Media Releases 2023

 Monday  October 2nd, 2023

With the arrival of fall respiratory virus season, hospitals in Oxford County, including [Alexandra Hospital Ingersoll, Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital, and Woodstock Hospital], are revising their masking guidelines to provide advanced health and safety measures. The updated guidelines will come into effect from Wednesday, October 4, 2023.

Changes to our masking guidelines are aligned with the Southwestern Public Health and regional hospital parties to protect the most vulnerable from the fall respiratory virus season. The hospitals in Oxford County are committed to the safety and health of the community and will continue to assess infection prevention and control safety measures continuously.

“As we are in the fall respiratory virus season, the health and safety of our staff and the community we serve remains our top priority. In order to address the challenges posed by respiratory illness season, we are introducing new guidelines. We will continue to monitor the situation throughout the fall and respiratory virus season to determine if further changes are necessary.” Kim Hobbs, Director of Infection Control, Woodstock Hospital said.

What does this mean for patients and visitors?

• The hospitals in Oxford County recommend that all patients and visitors wear masks when in direct contact with healthcare workers. This includes areas such as emergency rooms, waiting rooms, and inpatient and outpatient settings.
• Masks will be available at all hospital entrances for the convenience of patients and visitors.

What does this mean for staff and physicians?

• Wearing a mask will be required in all situations where patients are directly interacting with healthcare workers. This includes places like waiting rooms, emergency departments, and other areas where patients receive care.
• Masking is recommended but not mandatory in shared spaces, including hallways, break spaces, cafeterias, office spaces, auditoriums, communication desks, and laboratories.

Thursday September 14th, 2023

The Woodstock Hospital is excited to announce the integration of the CORI Surgical System by Smith and Nephew. We are the seventh, hospital in Canada to implement this leading-edge technology to advance our orthopedic and surgical capabilities. This robotic-assisted surgical system, will provide our medical professionals with advanced tools for planning and executing complex knee and joint replacement surgeries. The CORI will provide more accuracy, efficiency and less overall time in the Operating Room, improving patient experience and overall health outcomes for our community.
The CORI system employs advanced imaging and 3D modelling to assist surgeons in creating surgical plans that are tailored to each patient’s unique anatomy. This level of accuracy ensures optimal implant alignment and placement for both knee and hip implants, therefore reducing the requirements for joint revisions.
On September 12th, 2023 Woodstock Hospital celebrated the first surgery using the state-of-the-art CORI Surgical System. Doctor Petis, a Physician in Orthopedics, shares, “We are very excited to offer robotic-assisted joint replacement surgery to our patients. The CORI robot will allow us to perform the surgery with enhanced accuracy and tailor the procedure better to match each individual’s anatomy and joint kinematics. This will translate into better patient-reported outcomes and improved long-term function for our patients.”
The Woodstock Hospital remains committed to staying at the forefront of medical innovation, and this new equipment reinforces their dedication. “I firmly believe that embracing cutting-edge technology is paramount to providing the best possible care to our community. Our vision is to make the Woodstock Hospital a leader in healthcare excellence where technology and compassion converge for the well-being of our patients.” Perry Lang, the CEO & President of the Woodstock Hospital, explained.