St. Joseph’s General Hospital Elliot Lake SJGHEL CEO Jeremy Stevenson would like to remind the public the hospital is working hard to ensure the Emergency Department remains available to those requiring urgent care.
The reminder comes after concerns the emergency room could be overwhelmed if people with mild flu-like symptoms attend the emergency room.
“Our Emergency Department is open 24/7 for medical emergencies,” the CEO said. “If you feel that you require testing for COVID-19 or other flu-like symptoms, and have only mild symptoms, please do not attend the Emergency Department.
"Please isolate appropriately at home and follow all Algoma Public Health recommendations.
"If you require urgent medical care, our Emergency Department is here for you. However, please be advised that our Emergency Department and Hospital are suffering severe overcapacity that will cause delays for those seeking non-urgent care.”
CEO Stevenson suggests people contact Public Health for further guidance at 705-759-5404 or 1-866-892-0172 ext. 5404, or contact Health Connect Ontario Call 811 ( TTY: 1-866-797-0007).
To be tested for COVID, people can call the Elliot Lake Family Health Team at 705-461-8882 to book an appointment. The service is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is now offering Same-Day Nurse Practitioner Appointments on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays for non-urgent medical issues.
The hospital has already put in COVID measures restricting visitors on its third floor and at St. Joseph’s Manor nursing home adjacent to the hospital.
“We ask that you please be kind to our staff as they work to ensure that our Emergency Department remains accessible to those in need of emergency or urgent medical care,” he said.