Ross Memorial Hospital Archives

RMH attempting to move more patients out of hospital to manage expected surge

Published on April 4, 2020 in Health/Seniors by Roderick Benns

As COVID-19 numbers are expected to worsen in the coming weeks, Ross Memorial Hospital is moving as many non-acute patients out of the hospital as possible – a situation that is putting pressure on family members.

Veronica Nelson, interim president and CEO of RMH, says given the predicted models of COVID-19 in Ontario, “all hospitals have been asked to create capacity to manage a potential surge in inpatient cases.”

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Mask quality an issue for local nurses; RMH says public health rules being followed

Published on March 23, 2020 in Community/Health by Trevor Hutchinson

A simple surgical mask or an N95 mask…does it matter what nurses use in the battle against COVID-19?

For the nurses at Ross Memorial Hospital (RMH) in Lindsay, the answer is yes — and some are refusing to work with infected patients without the superior shielding qualities of the N95.

“I feel unsupported and scared,” says a nurse who didn’t want to be identified for fear of job reprisal. She has been working on the newly established COVID-19 floor at RMH.

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First death related to COVID-19 at Ross Memorial Hospital

Published on March 22, 2020 in Community/Health by Lindsay Advocate

RMH in danger of losing hospital status, says OHC: ‘We have to stop this legislation’

The local health unit is reporting the first death in Kawartha Lakes related to COVID-19.

The individual, a man in his 80s, was admitted to Ross Memorial Hospital (RMH) on March 19 after presenting with a high fever and influenza-like illness. Tests were conducted and late on March 21 it was confirmed the man tested positive for COVID-19.

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Second Positive COVID-19 case confirmed in Kawartha Lakes

Published on March 19, 2020 in Health by Roderick Benns

Ross Memorial Hospital received confirmation of a second positive case of COVID-19 in the City of Kawartha Lakes following testing at the Hospital’s assessment centre. It is a female in her 70s, due to travel.

All established precautions were followed during assessment and testing, ensuring the continued safety of patients and the team.

Following testing, the individual was advised to self-isolate while awaiting test results.

This is on the heels of the first case from March 12 after a woman had symptoms after travelling to Germany. The woman had travelled on Air Canada flight 877 from Frankfurt, Germany to Toronto on March 10, 2020.

The patient was discharged home and remains in self-isolation with follow up from the HKPR District Health Unit. Health Unit nurses have been in contact with the woman and are working with her to identify anyone she may have been in contact with while ill.

If anyone who travelled on Air Canada flight 877 on that date develops flu-like symptoms, they are asked to call their local public health unit.

Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge Health Unit (HKPR) is monitoring the case and conducting follow-up with regard to contact management.

For more information, visit HKPR’s website: https://www.hkpr.on.ca/featured_posts/novel-coronavirus/

Ross Memorial Hospital continues to work closely with the Ministry of Health, our regional and local health care partners including HKPR and local hospitals on a coordinated response.

The hospital has put in place several enhanced measures to limit the potential spread of COVID-19 in our community.

For more information about patient and visitor restrictions, and the RMH COVID-19 Assessment Centre, please visit www.rmh.org/covid-19.

RMH makes changes to COVID-19 assessment centre

Published on March 17, 2020 in Health by Lindsay Advocate

Following the announcement of the first positive case of COVID-19 in the City of Kawartha Lakes on March 14, Ross Memorial Hospital introduced a temporary ‘drive-thru’ assessment centre in their ambulance bay. In response to the community’s feedback and guidelines from the Ministry of Health, the hospital is introducing a new model for
assessment as of March 18.

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COVID-19 assessment centre opens at Ross Memorial Hospital

Published on March 15, 2020 in Community by Lindsay Advocate

To respond to the increasing need for COVID-19 assessment in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Ross Memorial Hospital opened a COVID-19 Assessment Centre on the morning of March 15.

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Changes to RMH endangers hospitals’ future says OHC: ‘We have to stop this legislation’

Published on March 6, 2020 in Community/Health by Joli Scheidler-Benns

Hundreds of people gathered at a town hall-style meeting last night at the Lindsay Recreation Centre determined to stop Ross Memorial Hospital from becoming anything other than a hospital.

That is, they want RMH’s status as a hospital to remain and not morph into an entity that simply provides “health services” – a danger it may face if proposed special legislation is allowed to pass, according to the Kawartha Lakes Health Coalition and the Ontario Health Coalition.

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Shoulder replacement surgery now offered at RMH

Published on February 10, 2020 in Health by Lindsay Advocate

For those experiencing chronic pain and reduced motion in their shoulder, brushing their teeth, opening a can, and even hugging a loved one can be a challenge.

The answer for some is total shoulder replacement (shoulder arthroplasty). Ross Memorial Hospital has been approved to complete 19 shoulder arthroplasty procedures before March 31.

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Local Ontario health team submits progress report to Ministry of Health

Published on January 27, 2020 in Health by Lindsay Advocate

The City of Kawartha Lakes Ontario Health Team (CKL-OHT) has taken the next step toward designation as an Ontario health team by submitting an official progress report to the Ontario Ministry of Health.

Ontario Health Teams are being introduced to provide a new way of organizing and delivering services in local communities, according to the provincial government. Under Ontario health teams, the health care providers you see (including hospitals, doctors and home care providers) will work as one coordinated team — no matter where they provide care.

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Rural medicine day held for 44 U of T medical students

Published on December 14, 2019 in Health by Roderick Benns

The Kawartha Lakes Health Care Initiative (KLHCI) hosted the third annual Rural Medicine Community Experience Day recently. Forty-four University of Toronto medical students were in attendance.

The first-and-second year students participated in hands-on workshops in suturing and intubation and were actively involved in group discussions regarding rural mental health.

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