Resumption of Services in Non-Hospital Facilities: FAQs for Facilities

What are the standards and requirements that non-hospital facilities must meet in order to resume services?

In addition to the applicable standards from the Non-Hospital Medical and Surgical Facilities Accreditation Program, non-hospital facilities are expected to meet all applicable requirements from the Office of the Provincial Health Officer, the Ministry of Health, and the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), including those in the document Guidelines for COVID-19: Infection Prevention and Control for Private Surgical Facilities.

How will the College follow up and ensure reopened facilities are adhering to all relevant standards and requirements?

In the interest of ensuring that the public has access to care, and because of the time and resources available, the College will not be requiring an inspection of facilities to ensure they are adhering to all relevant standards and requirements.

Medical directors of non-hospital facilities will be responsible for ensuring they meet all standards and requirements needed for them to resume services.

College standards have not changed, and it remains the responsibility of each non-hospital facility to ensure that standards are adhered to. 

What happens if there is a COVID-19 or other outbreak in a facility?

If there is a COVID-19 outbreak at a facility (one or more staff), the facility’s medical director is required to notify their regional health authority public health office and the College immediately. The outbreak and its causes, along with other related factors, will be investigated by the public health office. The facility will cease services immediately until the public health office authorizes them to reopen.

Will facility staff be allowed to work at multiple sites and locations? 

This will be at the discretion of the facility medical director. Just as health-care workers work at multiple public hospitals, non-hospital facility staff are not restricted from working at multiple non-hospital facilities or a combination of health authority and non-hospital facilities.

Are third-party vendors (e.g. cleaning staff and consultants) allowed to work at multiple facilities?

This will be at the discretion of the facility medical director. All staff at non-hospital facilities will be subject to screening protocols to ensure patient and provider safety.

What if my facility is not ready by May 18 to start resuming services? What if my facility is not able to resume at maximum capacity by May 31?

Patient and provider safety is the priority. Facilities should not resume services until they can meet the requirements in the document Guidelines for COVID-19: Infection Prevention and Control for Private Surgical Facilities.

What if my facility doesn’t have enough personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff? What are the PPE requirements?

Facilities are responsible for obtaining sufficient supplies of PPE to meet the requirements outlined in Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Protocol for Surgical Procedures During COVID-19: Adult and Guidelines for COVID-19: Infection Prevention and Control for Private Surgical Facilities. Facilities that cannot meet these requirements, including those related to PPE, should not resume or continue services.

What if my facility isn’t able to meet all the standards and requirements?

Facilities are responsible for meeting the requirements outlined in Guidelines for COVID-19: Infection Prevention and Control for Private Surgical Facilities. Facilities that cannot meet these requirements should not resume or continue services.

Who should I contact if I have additional questions or feedback about the surgical renewal plan and requirements?

Questions should be directed to the Non-Hospital Medical and Surgical Facilities Accreditation Program by emailing nhmsfap@cspbc.ca.