Inpatient care

Our team of health care professionals work together to deliver safe and effective inpatient care.

The Hospital has 18 patient beds; six of the beds are in double rooms and 12 beds are in single rooms. There is no restriction on visiting hours. Televisions are provided free of charge, courtesy of the Red Lake Margaret Cochenour Memorial Hospital Auxiliary
 

The services we provide include:

  • General medicine
  • Low risk obstetrics
  • Pediatrics
  • Complex continuing care
  • Palliative care
  • Respite Care

 

Our interprofessional team includes physicians, nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, laboratory and diagnostic imaging (x-ray and ultrasound). Our nursing care team is comprised of the Chief Nursing Executive, Nursing Manager, Registered Nurses, Registered Practical Nurses and Ward Clerks, all contributing to the provision of care.  

 

Obstetrics

What to bring with you:

  • Items required for your birth plan
  • Brush
  • House coat and slippers
  • Shampoo/ conditioner/ soap
  • 2 nightgowns or comfortable lounging wear
  • Set of clothes to go home
  • Nursing bras (if nursing)
  • Shoes/ Boots/ Jacket
  • Underwear (hospital will supply mesh disposable underwear)
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Lip balm
  • Phone (timer)
  • List of people to call after the delivery
  • Camera/Chargers
  • Books and magazines
  • Writing paper and pens

Visitors

  • Fathers or designated significant other may visit at any time. This individual is considered family. A cot will be provided if overnight accommodations are requested.
  • Siblings of newborns are permitted to visit. Children of relatives and friends are allowed to visit at the discretion of the patient.
  • All children must be free of childhood illness.
  • Anyone wishing to visit Mom and Baby must report to the nursing station. Nursing staff will check in with Mom before to ensure she is not resting or with the nurse/ doctor.
  • All visitors must be free of colds, flu, and other illness, and must not have had recent contact with communicable diseases.
 

Rooming In

  •  We encourage you and your baby to stay together in the same room for the entire post- partum period. Care activities such as teaching, newborn assessments are to take place in your room.
  • If you must be away from your baby (shower) ask your nurse first to make arrangements for the baby to be cared for by nursing staff for this short time.
 

Breastfeeding

  • Red Lake MCM Hospital is a breastfeeding friendly hospital and supports the work of the Baby Friendly Initiative. Nursing staff will encourage and help mothers to successfully initiate and continue to breastfeed babies. The hospital has a small supply of infant formula on hand if needed.
  • If required, a referral to a lactation consultant through the Northwestern Health Unit or with Firefly will be arranged for you before you go home.
 

Security

  • Mom and baby will have two matching ID bracelets to wear with the family name on it.
  • All hospital personnel are required to wear standard photo identification. The card is to be fully visible at all times. Parents should question anyone who enters the room without identification and report their presence to the nurse immediately.
  • Your caregivers are required to introduce themselves to you and your family. If they do not, please ask them who they are, and what their role is.
  • If your baby requires tests/ procedures that will take place out of your room (nursery) your doctor or nurse will explain the test/ procedure to you, where it will take place, and how long it will take. You may accompany your baby to other departments in the hospital.
  • Please do not walk around the hospital carrying your baby, or allow visitors to do so.
 

Infant Car Seats

  • You must bring the car seat to the hospital when it’s time to take your baby home. It is the law that all babies are transported in a CSA approved infant car seat. If you have questions about your car seat, please ask!
 

Healthy Babies Healthy Children

  • You will be asked to consent to the Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Program. The nurse will complete a form with you, and unless you have indicated otherwise, a nurse from the Northwestern Health Unit will be contacting you within 24-48 hours of discharge. All families are offered a follow up home visit by a Public Health Nurse. 
  • You can also refer yourself by calling (807) 625-8814 or 1 (888) 294-6630.
 

Ontario Newborn Screening Program

 

The Red Lake MCM Hospital supports the Ontario Newborn Screening Program to offer the following screening tests:

  • Using a heel-prick, a small amount of blood is collected from all babies shortly after birth. In Ontario, this blood is sent to Newborn Screening Ontario (NSO) in Ottawa where it is tested for serious diseases. With these diseases, early diagnosis is the key to effective treatment.
  • Screening for Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD) is also offered to babies in Ontario. This is a quick and painless test called pulse oximetry that measures the level of oxygen in a baby’s blood. This test is done at the bedside and results are available right away.
You will be asked for your consent before the tests are done.
 

 

Complex Continuing Care/ Alternate Level of Care (ALC)

 

The RLMCMH recognizes there are times when a patient cannot return home safely and may require ongoing nursing support and/or long term care. The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (MOHLTC) definition of alternate level of care suggests the patient no longer requires acute care services of a hospital, but are not able to be cared for at home. The patient may need the type of care provided in a complex continuing care setting or long-term care home.

 
  • In Red Lake, there is one long term care facility, Northwood Lodge. When patients are not able to obtain long term care at the time of need, the hospital may consider the patient as ALC. This means the patient will live at the hospital until a bed is available in long term care.
  • This process requires a physician order and a discussion with hospital administration.
  •  A daily payment fee is required and is called a “co-payment” fee. The ALC co-payment fee is set by the MOHLTC and changes yearly. Depending on your income, you may pay all or some of this fee.
  •  When a bed is available at long term care, the patient is expected to accept the bed and move out of the hospital. Patients who choose not to go to long term care will have to consider discharge from the hospital to an alternate location or be charged a per diem rate of the hospital cost.  

 

Respite Care

  • Short- stay admissions are available for respite relief for caregivers. You may call the Nurse Manager at 727-3830 to about the daily cost and how the admission works.
  • There is no minimum length of stay, however the maximum length of stay is 15 days at one time or 4 weeks within the year.
  • Admission is dependent on availability of beds on the inpatient floor.
  • The process starts with a physician’s order. The hospital will then contact the primary caregiver to discuss availability of beds, confirm or deny the request, and what is required for admission (personal medications, clothing, dentures, and toiletries).
 

Contact:  

 

Direct line Department at (807) 727-3811.

 

Open 24/7.