Dear myUHN User,
On March 10, 2020, the World Health Organization declared a global COVID-19 pandemic. This means that this novel coronavirus has spread across the world.
When people come together, the risk of infection with COVID-19 increases. For this reason, we are limiting who can come into UHN hospital buildings until further notice.
If you have an upcoming UHN appointment, please review this important information before coming to the hospital.
Important information for patients
Please do not come to the hospital for a clinic appointment, test or other procedure if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Sore Throat
- Runny Nose
Find a list of all our clinics, tests, and procedures »
If you have one or more these symptoms, call your clinic. Talk to the staff about:
- Whether you need to come to the hospital
- Rescheduling your appointment
- Any concerns you have with delays in your care
What can I expect when I come to the hospital?
Starting March 16, 2020, we are screening all patients and visitors before they come into the hospital buildings. There may be line-ups. Please come earlier than you normally do. This will allow enough time for screening questions and to be at your appointment on time.
When you come to the hospital, staff will ask you why you are at the hospital. They will also ask if you have any of the above symptoms.
What if I have a symptom when I come to the hospital?
Patients who have any of these symptoms will be asked to wear a mask and use hand sanitizer. We will take you to your appointment, where we will talk about options for your care.
Visitors will be turned away if they have any symptoms during the screening process.
Can I bring someone with me to my appointment?
If you need to, you can bring one person with you to your appointment. This person will go through the same screening process as you will. If your support person shows any symptoms during the screening process, they will not be allowed to come into the building. If you are unable to safely be in the hospital on your own, you may be required to reschedule the appointment you have come for. Children under the age of 16 will not be allowed into the hospital at this time. Please note that the Toronto Western Family Health team is the only area that will continue to see children.
Can I visit someone who is staying in the hospital, or can someone visit me if I’m an inpatient?
Each patient can have up to one visitor at a time. High risk areas may not allow visitors.
In special situations, more visitors may be allowed. This must be discussed with the unit manager ahead of time.
Could visitor access to the hospital change?
Yes, visitor access to the hospital may change if needed. We continue to monitor the situation closely to make decisions about visitor access. We may need to limit visitors to the hospital in the future if community spread of COVID-19 increases in Ontario.
Before coming to the hospital, please continue to check our COVID-19 site and UHN Twitter accounts (@UHN; @UHNPatientExp; @ipacuhn; @myUHNPortal) for updates.
Will my appointments be cancelled?
When people come together, the risk of infection with COVID-19 increases. To lower the chances of COVID-19 for our patients and staff, we will be cancelling some clinic visits for patients who are currently well, and are coming to UHN for routine check-ups or other non-urgent reasons. These appointments will be rebooked for a later date.
Whenever it is possible, and also safe to do so, assessments will be done by phone or video conference.
What if I have an upcoming surgery?
Surgeries will continue as planned for now. Surgeries that are needed to save a life will go ahead, but other surgeries may be cancelled in the near future. If you have any questions about an upcoming surgery, call your surgeon’s office to speak with a member of the care team.
Will there be changes to the UHN shuttle bus?
In the spirit of social distancing, patients and visitors will not be able to use the UHN shuttle that travels between Toronto General Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital until further notice.
Where can I find more information?
Information about COVID-19 is changing quickly. For the most up to date information, please visit Telehealth Ontario or UHN COVID-19. Please note: myUHN Support and most UHN clinics do not operate over the weekend however team members will do their best to respond as quickly as possible.
Thank you,
myUHN Support
