Back to SearchNIPISSING & PARRY SOUND, ON - Twenty-five congregate living settings throughout the Nipissing and Parry Sound districts have received infection prevention and control (IPAC) supports thanks to the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit)’s IPAC Hub.
The IPAC Hub is a Ministry of Health Initiative operationalized by local public health that builds on existing partnerships to support the delivery of IPAC knowledge, training and expertise within congregate living settings.
IPAC measures help to prevent and/or reduce the risk of spreading an infection to residents, visitors and health care providers in these settings. These measures can include hand-washing, implementing a cleaning and disinfection schedule, having dedicated equipment for each resident, developing evidence-based policies and procedures, and routine auditing of IPAC practices. When an outbreak is declared in a congregate living setting, IPAC measures are even more important in stopping the spread of infection.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for IPAC measures in congregate living settings, including the need for additional IPAC education, certification, policy development and equipment to support IPAC best practices. Congregate living settings include long-term care homes, retirement homes, group homes and shelters.
In an effort to support improvements to IPAC measures in congregate living settings, the Health Unit offered IPAC assessments, which allowed congregate living settings to receive feedback on their IPAC measures. The Health Unit also offered grants to eligible settings of up to $5,000 of funding from the Health Unit. Successful applicants have used the funding for IPAC equipment, personal protective equipment including N95 mask (respirator) purchases and fit-testing, rapid antigen tests, plexiglass barriers, HEPA filters, as well as educational opportunities for staff and volunteers.
“Congregate living settings have been working very hard and are continuing to prioritize IPAC measures as they face unique challenges brought on by the pandemic,” says Kara Burnett, Public Health Inspector at the Health Unit. "We know that congregate living setting residents are at an increased risk of COVID-19 infection and severe outcomes, because of the close living arrangements of residents and the residents’ underlying health conditions. The education and items purchased have had a profound impact on the IPAC measures in these settings. The support settings received will also serve them beyond the pandemic, as they are now better prepared to prevent or control the spread of most infectious diseases.”
If you are looking for more information on IPAC measures visit the Health Unit’s website at myhealthunit.ca/COVID-19.
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Media Inquiries:
Alex McDermid, Public Relations Specialist
P: 705-474-1400, ext. 5221 or 1-800-563-2808
E: communications@healthunit.ca
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