NSHN Resumes Normal Operations Following Precautionary Evacuation
UPDATE: 3:00 PM - March 7, 2019
Ongoing snow removal efforts have enabled the North Shore Health Network (NSHN) to safely resume all operations at the Blind River site.
On Friday March 8th, NSHN will begin the process of repatriating Long-Term Care Residents who were temporarily accommodated at facilities in Sault Ste. Marie. It is expected that all Residents will return by the end of the day on Saturday March 9th.
Snow removal from the roof continues to progress in accordance with direction from the structural engineer. Regular site visits will be conducted to continue to monitor the situation.
NSHN would like to extend its sincere gratitude to the families, patients, residents, employees, physicians, volunteers, organizations, neighbouring health care facilities, community partners and the Town of Blind River who assisted the organization throughout the evacuation. The efforts made to ensure the comfort and safety of everyone involved have been tremendous.
UPDATE: 1:00 PM - March 1, 2019
Snow removal efforts to date have enabled North Shore Health Network (NSHN) to safely resume operations at the Blind River site in additional areas, including the Acute Care Unit. Emergency Services continue to be available and the Emergency Department remains OPEN. The repatriation of some patients affected by the precautionary evacuation is underway.
The partial precautionary evacuation remains in place for the Long-Term Care Unit at this time. NSHN is working diligently to determine a time-frame for the safe return of the Long-Term Care Residents.
Outpatient, visiting services and appointments will resume, beginning on Monday, March 4, 2019 including:
- Outpatient Laboratory
- Medical Imaging (X-ray, Ultrasound)
- Outpatient Physiotherapy Services
- Chiropractic Clinics
- Exercise Programs
NSHN is committed to ensuring the safety of patients, residents and employees and this is our priority. Ongoing monitoring of the snow load capacity of the roof throughout the facility will continue as NSHN works to return the organization to full operations.
Updates will continue to be provided as they become available.
Please contact Ontario 211 for information regarding the evacuation:
Call: 2-1-1
Toll-free: 1-877-330-3213
TTY: 1-888-340-1001
UPDATE: 3:30 PM - February 28, 2019
Please be advised of the following:
NSHN Staff Meeting
Friday March 1, 2019
11:00 AM
Blind River Community Centre – Upstairs
*This meeting is for NSHN Staff only.
UPDATE: 4:00 PM - February 26, 2019
Snow removal efforts on the roof of the North Shore Health Network (NSHN) Blind River site continue with good progress in areas at greatest risk.
The expected duration of the precautionary partial evacuation of Acute Care and Long-Term Care units remains unknown at this time; however, NSHN is working diligently to determine a time-frame for the return of services. A structural engineer will be conducting an on-site assessment of existing snow load tomorrow.
NSHN continues to monitor and ensure the well-being of patients and residents affected by the evacuation.
Emergency services continue to be available at the Blind River site and the Emergency Department is open at this time. It is requested that patients ONLY VISIT IF IN NEED OF URGENT CARE.
The following services and appointments have been cancelled for the week of February 25 – March 1, 2019:
- Outpatient Laborator
- Medical Imaging (x-ray, ultrasound)
- Physiotherapy Services
- Exercise Programs
The following Clinics have also been cancelled:
- East Algoma Mental Health Clinic - Wednesday February 27, 2019
- Psychiatric Clinic (Dr. Koka) – Saturday March 2, 2019
All NSHN employees who are scheduled to work at the Blind River site on Wednesday will be contacted via telephone today. We ask for your patience as this process is underway. If you have not received a call by 8:00 pm this evening, please contact Switchboard.
Updates will continue to be provided as they become available.
Please contact Ontario 211 for information regarding the evacuation:
Call: 2-1-1
Toll-free: 1-877-330-3213
TTY: 1-888-340-1001
UPDATE: 4:30 PM - February 25, 2019
Blind River, ON – Snow removal efforts continue on the roof of the North Shore Health Network (NSHN) Blind River site with a focus on areas that have been identified as a priority.
The expected duration of the precautionary partial evacuation of Acute Care and Long-Term Care units remains unknown at this time; however, NSHN is working diligently to determine a time-frame for the return of services.
Emergency services continue to be available at the Blind River site and the Emergency Department is open at this time. It is requested that patients ONLY VISIT IF IN NEED OF URGENT CARE.
