With demand increasing in Ontario for critical care beds, more Southern Ontario patients have been transferred to the Intensive Care Unit at Sudbury's Health Sciences North hospital.
"COVID-19 admissions to Intensive Care Units (ICU) remain high as hospitals throughout much of Southern Ontario are bursting at the seams," said a news release from HSN.
Mark Hartman, the Senior Vice President of Patient Experience at HSN and chair of the COVID-19 Incident Command Team said the hospital is stepping up to be part of the provincial critical care effort during the pandemic, which includes transporting patients from the south who need critical care.
“So, as of May 5, HSN and City of Greater Sudbury Paramedic Services have transported a total of six COVID-19 patients from hospitals in Southern Ontario to HSN and more transfers are expected in the coming weeks,” said Hartman.
Dr. Josée Thériault, Medical Director of Critical Care at HSN and North East Critical Care Lead, is a member of the Ontario Critical Care COVID Command Centre Table, said HSN. In that role, she works with teams at HSN made up of respiratory therapists and specialty physicians, supported by pharmacists and biomedical technicians, along with City of Greater Sudbury Paramedic Services to complete patient transfers once patients are identified as being suitable for transfer and it has been confirmed HSN has the capacity and resources available.
“Everyone is working together as one to offer high quality care to our local and regional families, while helping out our partners to the South," said Dr. Thériault.
She added that the North Bay Regional Health Centre and the Sault Area Hospital should also be commended for their collaboration as they are also accepting ICU patients to share the load.
"We are all so proud to be able to help southern patients, families, and colleagues providing care,” said Thériault.
HSN said teaming up with Greater Sudbury Paramedic Services provides the ability to transport up to two patients per day. HSN said it could accept anywhere from five to eight COVID-19 patients per week from other parts of the province, should this be required.
Joseph Nicholls, the Chief of Fire and Paramedic Services for the City of Greater Sudbury, said he was pleased the paramedics were able to provide such a vital service at this time.
"Since the beginning of this evolving pandemic, the City has worked closely with local emergency response partners to help keep people safe. At a time when other communities really need help, I am both proud and touched that our dedicated Paramedic staff are once again playing such an integral role in supporting these community efforts,” said Nicholls.
HSN said the transfer process is not a new thing. From April 2020 to March of 2021, more than 300 patients from Northeastern Ontario were transferred to hospitals in Toronto, Hamilton, Southwestern Ontario and other parts of the province so they could get the care they needed.
HSN transferred 70 patients to hospitals in Toronto last year so patients could get the specialized care they needed.
“Our partner hospitals in Southern Ontario have always been there for when patients of Northeastern Ontario needed them for specialized or critical care. Now it’s our turn to return the favour,” said Dominic Giroux, President and CEO of Health Sciences North.
HSN also revealed that the important work would not be possible without the help of Cambrian College loaning essential monitoring equipment and infusion pumps to HSN, as well as collaboration from other hospitals and healthcare providers throughout Northeastern Ontario.
As of noon on Friday May 7, the hospital’s COVID-19 page revealed there were 12 COVID-19 patients at HSN, with six patients assigned to the ICU.
