Sault Area Hospital

12/17/2025

Influenza A Outbreak on 2C– Declared Over

As of December 17, 2025, Algoma Public Health (APH), in collaboration with Sault Area Hospital (SAH), has declared the Influenza A outbreak on Unit 2C over.

Please continue to follow all current masking and hand hygiene guidelines to help reduce the risk of transmission.

Masking Guidelines
Masks are required if you have respiratory symptoms and strongly encouraged for everyone in clinical areas.

Your cooperation helps protect vulnerable patients and keeps our hospital community safe.
______
The latest masking and visitor information for SAH is available at – https://sah.on.ca/visitors/

12/16/2025

Great job, Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma!

The Fall 2025 BORN (Better Outcomes Registry and Network) RSV Immunization Report is in, and I am pleased to share that at the time of this report, Sault Area Hospital (SAH) has risen above the provincial average with 87.9 percent RSV protection in our infant population.

What does this mean for our community?

It means fewer infants with moderate and severe RSV bronchiolitis, fewer hospital admissions, and less strain on our SAH pediatric hospital resources during peak respiratory illness season. Studies around the world continue to show that RSV immunization can reduce the risk of hospitalization by up to 80 percent.

This success is the result of a truly collaborative effort. I want to acknowledge the dedicated work of our prenatal care providers, our neonatal team, and the patients and families who continue to place their trust in science and in their healthcare providers.

As both the Medical Director of the Women and Children’s Health program and a paediatrician, I am very proud of what we have achieved together.

To check your child’s eligibility for the RSV immunization please visit Ontario’s Health and Wellness web page: https://www.ontario.ca/page/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-prevention-programs

For Algoma Public Health RSV immunization appointment scheduling, please visit: https://www.algomapublichealth.com/disease-and-illness/vaccines-and-immunization/respiratory-illness-vaccines-flu-covid-19-rsv/

12/16/2025

Influenza A Outbreak on 3B – Declared Over

As of December 16, 2025, Algoma Public Health (APH), in collaboration with Sault Area Hospital (SAH), has declared the Influenza A outbreak on Unit 3B over.

The outbreak remains active on unit 2C. Please continue to follow all current masking and hand hygiene guidelines to help reduce the risk of transmission.

Masking Guidelines
Masks are required if you have respiratory symptoms and strongly encouraged for everyone in clinical areas.

Your cooperation helps protect vulnerable patients and keeps our hospital community safe.
______
The latest masking and visitor information for SAH is available at – https://sah.on.ca/visitors/

12/14/2025

Happy Hanukkah!
May the Festival of Lights bring happiness, peace and blessings to all celebrating. Enjoy this special time with loved ones!

12/12/2025

As seasonal illnesses continue to rise, Sault Area Hospital is taking extra steps to protect our patients, staff, and visitors.

Enhanced masking requirements are now in effect throughout Sault Area Hospital and its community-based locations for the duration of the respiratory season:

• SAH workers will wear a mask in all waiting rooms across the hospital and community locations.
• SAH workers will also wear a mask while providing patient care in any hospital or community-based setting.

We also encourage all patients, visitors and staff in non-clinical common areas, to consider masking. Choosing to mask adds an extra layer of protection for you and those around you.

Everyone can help reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses by:

• Staying home if you’re feeling unwell
• Washing your hands frequently
• Cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces
• Wearing a mask when appropriate
• Staying up to date with seasonal vaccines

Together, these everyday actions help keep our community healthy and safe.

For the latest visiting guidelines, masking expectations, and outbreak updates, please visit our website: https://sah.on.ca/visitors/

For Algoma Public Health immunization information and a list of local vaccination locations, please visit: https://bit.ly/3KEsIqF

12/11/2025

𝗢𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗲. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲.

Ontario has opened a new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub in Sault Ste. Marie to help people access care while keeping communities safe.

This is part of Ontario’s plan to open 28 HART Hubs across the province to improve access to recovery and treatment services for individuals and families facing mental health and substance use challenges.

The Sault Ste. Marie HART hub delivers services in collaboration with the Canadian Mental Health Association Algoma and its partners including Sault Ste. Marie District Social Services, John Howard Society, Sault Area Hospital, Niigaaniin Services, the Algoma Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic and Algoma Family Services and Nogdawindamin Community and Family Services.

