Infection Prevention & Control: Public Reporting

Preventing the transmission of infection in health care is a major challenge that requires ongoing surveillance and action. The purpose of Infection Prevention and Control is to facilitate those activities which help to prevent and control healthcare associated infections in patients, staff, and visitors.

 

As part of Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare’s commitment to patient safety, it’s  Infection Prevention and Control program includes activities such as:

  • surveillance
  • education
  • policy development and review
  • continuous quality improvement

MAHC has been reporting to the public on many infection rates since 2006 through the Quality Matters Report that is published on this web site quarterly, click here to view the latest report.

 

As of September 26, 2008, the Ministry of Health & Long-Term Care began an initiative that mandates all Ontario hospitals to begin reporting on infection rates.  The purpose of this mandatory reporting is to provide accurate information that will enable us to understand where patient safety issues exist and what added action is necessart.  Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare is thrilled to support this provincial initiative and to put patient safety at the centre of all that we do.   

 

The eight patient safety indicators have been chosen to be phased into public reporting beginning in September 2008.  Click on the links provided to view further information and MAHC data.

 

Clostridium Difficile Associated Disease (CDAD)

           South Muskoka Memorial Hospital Site/Huntsville District Memorial Hospital Site

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

           South Muskoka Memorial Hospital Site/Huntsville District Memorial Hospital Site

Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcis (VRE)

           South Muskoka Memorial Hospital Site/Huntsville District Memorial Hospital Site

Hospital Standardized mortality Ratio (HSMR)

Hand Hygiene Compiance

          South Muskoka Memorial Hospital Site/Huntsville District Memorial Hospital Site

 

Coming Soon

  • Central-Line Primary Blood Stream Infection (CLI)
  • Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP)
  • Surgical Site Infection Prevention

Detailed Patient Safety Indicator Reporting is available through the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care website at www.ontario.ca/patientsafety.

 

We Can All Help Prevent Infections

One of the most important things you can do every day is clean your hands, with soap/water or alcohol-based hand rub, frequently. This is really the simplest way of preventing almost half of the infections and illnesses people are exposed to.

 

Nosocomial or Hospital-Acquired Infections

Statistics show that about 5-7 per cent of patients admitted to hospitals develop a preventable and even deadly hospital-acquired infection such as C. Difficile, MRSA and VRE.

These hospital-acquired infections are called nosocomial infections. It is important to monitor for these types of infections because we do not want them to spread between patients or from patient to visitor. Older patients, those with weak immune systems and patients who have been in hospital for a long time are highly vulnerable to these infections.

Infections are often transmitted through touch and we all play an important role in ensuring we keep ourselves and our loved ones healthy.

 

If you're visiting a hospital, follow these important tips:

  • If you're visiting a patient or getting treatment, remember to clean your hands when you enter and leave the hospital and before eating. Soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub should be used.
  • If you're visiting a patient who has special isolation instructions posted by the door of his/her patient room, be sure to follow the instructions completely and all the time. These may include wearing a gown and gloves while you're in the patient's room, not touching the patient or equipment/furniture in the room, not using the patient's bathroom, and washing your hands before and after putting on gloves.
  • Patients - Ask your doctor, nurse, other health care professional and all visitors to clean their hands before touching you. It's your right as a patient, so speak up.

Education

 

Hand Washing

Are you washing your hands properly? Follow these simple steps to ensure a clean result!

  • Use warm running water and soap.
  • Rub hands together briskly for 15 seconds (about the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday)
  • Rinse hands thoroughly and dry with a clean paper towel.
  • Use paper towel to turn off the tap.

Use these tips at home too!

Make sure you wash your hands:

  • Before and after visiting a patient.
  • After coughing or blowing your nose.
  • After using the washroom.
  • Before eating.

Waterless alcohol-based hand rub dispensers can be found throughout the hospital.

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