May 1, 2020
The Lois Hole Hospital for Women at the Royal Alexandra Hospital has opened a Prenatal and Postnatal Clinic, where pregnant women who are self-isolating due to COVID-19 symptoms can receive the obstetrical services they need. The referral-based clinic sees women who are 24 weeks or greater gestation, or six weeks postpartum, and is a collaboration between obstetricians, obstetric medicine, maternal fetal medicine, family practitioners, registered midwives, nurse practitioners and the public health antenatal home care program.
Story by Vanessa Gomez; Photo supplied by Lois Hole Hospital for Women
EDMONTON — Pregnant women who are self-isolating due to COVID-19 symptoms can receive the obstetrical services they need at a Prenatal and Postnatal Clinic recently opened by the Lois Hole Hospital for Women at the Royal Alexandra Hospital.
The clinic opened March 30 and has seen 10 patients so far, but has the capacity and resources to see up to 500 patients weekly, should the need arise.
“There was an interest from physicians and Alberta Health Services (AHS) staff for a space like this and we had full support to go ahead,” says Tracee Pratt, Executive Director of Women's Health at the Lois Hole Hospital for Women.
“There are a lot of fears with pregnancy, especially during COVID-19 and we knew we needed a safe space where staff and patients felt protected while we linked them to the resources they need.”
The referral-based clinic — which sees women who are 24 weeks or greater gestation, or six weeks postpartum — is a collaboration between obstetricians, obstetric medicine, maternal fetal medicine, family practitioners, registered midwives, nurse practitioners and the public health antenatal home care program.
Joni Warnock was 39 weeks pregnant when she visited the clinic after returning from a trip with a dry cough.
She spoke to The Edmonton Journal about her experience, explaining that she was referred to the clinic by her doctor, who was unable to see her due to COVID-19 restrictions. When she arrived for her appointment, she was asked to sanitize her hands and wear a mask. Healthcare workers all wore personal protective equipment while giving Warnock her maternal exam.
“They were fantastic. If they were nervous about me being potentially COVID-19 positive, I didn’t get that feeling,” Warnock says. She tested negative for the virus.
Patients can be seen at the clinic for the duration of their isolation and will be able to return to their regular provider afterwards.
“We want to reassure people that we are here to help,” says Pratt. “Although we are in a pandemic, we can still make sure obstetrical needs are being met.”
