Essential Care Partner

• advocating for them
• supporting their decision making
• providing emotional and cognitive support
• being a part of planning their care while in the hospital and once they are discharged
• helping them use technology to connect with friends of loved ones
• helping them eat, move around, bathe, communicate
• participating in patient and family education
• letting the care team know when they see a change in the patient 

• always wear the ECP badge provided by the hospital for proper identification
• always follow hospital policies and infection prevention and control (IPAC) requirements. 
• act as a partner with the care team
• provide updated information about the patient to the care team, especially any changes observed
• advise the unit if feeling unwell

• eat or drink in patient rooms 
• use patient washrooms, public washrooms are available for use by the Main Entrance
• lift or transfer patients independently (without personalized training)
• administer medications (under any circumstances)
• enter the room of another patient
• provide care to another person

• Talk about your role with your loved one. Introduce yourself to staff. Describe your relationship to the patient and how you’d like to participate in care
• Observe changes (physical, behavioral, emotional) in the patient and report them to your loved one’s nurse. Ask staff what observations they would like you to routinely share
• Ensure that you’re present, if possible, at times when information will be shared, and decisions need to be made. Keep your schedule for coming to the hospital manageable. Let staff members know how to reach you and be sure you know whom to contact for information when you’re away from the bedside
• Help with decision-making about care and treatment. Be a second set of eyes and ears for the patient. Ask questions and take notes. Encourage your loved one to participate in decision-making to the extent they choose
• Ready yourself for the transition to home, Long Term, or Community Care. Before you leave the hospital, make sure your questions and those of the patient have been answered. Know what will be needed afterwards (medications, treatment, equipment, follow-up appointments) and what changes in the patient’s condition should be reported to health care providers

1. The patient or Substitute Decision Maker (SDM) chooses one person as their ECP
2. The health-care team/clerk enters in the patient electronic medical record the name and contact information of the ECP
3. The ECP must complete the following training on infection prevention and control (IPAC) practices.
   i) Hand Hygiene
   ii) Putting on Full PPE 
   iii) Taking off Full PPE 
   (If there are barriers to completing the online training, ECPs can access printed material or receive direct teaching from IPAC staff.)
4. The ECP agrees to follow IPAC practices and unit-specific policies. These can include physical distancing, hand washing, and wearing masks. Health-care staff must observe the ECP to ensure they are using personal protective equipment effectively.

Nursing shifts starts at 07:00, 15:00 and 23:00.  At change of shift, nursing staff may be less available as they are getting report.

Medication: preparation of medication is key in the care of our patients, unless it is urgent, please defer any questions until the nurse comes in the room with the medication.

Mealtimes vary slightly: Breakfast 08:30, Lunch 12:30, Supper 16:30