Virtual Family Visit Request

Virtual Family Visits are being offered to patients and their loved ones as a Patient and Family Centred Care initiative during COVID-19. During a virtual visit you do not come to the hospital to meet in person. Instead, you speak with your care team using a telephone, smartphone or your computer/tablet. Virtual Family Visits are approximately 20 minutes long and can be booked in advance online. We recognize the impact of isolation for patients and families during this difficult time and are doing everything we can to help patients and loved ones stay connected. If you have a family member at Erie Shores HealthCare (ESHC), please consider these alternatives to in-person visits below.

• Call your loved one in their room through switchboard to their bedside phone. Switchboard (519) 326-2373 Ext. 0
• Patients can bring in their own device when possible to stay connected to loved ones through FaceTime, Skype, etc.

Request a Virtual Family Visit

The Virtual Family Visit Program is available for patients and their loved ones to receive assistance with connecting over the internet while visitor restrictions are in effect. Those who are not able to use their own devices to communicate through audio or video calls can receive assistance with hospital devices and technology platforms.

Patients and loved ones can request to connect by completing this form BELOW or call 519-322-2501 Ext 4045

Once you have completed the Request for a Virtual Family Visit form, a member of our Patient Engagement Team will contact you via e-mail to confirm your request for connection. Patient Engagement Team members will support patients and families to interact virtually by:

• Bringing a lending iPad to a patient room or clinical area, so that you can use it to video chat
• Helping patients and families to use the video chat technology, if required
• The Virtual Family Visit program will be accessible between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm on weekdays (Monday to Friday). Video connections between patients and loved ones will be scheduled during this time.
• The availability of virtual visits may be limited by demand, patients’ ability to interact, or the clinical condition of patients at the hospital.
• Prioritization of Virtual Visit requests will be assessed in the following order:
• Patients who are critically ill, dying, or have experienced a trauma,
• Patients who have been isolated for an extended time,
• New mothers post-delivery,
• All other patients

ESHC is committed to protecting the privacy of our patients and staff. When using Skype, FaceTime or similar options to connect with your loved one, we ask that you respect those around you and never include anyone in the video event or camera frame without their knowledge or permission.

PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to disclose patient information without their full consent. This means you may not hear from our team until the patient in hospital has confirmed and approved connecting with you. We sincerely apologize for any delays this may cause in contacting your loved one. There may be circumstances where we are unfortunately unable to facilitate this contact.