Health News For Champlain
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Champlain Local Health Integration Network
Improving Safety of Patients and Residents by Standardizing Cleaning Practices
December 15, 2010 – The Champlain Infection Control Network has distributed a new toolkit for staff at hospitals and long-term care homes to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
“The goal is to standardize cleaning approaches to benefit patients and residents,” says Colette Ouellet, coordinator of the Champlain Infection Control Network. “Best practices described in the toolkit are based on scientific data and expert opinion.”
The bilingual, educational toolkit is comprised of narrated presentations with modules on the ‘chain of transmission’, cleaning products, general cleaning principles, and additional precautions. Additional resources include guides for trainers and video clips demonstrating proper cleaning procedures.
“Establishing good cleaning practices in hospitals and long-term care homes is critically important to control infections and provide quality care,” says Dr. Robert Cushman, Champlain LHIN CEO. “It’s easier and more economical to prevent infectious outbreaks than to contain them. In an outbreak, beds are lost to service, putting additional pressure on emergency departments and surgical wait lists. Worst of all, patients suffer unnecessarily from added and often severe illness.”
The initiative was developed by Ontario’s Regional Infection Control Networks, the Ontario Health-Care Housekeepers’ Association, and the Canadian Association of Environmental Management.
The toolkit is now available online in English and French at the following links:
http://www.ricn.on.ca/environmentalcleaningtoolkitc5102.php (English)
http://ricn.on.ca/trousse-pour-le-nettoyage-de-lenvironnement--c5253.php (French)
Source: Champlain Local Health Integration Network
Email: champlain@lhins.on.ca
Website: www.champlainlhin.on.ca
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