QCH & COVID-19: One Year Later

Realizing it’s been almost one year since COVID-19 came to Ottawa is interesting to wrap our heads around. So much has changed, and a lot still is.

We wanted to give you a look into what those changes have been at QCH since last March. Boy, has it been busy. But to help you, our community, we wouldn’t want it any other way.

Here’s what has happened at QCH during COVID-19:

March 2020

• March 11: First case of COVID-19 confirmed in Ottawa

• March 11: WHO declares COVID-19 a pandemic

• March 12: First case of COVID-19 confirmed at QCH

• March 12: East Portion of ACE unit designated as COVID-19 care unit

• March 12: Drive-thru testing at ED opens

• March 13: Brewer testing centre opens, QCH ED drive-thru closes

• March 13: Last day of school for the year

• March 13: first regular COVID-19 town hall

• March 13: Move to droplet precautions at QCH

• March 16: Visitors restrictions put into effect

• March 17: Ontario declares state of emergency

• March 17: Ontario directs hospitals to postpone non-urgent surgeries and procedures

• March 17: Foundation COVID-19 Fund is launched to support our pandemic response raising over $500k

• March 22: La Vie Executive Health Centre campaign raises $185,000 for QCH

• March 23: OPH confirms “community spread” of virus in Ottawa

• March 25: QCH moves to active screening stations with screeners

• March 24: First QCH staff member tests positive and recovers

• March 25: New protected code blue protocol put into effect

• March 25: Ottawa declares state of Emergency

• March 25: First time an admitted patient is confirmed COVID-19 positive at QCH

• March 27: Process is put in place for the influx of community donations of PPE, food and other supplies

• March 27: Staff self-screening app launched

• March 28: ICU full and surges into PACU

• March 31: First COVID patient passes away at QCH

• Wellness Team formed to help staff mental health

April 2020

• April 1: First responders come and do a drive-by with sirens and flashing lights to honour HCWs

• April 1: Launched eRecruiter

• April 2: First COVID “Special Edition” published

• April 3: COVID-19 Regional command table and structure launched

• April 3: ED creates “Red Zone” for symptomatic patients

• April 6: COVID-19 Testing and Care Centre opens on Moodie Drive

• April 14: New Intubation Team established for symptomatic patients

• April 15: First COVID-19 patient who had been in ICU on a ventilator is moved from ICU to ACE and is soon after discharged

• April 17: Universal masking of outpatients

• April 20: Zen Den opens to support staff wellness

• April 22: The Frontline Fund launches nationally – raising over $40,000 for QCH

• April 23: QCH team begins work at Carlingview Manor

• April 27: Universal masking of staff

• April 27: QCH opens offsite Alternate Level of Care unit at Fairfield Inn & Suites in Kanata

May 2020

• May 5: Ottawa Citizen profiles QCH’s work in Wave 1

• May 5: 24 hour Giving Tuesday NOW digital fundraising campaign in support of our pandemic response

• May 6: ED Red zone renamed Blue

• May 7: QCH team in LTC on testing blitz - 95 patients/hour

• May 7: QCH Foundation Virtual COVID-19 Town hall

• May 10: Outbreak on A3 – the only outbreak at QCH to date

• May 14: Nursing week is a virtual event

• May 27: Government okays the restart of non-urgent surgeries and procedures

June 2020

• June 1: Staff return from Carlingview Manor

• June 4: Outbreak on A3 declared over

• June 8: PACU’s surge ICU closes

• June 8: Gratitude Heals website launched, where the community can thank QCH frontline workers

• June 12: Rollout of new N95 alternative for those who use 1870's

• June 15: Volunteers come back to QCH in non-patient areas

• June 15: Ramp-up of services begins at QCH

• June 15: Online Patient Portal launched

• June 24: TELUS Friendly Future Foundation donates $195K to purchase 3 new ventilators for pandemic response

July 2020

• July 3: ED Blue & Green dissolved, return to the normal flow

• July 8: Visitors restrictions change, 2nd care partner permitted

• July 28: Universal masking with staff upgraded to medical-grade masks

• July 30: Staff Appreciation BBQ sponsored by QCH Staff Association, & Foundation donors, Ottawa Home Builders with QCH Strong t-shirts

August 2020

• August 13: For the first time since March 13 there were zero COVID patients at QCH

• August 17: Staff appreciation Amberwood Golf Tournament

• August 20: One-week QCH COVID free

September 2020

• September 8: C3 opens temporarily to provide extra beds/capacity at QCH

• September 15: Hike for Healthcare campaign raises $50,000

• September 19: Drive-thru testing pop-up at Canadian Tire Centre

• September 22: Record-high 613 tests at Moodie Drive Clinic

• September 28: Connected Care Re-launch

October 2020

• October 5: New on-line booking for Moodie COVID Care Clinic

• October 19: On-site testing for staff starts

• October 20: Creation of cross-functional Wellness Committee

November 2020

• November 1: Campaign and website launch to attract additional healthcare workers to Ottawa

• November 6: QCH gets $4.2 million in funding for temporary beds

• November: Renovations complete to enable non-vented ICU beds on A3 for surge

• November 23: Virtual Insiders Fireside Chat with MPP Dr. Fullerton & Dr. Falconer

December 2020

• December 1: Giving Tuesday 2020 raises over $62,000 for QCH, the largest community response of all time

• December 1: Kick-off of a daily QCH Holiday Advent Calendar for staff

• December 23: QCH Strong toques given to all staff

• December 31: We get word that vaccinations of HCWs can start the next day

January 2021

• January 2: First QCH staff member gets vaccinated

• January 19: Geriatric Day Program reopens for patients

• January 20: “Two new models of N95’s introduced at QCH” roll-out of MIMS (re-processable N95’s) as alternate to disposable to ACE, ICU and ED.

• January 25: Healthy Habits program launched to support staff wellness

• January 28: Second floor of Fairfield Opened

February 2021

• February: Healthy Habits Campaign is launched

• February 4: QCH strike teams vaccinate residents of retirement homes

• February 8: QCH & its Four Rivers partners greenlighted to submit our full application to become Ontario Health Team

• February 15: Family Day Trivia

• February 24: Hired 500th new employee since COVID began

• February 24: QCH announces onsite COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic

March 2021 (so far)

• March 3: Since the beginning of the pandemic, 106 QCH team members have been nominated as Champions of Care

• March 5: QCH & Ministry announce funding to begin renovations on our new Mental Health Unit

• March 11: Opening of on-site vaccination clinic