Infection Control

Northwood campuses have seen a steady stream of a variety of respiratory illnesses throughout most of the fiscal year.

Guidelines were updated by Public Health and Wellness regarding what was considered a SARS-COV2 facility-wide outbreak compared to what was considered a floor outbreak. This change made it easier for residents and families to visit loved ones and helped residents access the community if the outbreak was not directly affecting their floor.

Further into our year, we were reintroduced to Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). We have not seen either virus for 2 ½ years on our campuses. At this time the province is seeing an increase in RSV and Influenza in children as well as our elderly population.

Our fall COVID-19 Bivalent doses were received for our residents, leading to 96% of our resident population being immunized. Spring doses are now being given at all campuses for eligible residents.

As for now respiratory illness overall seems to be lower but we are still seeing COVID-19 cases popping up throughout the year. We continue to educate our staff, residents, and families on keeping each other safe.

The Health Standard Organization and Simulation Canada came together to search for long-term care facilities that would take part in the IPAC simulation pilot project. Northwood's long-term care facility was chosen along with 15 other long-term care facilities across Canada to participate. This was a very exciting project to participate in to help our overall learning experience in infection control.

The objective of the pilot project simulations is to help with improving care providers competencies in infection prevention and control practices through simulation.

Simulation involves hands-on infection control case studies, discussions, and online learning. Our goal is to educate at least 20% of our staff, residents, and families within a 3-month time frame. In the past three months, our educators along with staff, have been successful in educating 24% of staff and residents at our Halifax site, and 25% of staff and residents at our Bedford Campus. The IPAC simulations include hand washing, donning and doffing PPE, and respiratory etiquette. Once the simulation session was completed, a debriefing session took place for staff and residents to talk about their experience and how they felt about the