Program Description The Northwestern Health Unit is legislated under the
Health Protection and Promotion Act (R.R.O. 1990) and the
Mandatory Health Programs and Services Guidelines (1997) to inspect group housing facilities and to work together with day nurseries, hospitals, nursing homes and homes for the aged to ensure that infection control programs are in place. The Northwestern Health Unit also annually inspects boarding houses, migrant housing, and residential facilities for the aged and those requiring special care to ensure provision of safe food, safe drinking water and sanitary facilities.
Hospitals NWHU provides input to hospital infection control programs.
This includes: - Representation of the Medical Officer of Health or designate on each hospital infection control committee.
- Reporting of designated communicable diseases from hospitals, including emergency rooms and outpatient clinics.
- Providing consultation on the development and revision of infection control policies and procedures and an outbreak contingency plan.
- Providing advice and data as needed on the management of communicable diseases and infection control within the community and other institutions.
- Working together with hospital staff to provide in-service education about communicable diseases.
- Promoting annual influenza vaccination to staff.
Nursing Homes and Homes for the Aged NWHU ensures that infection control programs are in place in all nursing homes and homes for the aged.
This includes: - Representation on infection control committees.
- Ensuring a registered nurse or medical laboratory technologist is responsible for infection control programs in the facility.
- Providing ongoing consultation about a surveillance program.
- Providing consultation on the development and revision of infection control policies.
- Developing an outbreak contingency plan in collaboration with the institution.
- Informing the institutions about required reporting of designated communicable diseases and disease outbreaks to the Medical Officer of Health.
- Ensuring the provision of annual in service education for staff on infectious diseases.
- Promoting annual influenza vaccination to staff.
Day Care Centres NWHU ensures infection control programs are in place in day nurseries.
This includes: - Consultation on the development of infection control policies and procedures such as handwashing, daily observation of children, immunization, health evaluation of children and staff, and communication with parents.
- Inspection of premises at least twice a year (including diaper routines and general housekeeping practices) to ensure safe drinking water, safe food and sanitary facilities.
- Ensuring there are written policies on the management of communicable diseases, exclusion of sick children and reporting of designated diseases to the Medical Officer of Health.
- Providing annual in-service education in basic infection control for staff providing direct care.
- Promoting annual influenza vaccination to staff.
Where There Is Risk of Exposure to BloodNWHU ensures infection prevention practices are in place in settings where there is a risk of exposure to blood such as hairdresser and barber shops, tattoo and body piercing studios, electrolysis and aesthetic clinics.
Community Partnerships
Infection Control Committees Northwestern Health Unit staff are key members of Infection Control Committees in all acute and long-term care facilities in the Kenora and Rainy River Districts. These Infection Control Committees improve coordination of emergency preparedness and contingency planning in the event of an outbreak. They also serve as local forums to discuss current trends and technologies in Health Protection, and share expertise and resources on epidemiological surveillance and infection control. These groups strike relationships with fellow practitioners and improve links with other relevant groups. They provide key input into infection control policies and procedures in hospitals and long-term care facilities.
Membership consists of representatives from: NWHU, hospitals, long-term care facilities, First Nations Inuit Health Branch, First Nations Health Authorities, physicians, nurses, infection control specialists, hospital and medical laboratories, health and safety professionals, and public health inspectors.
Ontario Pandemic Flu Planning Committee Over 200 individuals from public health, clinical care, labour, professional associations, regulatory colleges and government provided their time and expertise to sit on the Ontario Pandemic Flu Planning Committee to help develop the Ontario Health Plan for an Influenza Pandemic, June 2005. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care acknowledges their hard work and dedication to protecting the health and safety of Ontarians as well as the support of their employers, including the Northwestern Health Unit, in enabling them to participate in this process.
Ontario Core Competencies Working Group: Infection Prevention and Control The Northwestern Health Unit was represented on the Ontario Core Competencies Working Group: Infection Prevention and Control. This group linked with CHICA, OMA, RNAO, OPHA, AlPHa and OHA to 1) identify gaps and skill sets needed to deliver services at the local public health level, and 2) to develop common" core competencies for public health professionals for the management of infection prevention and control strategies in Ontario.
Northwestern Ontario Regional Infection Control Committee (RICC) Regional Infection Control Committees are part of the network of local, regional and national committees which are developing a coordinated approach to prevention, surveillance and control of infectious diseases throughout geographic regions and across health care spectrums.
The Northwestern Ontario RICC improves communications and facilitates integration of infection prevention and control activities in the Kenora and Rainy River Districts. District partners include infection control practitioners from hospitals and long-term care facilities.
Northwestern Ontario Regional Infection Control Network (RICN) Regional Infection Control Networks are part of the network of local, regional and national committees which are developing a coordinated approach to prevention, surveillance and control of infectious diseases throughout geographic regions and across health care spectrums.
The Northwestern Ontario RICN reports to the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. It includes representation from a region that covers the Kenora, Rainy River and Thunder Bay Districts. The Northwestern Health Unit is a key partner in the Northwestern Ontario RICN. Other regional partners on the Northwestern Ontario RICN include, but are not limited to, representatives from acute and long-term care facilities, medical laboratories, pediatrics, family medicine, nursing, occupational health and safety, allied health, physicians and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.