Trillium Health Partners releases plan to manage second wave of COVID-19 in Mississauga

 

At a time when COVID-19 cases are climbing—and prompting the province to lower private gathering limits and place new restrictions on bars and restaurants—Trillium Health Partners (THP) has released its plan to address a second wave of the virus. 

THP operates three Ontario hospitals, including two (Credit Vally Hospital and the Mississauga Hospital) in Mississauga. 

THP says it's already been heavily impacted by the virus and has had COVID-19 patients in its hospitals each and every day since the beginning of the pandemic in March.

"We have been working every day fighting COVID-19 on the front lines to ensure that patients and staff are safe at THP and that those who require our services are able to receive the high-quality care they need," said Michelle DiEmanuele, President and CEO, THP, in a statement. 

"We have also been getting ready for this fall by building on the strong foundation of actions taken during wave one."

THP says it has gone from performing about 450 COVID-19 tests per day at its assessment centres in May, to performing about 1,200 tests per day in September. 

"The hospital is also working with community health care partners to increase testing capacity in Mississauga even further," the company said in a news release. 

THP also says that with support from the provincial government, it has created new capacity to be able to care for a surge in patients if needed, including building a Pandemic Response Unit that will be winterized. It also boasts additional beds at the Queensway Health Centre and Mississauga Hospital.

THP says it has resumed planned surgical procedures, implemented infection prevention and control measures such as screening people at hospital entrances and built new IT applications to assist with contact tracing and screening.

THP also continues to provide virtual care to long-term care (LTC) partners and says it has continued to hire and train new staff.

"At its core, our plan supports increased capacity, reducing the spread of the virus, business continuity and stability, and a workforce that is strong and skilled," said DiEmanuele. 

"We will also continue to work closely with long-term care, public health and our schools to ensure that we have a coordinated response. We are all in this together."