Learn more: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1006846/ontario-opens-homelessness-and-addiction-recovery-treatment-hub-in-sault-ste-marie

12/11/2025

Influenza A Outbreak on 2A – Declared Over

As of December 11, 2025, Algoma Public Health (APH), in collaboration with Sault Area Hospital (SAH), has declared the Influenza A outbreak on Unit 2A over.

Outbreaks remain active on units 2C and 3B. Please continue to follow all current masking and hand hygiene guidelines to help reduce the risk of transmission.

Masking Guidelines
Masks are required if you have respiratory symptoms and strongly encouraged for everyone in clinical areas.

Your cooperation helps protect vulnerable patients and keeps our hospital community safe.

______

The latest masking and visitor information for SAH is available at – https://sah.on.ca/visitors/

12/09/2025

Our Emergency Department is experiencing a high volume of patients and limited inpatient beds.

We are asking for the public’s help. Please limit visitors in the Emergency Department to only those who are essential to supporting the patient. Reducing congestion enables our teams to focus on providing timely, appropriate care.

Wait times may be longer than usual. Non-urgent patients may also consider using SAH’s Virtual Home Waiting Room, which provides estimated wait times and allows patients to wait from home until closer to their expected turn – https://bit.ly/48EJcqE

Please be kind to our staff as they manage multiple demands. We appreciate the community’s support during this extremely busy time.

Remember…

Patients are prioritized based on the severity of their medical needs and are not seen on a first-come, first-served basis. This means patients with non-urgent conditions will wait longer to be seen. Calling an ambulance will not necessarily result in faster care once you arrive at the hospital.

Patients with non-urgent health care needs may wish to consider alternatives such as contacting their family doctor, nurse practitioner, or SAH’s Virtual Home Waiting Room. If these options are not available, please visit a walk-in clinic – https://bit.ly/3AeWPNF

If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 9-1-1 or proceed directly to the Emergency Department. Do not delay care. If you are unsure whether your symptoms are an emergency, you can speak with a Registered Nurse for health-related advice 24/7 by calling Health811. Call 811 or visit https://bit.ly/3NvM2Dg

12/09/2025

Thank You, Il Flauto!

A heartfelt thank you to Il Flauto, our wonderful local group of flautists, for filling the Sault Area Hospital Lobby with beautiful music today. Their performance brought warmth, joy, and a touch of holiday spirit to everyone passing through.

We’re grateful for the talent, time, and cheer they shared with our patients, visitors, and staff.

12/09/2025

Congratulations to Dr. Jodie Stewart on her commitment to patient care in our community!

On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, Dr. Stewart was presented with the Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP) Award of Excellence, an honour that recognizes individuals who embody the spirit of family medicine by fostering connection, innovation, and excellence in patient care. The Award of Excellence is awarded for outstanding accomplishments or innovations within the past two years in areas central to family medicine.

This recognition celebrates not only Dr. Stewart’s exceptional leadership at GHC but also her strong commitment to strengthening primary care in our community. As Chair of the Algoma Ontario Health Team (AOHT) Primary Care Network (PCN), Dr. Stewart has championed initiatives that improve access to care, support vulnerable populations, and advance innovative strategies to ensure every patient is connected to primary care.

Congratulations, Dr. Stewart, on this well-deserved honour, and thank you for your unwavering dedication to strengthening and advancing primary care in our community.

12/09/2025

Influenza A Outbreak Declared on SAH’s 3B Unit

As of December 9, 2025, following provincial guidelines, Sault Area Hospital (SAH) has declared an Influenza A outbreak on the 3B unit in partnership with Algoma Public Health (APH).

Visitors and Essential Caregivers are to wear PPE when in a patient's room where additional precautions have been added (signage will indicate additional precautions are in place). Visitors are to adhere to hand hygiene practices.

Please reach out to your loved one's care team if you have questions.

For more details, including our visitor guidelines, visit SAH Visitor Guidance - https://sah.on.ca/visitors/

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our hospital safe!

12/09/2025

Influenza A Outbreak Declared on SAH’s 2C Unit

As of December 6, 2025, following provincial guidelines, Sault Area Hospital (SAH) has declared an Influenza A outbreak on the 2C unit in partnership with Algoma Public Health (APH).

Visitors and Essential Caregivers are to wear PPE when in a patient's room where additional precautions have been added (signage will indicate additional precautions are in place). Visitors are to adhere to hand hygiene practices.

Please reach out to your loved one's care team if you have questions.

For more details, including our visitor guidelines, visit SAH Visitor Guidance - https://sah.on.ca/visitors/

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our hospital safe!