Infection Prevention and Control

The safety and health of our patients is our top priority at BCHS. The goal of our Infection Prevention and Control program is to identify and reduce the risk of healthcare associated infections.

We accomplish this through:

• Surveillance
• Education
• Collaboration

We monitor the hospital for infections and diseases that affect the health of our patients, staff and visitors. We provide education for about common infections and collaborate with other programs and services within our hospital and external organizations to help keep our patients, visitors and staff safe.

As part of our patient safety and quality program, we continuously track and monitor the quality of care we provide using a number of evidence-based patient safety indicators. These indicators are all standardized provincially and/or nationally as defined by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, the Canadian Institute for Health Information and Accreditation Canada. You can view our infection rates.

Visiting the hospital

Patients who are in hospital may be vulnerable to infection. It is important for everyone to follow the hand hygiene guidelines posted around the hospital. Wash your hands with soap and warm water or use the alcohol based hand sanitizer conveniently located in wall mounted dispensers throughout the hospital. Remember to clean your hands:

• When entering and leaving the hospital
• When entering and leaving a patient room
• After using the bathroom
• Before eating
• After blowing your nose or coughing and sneezing

DO NOT visit the hospital if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Symptoms of cough, sore throat, runny nose and/or fever
• Conjunctivitis (eye infection or pink eye)
• Chicken pox, shingles, measles or mumps
• Infectious rashes

Please delay your visit until your symptoms are gone.