CAH Annual Report 2006 - South West Alliance of Rural Health

Colac Area Health Annual Report 2006Infection ControlInfection control has been one of the key areas inCAH’s quality of care program. CAH Clinical NurseConsultant Infection Control, Ann Gray, says qualityof care aims to provide care that has been tested toprove its effectiveness.Colac Area Health (CAH) currently has adesignated Infection Control Consultant whois also an accredited Nurse Immuniser.The Regional/Rural Infection ControlConsultant is also based at CAH, and isshared by two Division 1 Registered Nurses.They have an involvement with other localhealth services and have assisted in developingaudit tools that can be utilised Victoria-wide.These consultants continue their ownpersonal professional development whilefulfilling their role.Recently, one consultant completed theAdvanced Diploma of Business Managementwhile the other continues to study for aMasters degree.Colac Area Health has an Infection ControlLiaison Nurse who works night duty andis further developing liaison roles in otherdepartments. Throughout the organisation,all staff members are encouraged to haveinfection prevention and control as a majorfocus.Ongoing education is seen as an importanttool in maintaining this focus. This is achievedthrough all staff attending education sessionsand various activities throughout the yearthat highlight infection control. During2006, staff members in the Operating Suiteand Sterilisation Department are attendingeducation updates on various topics such asValidation of Sterilisation and Processingof Endoscopes. When new equipment isintroduced to these areas, education on thecorrect use and processing is undertaken andappropriate policies developed. This ensurescompliance with the Australian standard –AS/NZS 4187: 2003.At CAH, staff follow the guidelines of theVictorian Government’s Infection ControlStrategy, which ensures that prevention,monitoring and control of infection is amajor part of the focus of any health service.Infection control programs run in conjunctionwith Quality and Safety and Clinical RiskManagement programs. CAH is involved insurveillance and collection of data on hospitalacquired infections and particularly thoseinvolving resistant organisms.As a Public Health Service, CAH submitsthis data to the Victorian Hospital AcquiredInfection Surveillance System, which is aGovernment-funded agency and we thenreceive quarterly surveillance reports.Colac Area Health will be involved in thesecond stage of the Victorian Quality Council(VQC) Hand Hygiene Project from July 2006.This will look at ways of improving the handhygiene compliance rate among health careworkers and improving quality outcomes.CAH has been utilising chlorhexidine andalcohol-based hand rubs in our facility forthe past two years and in the community andthese products are already well accepted byour staff.Our public Dental Clinic continuesto maintain its valuable service to thecommunity in conjunction with DentalHealth Services Victoria.Further developments are in the planningstages. The refurbishment of the sterilisationroom continues to ensure compliance withrelevant standards. This year the DentalClinic staff are supervising the clinicalpractice of a trainee dental nurse, providingfurther employment opportunities within thecommunity, and infection control principlesare a major part of this program.An extensive immunisation program isavailable to staff for vaccine preventablediseases. Encouragement is given to allstaff to participate in the annual influenzavaccination program. Influenza vaccine is alsoavailable to some in-patients in the Acute areaand to all of the residents in the Aged Carefacility.With the development of the new Aged Carefacility there will be a marked improvementin the amenities and facilities available to ourresidents and staff. The availability of manysingle rooms with ensuite facilities will makethe prevention of infection and control easierto manage. Utensil washers in our utilityrooms will make the job of maintaining thehygiene standard of patient use equipmenteasier to achieve. We look forward to theenvironmental improvements that thisdevelopment will bring.Ann GrayClinical Nurse ConsultantInfection ControlOngoing education isan important tool forColac Area Health inmaintaining the focuson infection controland prevention. Allstaff attend educationsessions whichhighlight infectioncontrol.22 Colac Area Health Annual Report 200623