Patient safety
Whether you're a patient, visitor, health-care provider or support staff, we each play important roles in keeping our health-care facilities safe for patients and staff.
General safety
- Know your health-care professionals. All staff and volunteers wear staff name tags. There will be many people involved in your care. Everyone who works for VCH wears a name tag and will be able to answer your questions about what they do.
- Be aware of fire alarms. VCH facilities regularly hold fire drills. If a fire alarm goes off during your stay, please remain in your room. Staff are trained to provide instructions to patients in the event of a fire drill or emergency.
- Do not smoke or wear fragrances. All VCH locations are smoke-free inside and outside. Patients who smoke are welcome to ask for information about smoking cessation programs and products available to them while in hospital.
Do not wear perfume, cologne or aftershave while you are a patient in a VCH facility. If you can, remind visitors before they come to see you to refrain from wearing these products or bringing in flowers. Some people are highly allergic to fragrance ingredients and can suffer severe reactions. - Check before bringing a pet or service animal. Many of us at VCH love pets and recognize their essential role in our health and well-being. But not everyone shares our love of animals. Some people suffer from allergies and animals don’t always fit well in our hospitals’ busy hallways. Depending on the unit and hospital, pets may be allowed to visit.
Check with the unit manager before bringing in your pet. Certified service animals, such as guide dogs, are always welcome. We also encourage visits from therapeutic animals as long as the visit has been prearranged with the unit staff. - Privacy. To protect the privacy of other patients and families, please speak to the nurse before taking photos or recording any videos.
- Check which personal belongings you can bring. Depending on why you or someone you know is in hospital or for how long, the personal belongings to bring may vary. In emergencies, the patient's well-being is first and foremost; at this time, belongings can be lost or misplaced.
- VCH is not held responsible for any lost or stolen items. In emergencies, VCH hospitals can store some small valuables for a short time. Ask a member of your care team for more information about logged and stored valuables.
Follow these five safety steps
As a partner in care, you and those visiting you play a key role in keeping you and your visit or stay safe. Things you and those visiting can do include:
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Take special precautions where necessary
You may see a sign asking you to take special precautions before entering a patient’s room. It could be because they have an infection or history of that we don’t want to pass on to other patients, visitors or staff.
Staff will explain what signs mean and what you need to do. Sometimes you will be required to wear a gown, mask or gloves.
Visit our Infection Control pages to learn more about what you can do to stop the spread of infections.
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Wash/sanitize your hands
Washing your hands is the most important and effective way to prevent the spread of infection and to protect yourself and your loved ones. In fact, if you're ever wondering if health-care providers and visitors have cleaned their hands we encourage you to politely ask.
Remember, clean your hands often and completely, especially after using the washroom and before eating. If you are staying in a VCH location, also wash your hands when entering or exiting your room.
You may also use the alcohol-based liquid/foam hand sanitizers available.
If you are a patient, ask caregivers if they have cleaned their hands before providing you with care.
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Cover your cough
If you need to cough, cover it by coughing into your upper sleeve or into a tissue, not your hands.
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Don't visit if you have a cold or the flu
Please do not visit if you have any symptoms of the cold or flu such as a runny nose, fever or diarrhea. Our patients are very ill and susceptible to germs that can be passed on.
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Share information and ask questions
Sharing questions or concerns and information is important because it helps all of us give the patient the safest and best care possible. Some common examples of things to share include:
- Medication: Medications you receive in hospital may look different from what you take at home. Bring a complete list of current medications, including non-prescription drugs and herbal products if you are checking into the hospital. If you have any questions about your medications, ask your health-care team or ask to speak with a pharmacist.
- Decisions about your health care: Making health care decisions can feel overwhelming at times; however, making plans on goals of care, spokespersons and Temporary Substitute Decision Makers (TSDM) is an incredibly important part of care and patient safety. Learn more about how you can choose the care that is right for you and your loved one.
- Leaving your unit: If you are staying in hospital and need to leave your unit or floor for any reason, please let your nurse know where you are going, and approximately how long you will be gone.
- How we're doing: We want to provide you with a quality care experience. Speak with your care provider or a manager if you have a compliment, question, or concern about your care. Or, submit feedback to the Patient Care Quality Office.
