker battery or lead replacement, cardioversion.
TBRHSC inpatients awaiting Cath Lab procedures will have PCR testing in the care area where they are located 1-5 days pre-procedure.
Regional inpatients awaiting Cath Lab procedures at TBRHSC will have PCR testing completed in the regional hospital where they are admitted prior to transfer and 1-5 days pre-procedure.
Outpatients awaiting Cath Lab procedures are required to have PCR testing completed in the TBRHSC Preadmission Clinic (PAC) 3-5 days pre-procedure. Patients will be notified by Cath Lab booking clerks with date of procedure and will receive a requisition for their COVID-19 test. Regional outpatients who are unable to attend the PAC will be required to obtain PCR swabs in their home community hospital 3-5 days pre-procedure. Any booking received from Nursing Stations will be provided details from the Cath Lab clerks
Note: Regional patients tested at facilities not connected via Meditech should bring proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result with them on the date of their procedure.
All patients are required to self-isolate from the time of testing until the time of their procedure. Failure to self-isolate will invalidate a negative test result.
For inquiries regarding Cath Lab testing procedures please contact the Cardiac Cath Lab bookings office at (807) 684-6675.