Thursday May 17, 2012
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 News Archives
Environmental Cleaning Toolkit updates!
December 1, 2011 Just Clean Your Hands(JCYH) is a multifaceted hand hygiene program that was developed to overcome barriers to proper hand hygiene and improve compliance with hand Effective December 1, 2011 the transfer from the MOHLTC to Public Health Ontario(PHO) is complete and all materials are now available on the PHO website. PHO welcomes the transfer of JCYH, building on the success of the program, to protect the health of Ontarians by providing scientific and technical expertise in preventing health care-associated infections. We want to hear your hand hygiene success stories. If you're organization has a story to share, email handhygiene@oahpp.ca.
November 10, 2011 Introduction to IPAC Education Series Several months ago, the RICNs offered an 8 module infection prevention and control (IPAC) program which addressed key elements of the new requirements as highlighted in the Long Term Care Act. If you were not able to take part in these sessions and still wish to do so, this is your opportunity! The Introduction to IPAC Education Series is now available but the deadline for completion of all 8 sessions is December 31, 2011! The session material will not be accessible after this date. Participants are required to complete all 8 evaluations and obtain a minimum score of 60% on the post - test questions to receive a certifcate of completion and a complimentary RICN Non Acute Care Pocket Guide. Register with your local RICN. Cick here to access the RICN "Introduction to IPAC Education Series"
NEW! POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS
June 17, 2011 Our New Name: Public Health Ontario
July 25, 2011
 CONGRATULATIONS! Congratulations to Pat Piaskowski, Network Coordinator for theNorthwestern Ontario Infection Control Network. Patwas a recipient of the 2011 Champions of Infection Prevention and Control awarded by 3M and CHICA-Canada. Pat was recognizedfor her founding and continuing work on the International Infection Control Council. Pat is theClinical Editor of theCanadian Journal of Infection Control and a member of the PIDAC InfectionPrevention and Controlcommittee. Congratulations Pat! June 10, 2011
WHAT'S HAPPENING - CHECK OUT THE LATEST NEWS!
IPAC Boot Camp creates Buzz at CHICA Conference! Read more >>>
Looking for PIDAC's Best Practice Documents? They can be found here. Resource Update! The Teaching Guide included with the Grand Prix of PPE has been revised as of March 2011. Download your copy here. June 9, 2011
RICN Non-acute Care ICP Training Program IMPORTANT NOTICE! The next offering of the RICN Non-Acute Care ICP training program will be postponed from September 2011 to Spring of 2012. The delay will allow the program to besuccessfully transitioned to a new location. Stay tuned for more information. July 29, 2011 PIDAC Provides guidance on management of CRE - Webinar Join Dr. Mary Vearncombe fora webinar in which she provides an overview of therevisedPIDAC Routine Practices and Additional Precautions and Annex A: Screening, Testing and Surveillance for Antibiotic-Resistant Organismsand answers questions on the management of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). The hour longsessions will be held on August 23rdat 12:00 noon andAugust 30that 2:00 p.m. Click here to register for the sessions. March 10, 2011 Survey - Influenza Immunization Programs Influenza is a serious illness causing an enormous burden on our healthcare system each year. We know that immunizing healthcare personnel is one of the best ways of preventing the spread of this infectious disease.
The Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion and its Regional Infection Control Networks are endorsinga national study Survey of Influenza Immunization Programs for Healthcare Personnel. The survey, conducted by the Canadian Healthcare Influenza Immunization Network and the PHAC/CIHR Influenza Research Network (PCIRN) in order to understand how Canadian healthcare organizations manage their healthcare personnel influenza immunization programs each year. This survey, the first of its kind in Canada, is being sent to over 1,500 acute care hospitals and continuing care organizations to discover the state of annual healthcare personnel immunization programs and to gain insight into how these programs might be more successful in reaching the public health target ofa 90% immunization rate of all Canadian healthcare personnel.
January 17, 2011 ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANING BEST PRACTICES  The Regional Infection Control Networks, in collaboration with Ontario Health Care Housekeepers' Association (OHHA) & Canadian Association of Environmental Management (CAEM) have developed the following resources to augment the Environmental Cleaning Toolkit:
January 18, 2011  LONG TERM CARE HOMES ACT EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS: JANUARY - MARCH Education sessions have been developed to addresss the LTC Homes Act, 2007and the Ontario Regulation's Education requirements. If you do not have a videoconference system and you wish to participate by videoconference, your local RICNhelp you locate the system nearest you. The sessions will also be offered by Live Webcast and they will be archivedOTN 48 hours after the session. All sessions are offered from 1:30PM - 2:30PM EST. December 6, 2010 New Resource for Hospice Settings!  The Infection Prevention and Control Resource Manual for Residential Hospice Settings provides current and practical IPAC information designed to reduce the risk of palliative care residents acquiring and spreading infections in the residential hospice setting. A hard copy of this resource will be distributed to all residential hospice settings in the province by the end of December.The manual has been formulated to ensure a consistent approach to infection prevention and control in Ontario's hospice settings and is the result of a collaboration involving:
January 11, 2010 Latest PIDAC Best Practice Documents PIDAC has updated three best practices and converted them into annexes to the Routine Practices and Additional Precautions document.
