Emergency Operations Structure
![]() |
Service Changes
Medical Imaging ramp up plan
Effective May 19th, Medical Imaging will begin implementing a ramp up plan including multiple enhanced safety measures.
Reference: Medical Imaging Ramp Up Plan
COVID-19 Patient Cohort Procedure
Guideline to manage confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients that would potentially require HLOC and transfer to a cohort unit.
Reference: COVID-19 HLOC Transport and Cohort Procedure (Updated: February 26, 2021)
April 17: COVID-19 Cohort Procedure Bulletin
Changes in Facility Access
All hospital, Urgent Primary Care Centers and Long Term Care facilities entrances limited to ensure the safety of staff, medical staff and patients. We appreciate your patience, as you will be asked to practice safe physical distancing, and may be required to wait a bit before you are able to enter the facility. Our Ambassadors will work as quickly as they can to get you through the entrance. Please have your ID badge ready and visible for the Ambassadors.
Reference: Changes in Facility Access.
Surgical Services
The work to renew surgical renewal plan starts May 7 with patient outreach. Surgeries will resume May 18. For more details click here.
Medical Imaging
Elective MRI, CT, Ultrasound and Fluoroscopy are being postponed. All inpatients, as well as patients categorized as STAT, ASAP, and semi-urgent, will continue to be considered essential.
Reference: Reduced Medical Imaging tests and procedures.
Medical Imaging Discussion for Referring Practitioners (Last updated: April 30)
Medical Imaging During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Last updated: April 30)
Long-term Care
All community Assessed and Awaiting Placement (AAP) long-term care admissions paused and are enhancing community based supports for these clients. All long-term care bed openings will be reserved for hospital based AAP individuals for the time being.
Seniors Services
Further work is being undertaken in community and facility based seniors’ services to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission through enhanced physical distancing.
- Adult Day Programs are paused, and a virtual support plan for clients will be established to best support them during this challenging time in their programming.
- All facility respite admissions – with the exception of the Piercy Respite hotel and palliative care clients – have been paused.
- Routine long-term care inter-facility transfers are also paused, with limited exceptions.
Laboratory
Vancouver Island COVID-19 Test Processing (Last updated: May 25)
Island Health is temporarily closing some lab locations and changing the hours at others.
Reference: Island Health Laboratory Service Changes.
Restricted testing for Influenza A and B in outpatients.
Reference: COVID-19 Laboratory Bulletin Influenza Testing
Diabetes Education Centers
- Service Changes to support physical distancing.
Reference: Diabetes Education Centres – Island Health Service Update
Supervised consumption site
- The Harbour overdoes prevention site will shift to a mobile service.
Reference: Island Health Information Bulletin: The Harbour supervised consumption service goes mobile in response to COVID-19 needs
Signage
![]() |