The Challenge
The Northern communities of Red Lake and Ear Falls are 70 km apart, with approximately 5,000 residents combined.
In response to the pandemic and community need for infection prevention and control, an emergency isolation shelter (EIC) was established. As the understanding and impact of COVID-19 is fluid, so too is the EIC’s model of support. Over time, broader community needs were identified relative to isolation requirements due to the pandemic.
The EIC adopted an outside-the-box approach to assessing need by constantly asking themselves how they could support other community members in need, while preserving the integrity of their primary goal of serving the community’s most vulnerable
The Solution
- The EIC employs a dedicated and diverse team that has come together with a singular vision of IPAC and supporting community needs.
- Funding for the Emergency Isolation Centre (EIC) is through the vulnerable sector—persons experiencing homelessness or residing in congregate living settings continue to have priority in the Centre.
- Built a model that is flexible and adaptable to the communities’ needs in terms of isolating in support of IPAC – when space is available, the Centre is also used to support:
- Persons with low income and no other means to secure appropriate shelter for isolation;
- Families or people in crowded living conditions needing to isolate from others in the household due to vulnerabilities such as medical conditions/treatments, age, etc.;
- Persons immigrating to or returning to the country with no other reasonable option for isolation;
- Persons isolating for work (e.g. before entering a restricted area/community/site);
- Persons requiring a workspace, who have been directed by an employer to work from home or off-site and are required to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of the employer, clients or patients.
- Not only is the EIC able to support individuals to stay safe, but they are a resource in maintaining a healthy and robust workforce.
- The EIC has created a safer and welcoming space for people to enter the community without negatively impacting the community bubble.
- The EIC plan for each new opportunity to support the community by doing a detailed walk through of each scenario while on-site, helping them to identify trouble spots and vulnerabilities well in advance.
- Even the hours, staffing model, and intake process have flexibly responded to the presenting needs in the community resulting in cost savings, allowing the Centre to remain open and available as a community resource.
The Process
- Community needs are constantly assessed.
- EIC Team meets regularly to develop options to respond to community needs.
- EIC Team walks through each scenario to ensure feasibility and safety before adapting service model.
- Adaptations are implemented and monitored for effectiveness.
- The EIC operates flexibly and efficiently to meet community needs.
Contact
For more information on the Emergency Isolation Centre – An Evolving Model to Support Community Health and Well-Being, contact Rhona Karschti rkarschti@redlakehospital.ca
