Health Care Associations Express Gratitude to Those Working Today to Keep Us All Safe

TORONTO, Dec. 25, 2020 /CNW/ - Today, thousands of nurses, doctors, and other health care professionals and staff are working in hospitals and health care settings across Ontario, providing the urgent and lifesaving care we all rely on.

We, the association representing Ontario's hospitals and the professional associations representing nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists and medical laboratory professionals, want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all those working over the holidays to keep Ontario safe and well.

We wish our fellow Ontarians all the best over the holidays, and once again, we ask everyone to honour the work and sacrifices of those in our health care system by staying home and following the public health restrictions in place to keep us all safe.

Anthony Dale
President and CEO, Ontario Hospital Association

Dr. Doris Grinspun
CEO, Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario

Dr. Samantha Hill
President, Ontario Medical Association

Michelle Hoad

CEO, Medical Laboratory Professionals' Association of Ontario

Dianne Martin
CEO, Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario

Paula Smith
President-Elect, Respiratory Therapy Society of Ontario

Here are five things all Ontarians can do to protect themselves and others:

• Wash your hands often.
• Wear a mask or face covering at all times, unless you are at home with housemates or outdoors at a guaranteed two metres' distance from others.
• Stay away from crowded places.
• Celebrate or gather only with members of your household. Don't invite others into your home.
• Prepare for contact tracing if you get COVID-19. Download the COVID Alert app and/or keep track of where you go and when.

Ontario Hospital Association
The Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) is the voice of the province's public hospitals. The OHA serves hospitals through advocacy, learning and engagement, labour relations and data and analytics to build a better health system. We do this by conducting evidence-based research, proposing ideas, convening members and partners, and encouraging responsible dialogue about change. For more information about the OHA, visit our website at oha.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media contact: Aslan Hart, Public Affairs Specialist, Ontario Hospital Association, at ahart@oha.com

Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario
The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) is the professional association representing registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and nursing students in Ontario. Since 1925, RNAO has advocated for healthy public policy, promoted excellence in nursing practice, increased nurses' contribution to shaping the health system, and influenced decisions that affect nurses and the public they serve. For more information about RNAO, visit our website at RNAO.ca or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Media contact: Marion Zych, Director of Communications, at 647-406-5605 (cell), 416-599-1925 (ext. 209), or mzych@RNAO.ca

Ontario Medical Association
The Ontario Medical Association represents Ontario's 43,000-plus physicians, medical students and retired physicians, advocating for and supporting doctors while strengthening the leadership role of doctors in caring for patients. Our vision is to be the trusted voice in transforming Ontario's health-care system.

Media contact: Aleks Dhefto, OMA Media Relations, media@oma.org or 647-962-1387

Medical Laboratory Professionals' Association of Ontario

The Medical Laboratory Professionals' Association of Ontario (MLPAO) is a non-profit health professional organization founded in 1963 with more than 3400 members across the province. The MLPAO represents the interests of Medical Laboratory Professionals in Ontario with government, regulatory bodies, educational institutions, health care professions and other stakeholders.

Media contact: Sonya Singh: sonyaksingh@consultant.com

Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario
The Registered Practical Nurses Association (WeRPN) is the professional voice of Ontario's 45,000 Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs). WeRPN builds the profile and professional capacity of RPNs so we can better care for our patients and better support our fellow health-care workers.

Media contact: Tiff Blair, Director of Policy and Communications, at (647) 290-4162 or tblair@werpn.com

Respiratory Therapy Society of Ontario
The Respiratory Therapy Society of Ontario promotes and advances the interest of the profession of respiratory therapists.  We represent over 3,000 respiratory therapists across the province across all sectors and advocate for our patients. 

Media contact: RTSO Administrator at office@rtso.ca or 647-729-2717

SOURCE Ontario Hospital Association