The following services and appointments have been cancelled for the week of February 25 – March 1, 2019:
- Outpatient Laboratory
- Medical Imaging (x-ray, ultrasound)
- Physiotherapy Services
- Exercise Programs
Chiropractic appointments on Tuesday February 26th have also been cancelled.
Handi-Transit services will be available as regularly scheduled as of Tuesday February 26th.
NSHN continues to monitor and ensure the well-being of patients and residents affected by the evacuation.
All NSHN employees who are scheduled to work at the Blind River site on Tuesday will be contacted via telephone today. We ask for your patience as this process is underway. If you have not received a call by 8:00 pm this evening, please contact Switchboard.
Updates will continue to be provided as they become available.
Please contact Ontario 211 for information regarding the evacuation:
Call: 2-1-1
Toll-free: 1-877-330-3213
TTY: 1-888-340-1001
UPDATE: 10:00 PM - February 24, 2019
Please note the following services have also been cancelled:
Monday February 25 - No Handi-Transit Services
Tuesday February 26 - No Chiropractic Services
Week of Feb. 25 - Mar. 1 - No Exercise Classes
UPDATE: 11:00 AM - February 24, 2019
Blind River, ON – The partial precautionary evacuation of the Acute Care and Long-Term Care units of the North Shore Health Network Blind River site has been safely completed with alternate accommodation arrangements for patients and residents in place until further notice. The expected duration of the evacuation is not yet known.
Emergency services continue to be available at the Blind River site and the Emergency Department will remain open during the evacuation. However, it is requested that patients ONLY VISIT IF IN NEED OF URGENT CARE at this time.
Outpatient Laboratory, Medical Imaging (x-ray, ultrasound) and Physiotherapy services and appointments for the week of February 25 – March 1, 2019 have been cancelled. There will be no Outpatient services provided at the site until further notice.
All NSHN employees who work at the Blind River site will be contacted via telephone today. We ask for your patience as this process is underway. If you have not received a call by 8:00 pm this evening, please contact Switchboard.
Thank you to the Town of Blind River as well as all NSHN employees and community volunteers who worked diligently Saturday to safely relocate our patients and residents.
Updates will continue to be provided as they become available.
Please contact Ontario 211 for information regarding the evacuation:
Call: 2-1-1
Toll-free: 1-877-330-3213
TTY: 1-888-340-1001
UPDATE: 6:30 PM - February 23, 2019
The North Shore Health Network (NSHN) Blind River site is in the process of completing a precautionary partial evacuation of the facility due to the snow load capacity of the roof.
Evacuation of the Acute Care and Long-Term Care units is underway. Acute Care patients have been transferred to neighboring hospitals and an alternate location within the community has been identified for the residents of Long-Term Care. It is expected that all patients and residents will be relocated by later this evening.
Emergency services continue to be available at the Blind River site and the Emergency Department will remain open during the evacuation. However, it is requested that patients ONLY VISIT IF IN NEED OF URGENT CARE at this time.
NSHN will continue to provide updates as they become available.
Please contact Ontario 211 for information regarding the evacuation:
Call: 2-1-1
Toll-free: 1-877-330-3213
TTY: 1-888-340-1001
ORIGINAL POST:
The North Shore Health Network (NSHN) Blind River site is currently preparing for a precautionary partial evacuation of the facility due to the snow load capacity of the roof.
NSHN is acting on recommendations from a structural engineer to proceed with a precautionary partial evacuation of the Acute Care and Long-Term Care units due to the winter storm expected to begin later today with additional snow and rain in the forecast.
Presently the snow load on the roof is deemed safe; however, it is at capacity. As weather conditions and snow load change the roof will be reassessed.
Contractors are currently on site and have been removing snow from crisis areas deemed to be at the greatest risk following review by the structural engineer. Snow removal efforts have been focused to keep the Emergency Department open.
Emergency services continue to be available at the Blind River site at this time and the Emergency Department will remain open during the evacuation.
The precautionary partial evacuation involves repatriating patients from the Acute Care Unit to other area hospitals or to home, relocating several Residents from the Long-Term Care Home who are able to be with family in the area, and determining a location in the community to safely move the remaining patients and residents to continue to provide quality care.
The Power of Attorney for each patient or resident will be contacted regarding the evacuation. The Ministry of Health & Long-Term Care and the North East Local Health Integration Network have been advised of the situation.
NSHN will continue to provide updates as they become available.
Please contact Ontario 211 for information regarding the evacuation:
Call: 2-1-1
Toll-free: 1-877-330-3213
TTY: 1-888-340-1001