Infection Prevention and Control (IP&C) is committed to patient, staff, physician, volunteer and student safety through the implementation of best practices for the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections.

Our mission is to identify and reduce the risks of endemic and epidemic healthcare acquired infections in both the in- and out-patient population, including hospital physicians, staff, volunteers and students, utilizing evidence based best practices in surveillance, prevention, education and control measures.

It is estimated that 220,000 healthcare-associated infections are acquired in Canadian hospitals each year, resulting in 8,000 deaths. Prevention is the key to reducing these risks. IP&C utilizes the following methods to decrease the risk of acquiring a healthcare related infection:

• Hand Hygiene Program
• Consistent use of Routine Practices and Additional Precautions for all patient care activities
• Cleaning, Disinfecting and Sterilization of patient care equipment and Environmental Cleaning Protocols
• Provision of ongoing education to all physicians, staff, volunteers and students in relation to the prevention of transmission of infectious diseases and organisms
• Promotion and implementation of appropriate surveillance activities and data analysis to control and/or prevent the transmission of infectious diseases or organisms
• Targeted surveillance activities for organisms of concern and as required 

Members of the Infection Prevention and Control team are committed and active in Infection Prevention and Control activities within North Simcoe Muskoka, as well as at the provincial and national level.  The program supports the development, implementation and evaluation of evidence based best practice activities in all areas of patient care.  To this end, members of the program have built strong communication ties between all of our regional partners, including the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

IP&C works collaboratively with all departments at OSMH to ensure safe, patient focused, evidence based practices are implemented, ensuring compliance with all regulatory and accrediting agency standards. From nursing to housekeeping, medicine to dietary, facilities to pharmacy, laboratory services to information technology – Infection Prevention and Control is everybody’s business! 

Contact us for more information regarding our services.