This information is specific to patients and visitors of the Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario. For all general information about COVID-19 from Kingston Health Sciences Centre, including screening questions, please click here.
- What are you doing to protect us from possible infection when we come for a visit?
- How do I enter the Cancer Centre for my appointment?
- Who can come with me to my appointment?
- I can’t get through on the phone. What do I do?
- My friend/family member is an inpatient on a cancer unit. Can I visit?
- I am concerned I might have COVID-19. Should I go to a COVID-19 assessment centre?
- I am participating in a cancer clinical trial. Will my clinical trial still continue?
- I receive my care at a satellite site. Do these answers apply to me?
- Why are you screening patients and caregivers at the entrance?
- What happens if I don’t pass screening?
1. What are you doing to protect us from possible infection when we come for a visit?
We are taking many precautions, including limiting the number of people on-site and restricting access to the Cancer Centre. We are working closely with our Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) team to ensure the best practices are maintained to protect our patients, visitors and staff. This includes cleaning surfaces by the protocols recommended by IPAC, limiting visitors, having active screening in place for symptoms of COVID-19 at all entrances and using the proper personal protective equipment (like masks and gowns) when needed.
2. How do I enter the Cancer Centre for my appointment?
All patients are to use the Burr 0 main entrance, located at 25 King Street West, to enter and exit the Cancer Centre. The George Street entrance to the Cancer Centre is closed.
3. Who can come with me to my appointment?
It is crucial that we keep our patients and workforce as safe as possible. To help us do this, we are limiting all visitors – including family members of patients – to the Cancer Centre. You may be able to use technology to have your family listen or be ‘virtually’ present for an appointment, but please inform your treating physician.
Please click here to see Kingston Health Sciences Centre’s current visitor restrictions.
4. I can’t get through on the phone. What do I do?
If you have a medical emergency please hang up and dial 911 or proceed to your nearest Emergency Department.
If this is not a medical emergency, please know that we are experiencing a high volume of calls at this time. We understand that this is frustrating at this uncertain time and appreciate your patience as our staff work to answer questions and return calls.
If you are a patient on active treatment and experiencing a symptom after 4pm and require immediate assistance please call CAREChart@home at 1-877-681-3057 to speak to a specialized cancer care nurse.
If you have general questions about COVID-19 please visit Public Health here or call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000.
5. My friend/family member is an in-patient on a cancer unit. Can I visit?
KHSC respects and values family (as defined by the patient) as integral partners in providing excellent patient care. Our family presence policy allows for the presence of visitors (to support admitted patients) and caregivers (to support patients coming for outpatient services).
Please click here to see Kingston Health Sciences Centre’s current visitor restrictions.
Patients can also stay in touch with others through Virtual Visits. Click here to learn more about this free service and to request a Virtual Visit.
Access to the Kingston General Hospital site is restricted to the main entrance, located at 76 Stuart Street.
6. I am concerned I might have COVID-19. What should I do?
If you have a fever or other symptoms of infection and are on cancer treatment, go to your nearest Emergency Department.
If you are not on cancer treatment and are experiencing symptoms that may be COVID-19 please contact your doctor’s office immediately between 8 am and 4 pm.
If you are a patient on active treatment and experiencing symptoms after 4pm and require immediate assistance please call CAREChart@home at 1-877-681-3057 to speak to a specialized cancer care nurse.
If you are not on active treatment and have questions about COVID-19 please call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000.
7. I am participating in a cancer clinical trial. Will my clinical trial still continue?
Cancer clinical trial participants on active treatment will continue to be treated as directed by your Study Investigator (treating cancer physician). Please ensure that you identify as a ‘Cancer Research Study Participant’ and present your study participant wallet card to all healthcare professionals while you are receiving study treatment.
If you are a study participant on follow-up for the research study, your follow-up will be done over the phone. The research team and staff will be contacting you directly to arrange this. If questionnaires need to be completed, they will be mailed to you one week in advance. A return self-stamped envelope will be provided to return completed questionnaires.
If you have any questions or concerns related to your clinical trial, please contact the research study staff listed on your wallet card or email CC-ClinicalTrials@KingstonHSC.ca
8. I receive my care at a satellite site. Do these answers apply to me?
All satellite sites are taking similar precautions as the Cancer Centre on limiting access, restricting the number of visitors at their hospital, and screening at entrance points. However, we strongly encourage you to speak with staff at the specific site on their practices. Otherwise, as a patient receiving cancer treatment, all of the recommendations above still apply to you.
9. Why are you screening patients and caregivers at the entrance?
We are proactively screening everyone who enters our Hotel Dieu Hospital and Kingston General Hospital sites. Screening helps us quickly identify patients and staff who have signs and symptoms or are at risk of having a COVID-19 infection. Please also come a few minutes early for your scheduled procedure or appointment as it takes a few minutes to go through the screening process when you enter.
Please bring a mask with you for your appointment. If you do not have a mask, we will give you will be provided with a mask and you can go to your appointment.
Support persons who answer yes to any of the questions are not permitted to enter the building. Please speak with your loved one’s care team in advance to be approved to accompany them as a support person.
To see the screening questions that you can expect to be asked, please click here. Please review these questions 24 hours before each appointment and if you answer yes to any of these questions, please call your cancer care team immediately. Your cancer care team will talk about your care choices with you.
10. What happens if I don’t pass screening?
If you screen positive by answering “yes” to any of the screening questions:
- You may be sent to clinic F to be tested for COVID-19.
- Your care team will be contacted to assess your screening results and make a decision about the next steps, including the need for a COVID-19 test.
- Your appointment or treatment may be delayed until your results are available and only if it is safe to do so. Urgent treatments will not be delayed. Patients who screen positive and are in urgent need of treatment will be seen with extended safety measures.
We know that it may be frustrating to have your appointment delayed, however, it is absolutely essential for us to take these measures to protect you, our vulnerable patients and essential staff. Answering the screening questions honestly makes it easier for us to assess your best care options. We appreciate your patience and understanding.