Infection Prevention and Control

Waypoint has a comprehensive Infection Control Program based on evidence based practices and procedures. It involves many aspects of keeping patients, staff and visitors safe including surveillance for infectious diseases, hand hygiene, education, communications and monitoring outbreaks. We strive to prevent and reduce the spread of infections between healthcare workers, patients and visitors. Our ultimate goal is to keep our patients safe, and provide excellent care to all who need our services.

In 2008, all Ontario hospitals began publically reporting on a series of patient safety indicators. The purpose of reporting these indicators is to reassure the public of Ontario hospitals’ commitment to enhancing patient safety and improving patient care. Waypoint tracks and reports all cases of C. difficile, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Vanomycin-resistent Enerococci (VRE) as well as hand hygiene compliance rates for "before and after patient contact". The reporting helps establish a baseline from which we can track our rates over time. This way, we can identify a rise in rates and, in response, identify areas for improvement and implement strategies to reduce the rate of these infectious illnesses in our hospital.

For more information, please contact one of Waypoint's Infection Control Practitioners: 705 549-3181, ext. 2128 or 2652

You may also wish to visit the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care's website at www.ontario.ca/patientsafety