Southlake Regional Health Centre - Services A to Z - Infection Prevention and Control

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6
Infection Prevention
and Control

Infection Prevention and Control

Hand Hygiene
Infection Control Resources
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The Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) program at Southlake Regional Health Centre is a corporate resource. Our team actively monitors all in-patient and out-patient units, as well as support services.

Our corporate commitment to patient safety and quality mirrors our mandate which is to protect patients from health care-associated infections through surveillance and education. The IPAC program is designed to prevent the spread of infections amongst patients, health care workers, visitors and others in the health care environment.

Our service activities:

Implement evidence based best practice
Provide ongoing infection control and training to all staff, physicians, and volunteers
Investigate clusters and outbreaks, and implement control strategies
Conduct surveillance of:
- Surgical site infections
- MRSA, VRE, Clostridium difficile (C.diff), ESBL, and other antibiotic resistant organisms.
- Public reportable diseases (i.e. Tuberculosis, Chicken Pox, etc.)
Evaluate new patient equipment and products
Monitor construction and renovation projects as it relates to Infection Control
Develop infection control policies
Communicate with other hospitals and Public Health Departments
Consult with in-patients and their families

Hand Hygiene

Hand hygiene is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of illness. In Canada, one in nine patients gets an infection while in hospital.
The risk of infection is always present since germs are everywhere. Your health care provider comes into contact with many objects and surfaces that could have harmful germs. Therefore, it is very important that health care providers and you and your family clean your hands at the right moments.

4 Moments of Hand Hygiene

Clean Hands Protect Lives Brochure

Remember these important tips when visiting the hospital:

When visiting a patient or visiting an outpatient clinic, clean your hands at the appropriate moments:

Upon entering and before leaving the hospital
Before and after visiting with patient(s)
Before eating and after eating
After using the washroom
After sneezing and/or coughing
Practice good cough/sneeze etiquette (cough/sneeze into your sleeve)

Self Screening

If you have been ill in the last 48 hours with any of these symptoms:

Diarrhea
Vomiting
Fever and/or
New or Worsening cough

Please avoid coming to the hospital to visit patient(s) until you are feeling better. If you are sick you may spread the illness to patients or health care providers.

If you are planning to visit the hosptial for a scheduled out-patient test or clinic visit and you are feeling unwell, please call ahead to the department or clinic prior to coming to the hosptial.

Gently remind your health care provider to clean their hands at the right moment(s) before caring for you.
‘It is Your Health Care- Be Involved’.