Resumption of services in non-hospital facilities

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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