PICNet would like to thank everyone for another productive year. We completed many projects and held a successful education conference, thanks to our supportive and dedicated Community of Practice. Have a safe and happy holiday!  

Surgical Site Infection E-Module

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are postoperative infections that occur when harmful germs enter a patient's body through a surgical site. SSIs are a major cause of patient injury, mortality, and increasing health care costs. Vancouver Coastal Health’s Educational Technologies Department and PICNet are working together to develop an Online Education Module for Surgical Site Infections. The education module is designed to give patient care personnel a better understanding of contributing factors for SSIs, and best practices throughout the peri-operative phases of surgery for the prevention and recognition of SSIs. The module is now undergoing beta testing with a planned launch in early 2010. Watch the PICNet website (www.picnetbc.ca) for this new educational opportunity.

Long Term Care Needs Assessment: Congratulations to Louise Brown

PICNet would like to thank all participants who completed the Long Term Care Needs Assessment survey. We had a 60% response rate! The lucky winner of the respondent draw is Louise Brown from Fraser Health, who won a $50 gift certificate to a business of her choice. The results will now be analyzed and we anticipate the final report will be released and posted on the PICNet website in the new year.

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, the surveillance for, and the identification and control of gastrointestinal illness outbreaks. The guidelines are currently under review by the PICNet Guidelines Steering Committee (GSC) and will be posted for review by our community of practice in January 2010.

Hand Hygiene Web Resource Page

In collaboration with our community of practice, PICNet will be adding a Hand Hygiene resource page to our website in the new year. The page will include various resources available to the Community of Practice, including useful links to documents and websites on the Internet. If your organization would like to share your best practices with PICNet, please send us an email at picnet@phsa.ca.

Central Venous Catheter (CVC) Care & Maintenance Online Education Module Now Available!

PICNet is pleased to offer the Central Venous Catheter (CVC) Care & Maintenance Online Education Module, through our partnership with Vancouver Coastal Health’s (VCH) Educational Technologies Department. The online course covers basic theory about CVCs, the management and prevention precautions of CVCs for daily practice, and nursing responsibilities related to CVCs. It is recommended for nursing staff and appropriate for all health care professionals who work with CVCs. For more information, visit the Education & Training section of the PICNet website. 

Project Proposals Deadline: December 31, 2009

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

Education Resource Fund

If you are interested in applying for the Education Resource fund grant, the deadline is March 31, 2010. Members of PICNet’s community of practice may apply to receive up to $2,000 annually to support their attendance at a conference, meeting or other educational activity of their choice. If you qualified to receive funding for this fiscal year (2009/2010), please remember to submit your receipts for reimbursement before March 31^st, 2010.

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

Upcoming Meetings

Dec. 2

Surveillance Steering Committee: MRSA

Dec. 7

Communications Leadership Group

Dec. 17

GI Outbreak Working Group

Jan. 14

Advisory Committee

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 email reminders of upcoming teleclasses which include links to class slides, handouts and the local PICNet teleconference connection number by emailing PICNet directly.

There are two Webber teleclasses scheduled for December 2009.

Date:

Teleclass Topic and Speaker:

Dec. 3

Infection Control During and After Natural Disasters

Pam Falk, University of Texas Medical Branch

Dec. 10

Environmental Cleaning Audits: Do They Help Reduce the Spread of C. difficile and Antibiotic Resistance Organisms in Healthcare Facilities?

Dr. Michelle Alfa, Diagnostic Services Manitoba