Occupational Health Safety Wellness and Infection Prevention Control

Occupational Health Safety & Wellness and Infection Prevention & Control Update Fall 2020

Influenza Season is Here ! • Covenant Health Influenza Campaign for all staff, physicians, volunteers, & students • 2020 – 2021 Covenant Health vaccination goal: 80% • 2019 – 2020 Covenant Health vaccination rate: 68% • 2018 – 2019 Covenant Health vaccination rate: 69%

What’s New This Year with Influenza Immunization? • We may see more interest in immunization this year • Reducing impact if you get influenza (keeping healthy) • Immunizing stations will be the same, however the clinic operations will be different • Separate entry / exit points • Social distancing in waiting pre / post vaccination • May have longer lines due to limited space for paperwork and cleaning between clients • Post vaccine reactions may be confused with symptoms of Covid-19 (Isolate for 2 days and re-assess) • No roving clinics • No promotional items given out (pens, stickers, candy or food)

Covenant Health Influenza Campaign • Clinics run October 15 – November 12 • Encourage all staff to attend on site clinics • Promote “I got my flu shot” • For flu shots received outside of Covenant Health clinics • Provides documentation needed for “fit to work” status during influenza outbreaks

Why Get a Flu Shot? • Stress importance of Influenza Immunization to staff • Possibility of having both Influenza and Covid-19 • Influenza illness will decrease Covid-19 resources • Hospitalizations • Swab testing • “immunization of care providers is associated with decreased risk of ILI outbreaks” National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI)

Key Differences between IPC and OHS&W IPC Program : Primary focus to prevent patients from acquiring and transmitting healthcare-associated infections by promoting an environment that encourages IPC best practices. IPC does not access staff disease exposure information OHS&W Program: Primary focus to provide and support a safe and healthy workplace for all staff, physicians, volunteers, students and contractors. This includes ability management, occupational exposures, safety and hygiene, and wellness. OHS does not manage patient communicable disease

What is new with IPC Influenza management? Key actions still include: • Early identification of patients with “Influenza Like Illness” symptoms • If symptomatic immediately isolate with contact/droplet precautions • Notify attending physician for next steps which may include collecting specimens for respiratory virus testing

How to Prevent Influenza Transmission in a Healthcare Facility • Routine practices are activities that help reduce the risk of being exposed to the blood, body fluids, and broken skin of individuals in your care • Additional precautions are the necessary protective measures used in addition to routine practices

Routine Practices include: • • • Hand hygiene Respiratory etiquette Environmental and shared patient equipment cleaning and disinfection Point of Care Risk Assessment Management of linen and waste Patient placement/accommodation

Additional Contact and Droplet (isolation) Precautions:

Requirements for Patients on Contact and Droplet Precautions • Single room and bathroom preferred (2 m separation if shared space) • Staff must wear gown, procedure mask, gloves, eye protection when entering patient’s room/bed space. • N 95 substituted when AGMP performed (close door) • Staff must follow PPE donning/doffing sequence • Use disposable equipment if possible or dedicate to patient • Patients should only leave room for essential purposes.

Discontinuing Contact and Droplet Precautions • Discontinuation of precautions for viruses is based on acute symptom resolution and clinical assessment • For more information consult the Acute Care or Continuing Care Diseases and Conditions Table on Compassion. Net

Influenza Outbreak Management • Outbreaks fall under control of the Medical Officer of Health (direct activities of Public Health, IPC, OHS&W) • Update “fit to work” & “I got my flu shot” unit lists to assist staffing • Refer to OHSW Outbreak Management toolkit and IPC Outbreak Management Resources on Compassion. NET

Influenza Outbreak Management • Review ILI case definition and reporting with staff • Obtain immunization status of non-Covenant staff • Communicate with staff on outbreak protocols • Encourage Influenza Administration and/or Tamiflu • Or re-assignment will be necessary

For More Information • OHSW Department 780 -342 -8070 occhealthnurse@covenanthealth. ca • IPC Department Refer to the IPC webpage on Compassion. NET for site specific contact information

Some examples of patient care ILI and Influenza Resources include: • Respiratory Illness Algorithm: Assessing the Need for Additional Precautions • ILI Resources and Tips Sheet • ILI Staff Poster • Communicable Disease (Respiratory) Initial Screening Form • COVID-19 Symptom Identification and Monitoring Form (21616) • Guidelines for Outbreak Prevention, Control and Management in Acute Care & Supportive Living Sites • OHS&W Manager’s Outbreak Management Toolkit

Supplementary Information Additional information is available to accompany this presentation: • IPC Link https: //www. compassionnet. ca/Page 172. aspx • OHS&W Link https: //www. compassionnet. ca/Page 591. aspx