To the loved ones of our customers

You certainly follow the news and the daily press briefing of our Prime Minister. You even have more information than you would like about Coronaviruses. Life at Villa Medica Rehabilitation Hospital does not offer you this same transparency! So here is some news from the past week.

We are like the population in many ways, with a majority of customers and employees non-COVID-19 positive and some affected. The percentage of customers with COVID-19 has increased. Since April 9, we are a designated COVID-19 rehabilitation center, which means that we accept clients positive for COVID-19 in order to carry out their rehabilitation. These clients are confined to a care unit. They, like their workers, do not share the same spaces as the rest of the clientele. We agreed with the MSSS that 15% of our places would be reserved for these clients. We are at the maximum of our capacity in this unit.

We now have around 6% of our employees who have contracted COVID-19. They leave work and return when they no longer have symptoms and two consecutive tests come back negative. In general, our employees did not have symptoms that were too virulent and no employee had to be hospitalized.

For the past few weeks, our new clients, who have arrived from various hospitals in Montreal, have been directed to the same unit where they spend 14 days in isolation before being transferred to a regular unit. There have been some exceptions to this guideline which is ultimately intended to provide greater security for customers. Remember that the management of this pandemic leads to precautions which result not only in the wearing of protective equipment, but also in transfers. We make multiple transfers in an attempt to control and reduce each client’s contact. Additionally, we only have 14 single rooms. I know that our transfers were sometimes done quickly, without giving your loved one time to prepare properly. Know that we measure what a 14-day transfer and isolation represents. All these measures we take knowingly. I would tell you that currently, despite all the good will of our stakeholders, our care and services are impacted, especially in the continuity of the teams. Maximum control over the spread of the virus in an environment like ours is at this price.

Your loved one, who until recently was invited to wear a mask during these trips to Villa Medica, must now do so. He must also wear a mask when a caregiver gives him close care. We have a great collaboration from all the customers. Nurses provide these procedure masks. They explain to your loved one how to wear it and how to store it. If your loved one has not been properly informed or has not retained the information on how to proceed safely, invite them to ask their nurse.

If your loved one is on the COVID-19 unit, they are unfortunately confined until they get 2 negative tests. He is very well cared for by a totally dedicated team where each member, behind his protective clothing, braves his own fear to give him rehabilitation and try to allow him to return to his former occupations. At the same time, our Prime Minister must also authorize us all to return, as much as possible, to our previous lives. If you would like support during this period when you are isolated from your loved one, you can get help, information and referrals to various resources by contacting the helpline at 1 855 852 7784.

I hope you have a nice week.