Annex Ais for ARO (Antibiotic Resistant Organisms) Annex Bis for "breathing" i.e. Respiratory Infection Annex Cis for Clostridium difficile The posting of Annex A is particularly timely given that Ontario has identified its first case of infection with bacteria containing the NDM-1 gene, a topic addressed in this annex. Annexes B and C highlight the terminology changes of FRI (Febrile Respiratory Illness) to ARI (Acute Respiratory Infection) and CDAD (Clostridium difficile Associated Disease) to CDI (Clostridium difficile Infection).C Nov 12, 2010 Infection Control Week follow-up  SHARE YOUR INFECTION CONTROL WEEK STORIES!Regional Infection Control Networks want to hear your success stories from Infection Control Week! What kind of activities did you do? How did you get staff to participate? Did something work in your facility or did you use resources in a unique way? Share your stories by contacting your local RICN and share your Infection Control Week Resources feedback by completing the evaluation forms linked to each one of the materials. October 8, 2010 Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007 was proclaimed and Ontario Regulation 79/10 section 229 was introduced on July 1st of this year. The new act is now the single legislative authority over Long-Term Care Homes, replacing Homes for the Aged and Rest Homes Act, Nursing Homes Act and Charitable Institutions Act. Link to copies of the legislation noted above. View a summary of changes. Questions? Contact your local RICN. July 22, 2010 Maternal Newborn Project - A Great Success!  • Hospital Champions will receive a resource package, that includes the Provincial Recommendations . • A baseline survey established the current state of implementation for the Provincial Recommendations. • Regular "Community of Practice” sessions were held from March to June. • These discussions have resulted in enhanced relationships between Maternal Newborn staff and ICPs. To review a summary of the project, click here. To review a copy of the resource package, contact your local RICN. July 27, 2010 Core Competency Education The Infection Prevention and Control Core Competency Education Program is being revitalized and your opinion counts!! Learn more >>> May 10, 2010 CORRECTION ANNOUNCEMENT - OOPS!
NAC POCKET GUIDES: FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN NON ACUTE CARE SETTINGS
 Unfortunately some errors were discovered in the booklet "Infection Prevention & Control Pocket Guide for Health Care Providers in Non Acute Care Settings”, a new RICN resource. These errors were found on pages 59,72 and 73. Click here to view all corrections.
We offer our sincerest apologies to all our stakeholders! Although most Regional Infection Control Networks have made every effort to make these corrections prior to distribution, some may have already picked up copies. In this case, please contact your local Network to obtain corrected labels. Kindly ensure these corrections have been made May 5th, 2010 The Regional Infection Control Networks (RICNs) invite you to join us today in celebrating the first ever,
This national, joint initiative of The Canadian Patient Safety Institute, Accreditation Canada and the Community and Hospital Infection Control Association-Canada (CHICA-Canada) coincides with the World Health Organization's (WHO) Save Lives, Clean Your Hands Day. While this global initiative varies slightly fromOntario's Just Clean Your Hands (JCYH) program (5 versus 4 moments), the principles are the same. Both programs share a common goal of improving outcomes for our patients, residents and clients through hand hygiene. As many of you are aware, the RICNs have been supporting the roll-out of JCYHin the Long-Term Care homes across the province and the enthusiastic response has been overwhelming. We encourage you all to participate today in some fashion and to consider sharing your experiences and any pictures from your events with your local RICN. We in turn will celebrate your stories and pictures during this year's National Infection Control Week in October. Here are a few links that you may also find useful as you plan your day: October 20, 2009
Just Clean Your Hands for Long-Term Care!
Check this site often for updates on this great upcoming program!
September 20, 2009
HIN1 Influenza Emergency Management Unit (MOH<C) Hotline:
For questions on the Important Health Notices, call the hotline number 1-866-212-2272 between 0900 - 1600 hrs or email your questions to emergencymanagement.moh@ontario.ca HIN1 Influenza Important Health Notices:The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care issue Important Health Notices (IHN) in response to abnormal events that require ministry direction or notices. Click here to link to these notices. July 2009
2008 - 09 Annual Report As a network of networks across the province, the RICNs offer anyone responsible for infection prevention and control in healthcare, an innovative link to expertise in their communities. Our Annual Report, available in English and French, describes many initiatives that, over the past year, have contributed to the promotion of IPAC best practices across the health care continuum.Please take a few moments to browse through its contents.If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact your local network (Contact Us) High resolution version for download English (9.8MB)Francais (12.4MB) The following are news items from the RICN home page that have been archived for reference purposes. Please note that some links may expire with time: Health System Improvements Act, 2007: A new Ontario legislation (Health System Improvements Act, 2007) has been passed which includes the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion Act (Schedule K). This act provides for a centre for public health excellence in Ontario that will provide research, scientific and technical advice and support to those working to protect and improve the health of Ontarians. June 1, 2009
RICNs Make a Splash in Newfoundland...
The work of Regional Infection Control Networks was on display at CHICA's National Education Conference held in St. John's from May 9 - 14. Select a link below to view the poster presentations:
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hygiene best practices. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) created JCYH originally for hospitals and was launched in 2008. The ministry adapted JCYH for the long-term care homes sector in 2009. In August 2011, the long-term care home materials became available to the retirement home sector. 
Effective June 14, 2011, the Ontario Agency for Health Protectionand Promotion (OAHPP) - our parent organization - will operate under a new name. The new name, 
The 