Provincial CDI Surveillance Program

We are looking forward to releasing the first province-wide aggregate report on the incidence of Clostridium difficle in BC later this month. The Surveillance Program is a collaborative effort between all five regional Health Authorities: Fraser Health, Interior Health, Northern Health, Vancouver Coastal Health and Vancouver Island Health Authority) as well as PHSA, Providence Health Care and affiliates. PICNet wishes to thank everyone involved in implementing this program as well as PICNet Surveillance Systems Coordinator Ellie Sheng who has been instrumental in the programs progress. 

Once released, the report will be posted on our website at www.picnetbc.ca.

Surgical Site Infection E-Module

Vancouver Coastal Health’s Educational Technologies Department and PICNet are finishing work on the final chapter of the surgical site infection prevention educational module. With beta testing to begin this September, the development of the on-line e-module is in the final stages of being completed.

Long Term Care Needs Assessment

In light of recent announcements of operational changes within some of BC’s regional Health Authorities and affiliates, the importance of participation in the Long Term Care Needs Assessment on-line survey is even more apparent. The survey will allow Health Authorities to identify areas of need for infection prevention and control resources and provide the ability to develop an accurate business case towards attaining additional funding for the development of infection prevention and control programs in long term care settings.

Launched in July, summer participation has been low but a prize draw incentive has been included to entice respondents before September 11. If you have received notice from PICNet that you are a randomly selected participant we urge you to complete the survey.

GI Outbreak Guidelines

The gastrointestinal outbreak guidelines are intended to provide health care facilities with evidence based reference material to aid in developing or updating policies or processes that pertain to the prevention, surveillance for, identification and control of gastrointestinal outbreaks. The working group is reviewing the first draft of the guidelines and carrying out the evidence weighting at this time.

Vaccine Preventable Diseases Occupational Health Collaboration

With the completion of the document: Recommendations for Baseline Assessment and Management of Health Care Workers (HCW) who are Cases or Contacts of Mumps by the Occupational Health and Mumps Vaccine Expert Working Group, PICNet is looking forward to facilitating similar work on Measles in the fall.

Welcoming Three New Members

The next Advisory Committee meeting will be held on September 23, 2009. We look forward to welcoming three new members to the Committee: Helen Davidson, Ministry of Health Services, Director of Patient Safety; Geoff Clark, Senior Occupational Hygienist, Worksafe BC; and Catherine Fast, Director Employee Wellness and Safety, PHSA.

Project Proposals and Education Resource Funds for Next Year

While we accept project proposals throughout the entire year, the deadline for proposals to be considered for next fiscal year is December 31, 2009. Previously submitted project proposals must be resubmitted in order to be considered for the next fiscal year.

If you are interested in applying for the Education Resource fund grant the deadline is March 31, 2010, but now is a great time to get a head start on your application. Members of PICNet’s community of practice may apply to receive up to $2,000 annually to support their attending a conference/meeting or other educational activity of their choice.

For downloadable proposal and application forms visit the Forms & Feedback section of www.picnetbc.ca.

Since February 2006 PICNet has purchased and hosted educational classes offered by Webber Training.  These classes address topics of interest to infection control professionals and other health care professionals worldwide.

For more information on the topics and faculty of the 2009 Teleclass Education lecture series please visit the Webber Training web site www.webbertraining.com. Sign-up to receive emailed reminders of up-coming teleclasses which include links to class slides, handouts and the local PICNet teleconference connection number by emailing PICNet directly.

There are seven Webber teleclasses scheduled for September 2009.

Date:

Teleclass Topic and Speaker:

Sept. 10

Influenza Vaccination of Healthcare Workers

Monica Mehta & Dr. Charles Pastor, Long Island University

Sept. 21

Fifty Years of Resistance ... Live Broadcast from the Infection Prevention Society Conference

Professor Gary French, Consultant Microbiologist, King's College/Guy's St Thomas' Hospital, London

Sept. 22

The Pursuit for Excellence During a Global Pandemic ... Live Broadcast from the Infection Prevention Society Conference?
Professor Robert Pratt CBE FRCN RN, Professor of Nursing, Director, Richard Wells Research Centre, Thames Valley University

Sept. 23

Hot Off the Press - A Review of the Evidence ... Live Broadcast from the Infection Prevention Society Conference

Dr. William Jarvis, President, Jason and Jarvis Associates

Sept. 23

Moving on From Audit - Quality Improvement Tools for Infection Prevention ... Live Broadcast from the Infection Prevention Society Conference

Dr Neil Wigglesworth, Nurse Consultant Infection Control, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust

Sept. 24

Using Lean Six Sigma to Engineer Infection Prevention into Patient Care

Dr. Denise Murphy, Main Line Health System, Philadelphia

Sept. 29

Voices of CHICA – Part 2

CHICA-Canada Board Members & Guests