SHA expands visitor restrictions to include more compassionate care reasons

Visitation at Saskatchewan Health Authority facilities remains limited due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but as cases in the province slow, the SHA has updated its visitor restrictions to include more flexible guidelines regarding compassionate care visitation. Following the recommendations of a Family Presence Expert Panel of patient and family advisors and public health experts, the SHA has loosened restrictions to support family presence in care at this time.

Currently, only visitation for compassionate care reasons is allowed in any SHA facility.

Under the updated guidelines, compassionate care now includes all critical care and intensive care patients, rather than the previous limitation of just those at high risk of loss of life. Family presence during palliative care will now allow two support visitors to be present at a time. Quality of life considerations for residents in long-term care will now be considered in addition to care needs when determining whether they require the additional support of a family member or support person. In situations where support is deemed necessary, two support people may be designated, with one present at a time.

Additionally, a support person or family member is now allowed to be present with inpatient, outpatient, and emergency care patients who have specific challenges that could cause compromised comprehension, decision-making, or mobility. This includes mobility, hearing, speech or communications barriers, intellectual or mental health disabilities, and visual or memory impairment.

The new guidelines have also been modified to allow safe outdoor visits with patients that are not limited to one visitor present at a time. “Compassionate care means different things to different people, so we worked hard together to review this and come up with adjustments that still ensure we are protected when living or coming into these facilities,” said Heather Thiessen, member of the advisory panel and cochair of the SHA provincial patient and family leadership council, in a press release.

SHA care teams will make the decision on whether a patient or long-term care resident can have a family member or support person with them, and will be tasked with upholding safety guidelines.

This includes screening practices, hand hygiene, and limited movement within a facility. Moving forward, all outpatients and facility visitors will be provided with a medical grade mask to wear while in

SHA facilities.

“When the global pandemic hit Saskatchewan in March, our first priority was to physically protect our patients and residents from contracting COVID-19,” said SHA CEO Scott Livingstone, in a press release. “We needed to tightly control who was coming into our facilities given the potential consequences for our longterm care residents and our patients. That hasn’t changed. But we have also learned that we need find the right balance between physical safety and mental health and well-being. We have heard that clearly from our residents, patients and families. So, together, we are trying to find the right path forward in the weeks and months ahead.”

For more information on the SHA visiting guidelines, visit saskatchewan.ca/ COVID19.