WHAT WE OFFER

The goal of the Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) team at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) is to identify and and prevent the spread of infection in the healthcare setting.  IPAC practices are designed to ensure a safe and healthy environment for our patients, visitors, and staff.

WHO WE ARE

The Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Committee is a multi-disciplinary group that meets monthly to provide leadership and oversight to the IPAC program in order to achieve improved outcomes for patients, staff and the community.

Each inpatient unit, out-patient clinic and support service area at PRHC have an assigned Infection Control Pracitioner (ICP) who provides consultation and guidance on IPAC matters. One of the main roles of the ICP is to identify trends and sources of infections and implement measures to prevent their spread. They work in collaboration with their units to ensure that IPAC practices are being followed in order to achieve the best possible outcomes for patient safety.

CLEAN HANDS ARE CARING HANDS

Good hand hygiene is the single most important way for patients, visitors and staff to control the spread of germs. Cleaning hands regularly with alcohol-based hand rub or with soap and water decreases hospital-acquired infections anywhere from 20% to 40%

At PRHC, our staff and physicians work hard to protect you from infection. You should expect staff and physicians to clean their hands before and after providing your care. We encourage you to ask them if they have or remind them. You may also see staff and physicians wearing protective equipment (e.g. gown, mask, gloves) when caring for certain patients. These are precautions that will protect the patient and others from infectious diseases.

Along with hand hygiene and additional precautions, PRHC has several initiatives underway to prevent infections, including a new program to improve the appropriate use of antibiotics and enhanced equipment and environmental cleaning.

Everyone has a role to play in reducing the spread of infections diseases. As patients and visitors you can:

  • Clean your hands often during your hospital stay and/or visit:

    • When you enter or exit the hospital
    • Before and after contact with a patient (family member or friend)
    • Before and after eating and drinking
    • After using the washroom
    • After covering a sneeze or cough

  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing and sneezing, then throw away the tissue and clean your hands. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow and clean your hands.

  • If you are not feeling well, have a cough or cold, please delay your visit to the hospital until the illness has passed.

  • If you or your loved one are in “isolation,” find out what isolation means and what you should expect from the hospital staff or visitors (e.g. wearing gloves, gown mask).

  • Do not bring many belongings into the hospital. If your bed area becomes too cluttered, it is difficult for the Environmental Services staff to clean and disinfect to prevent the spread of germs.