October 18, 2021
It’s not about correcting, it’s about protecting
October 18-22 is national Infection Control Week in Canada and the U.S.
The arrival of COVID-19 in Manitoba in 2020 brought increased PPE protocols to our sites and a strong reminder of the importance of proper and consistent hand hygiene.
20 months later, our province is experiencing its fourth wave of COVID-19.
At the start of the pandemic there was an eager desire to follow the 4Moments of Hand Hygiene perfectly and to don/doff PPE with utmost care. Today some staff are experiencing PPE fatigue and may make a mistake that could contaminate their hands or clothing.
It's not always easy to approach a colleague when you've observed them miss a step when donning or doffing PPE or performing hand hygiene. Just like the situations above, people don't do it intentionally.
A quick, and non-judgmental, comment could avoid future embarrassment. This Infection Control Week, let's start the discussion, to protect our patients, residents, clients, and ourselves.
This year we are asking, how can we help our staff feel more comfortable being corrected, or correcting a colleague, when they have missed a moment of hand hygiene or are wearing PPE incorrectly? How would they prefer to be approached?
Below are testimonials that share how these staff would like to be approached if they made a mistake:
“Yes, definitely. PPE and hand hygiene are a critical part of our profession in order to keep our residents, clients, patients and team members healthy and safe.
Remember we can all make mistakes so be kind to each other and correct the individual on the spot."
– Nicole Hibbard, Clinical Resource Nurse, Deer Lodge Centre
"I would like people to remind me.
I work from an office and often run out to grab something or ask a quick question and I have found a few times I did not put my eye shield on (don't need it in a private office). I am always surprised no one ever say's anything to me, especially since I am always reminding people if I notice they have missed PPE or a hand hygiene step."
– Shannon Croft, Clinical Manager, Long Term Care, Concordia Place
"I absolutely want to be informed if I missed a moment of hand hygiene or if I am not wearing my protection correctly. I appreciate that my colleagues and team care about my safety and about the safety of those in our care.
We are human and all of us can be distracted or make mistakes. I am thankful that we are committed to looking out for each other."
– Brenda Badiuk, RTNM, MA President & COO, SOGH
"I would like to have on the spot feedback.
It’s important to wear PPE correctly and to do 4 moments of hand hygiene to prevent self-contamination and to prevent others from any disease transmission. Provide on the spot feedback, approach people in non-judgemental way and become an example."
– Veerpal Plaha, Care Coordinator Golden Door Geriatric Centre
"I am not at all offended by a direct approach such as ‘Hey, I'm worried you may have forgotten a step in hand hygiene.'
Our days are busy and we perform hand hygiene and don and doff PPE frequently. We need to support each other to do so, to keep our patients and each other safe."
– Kathy Kisil MD FCFP Primary Care Clinic Access Downtown
"I want to be told if my PPE or my hand hygiene technique is not adequate so that I can better protect my patients, my colleagues, and myself.
We can let them know on the spot. This is the best time to do it, with a kind reminder that we are on the same team and we are jut trying to help. A culture of good communication and open feedback is important for any team."
– Robert Bohemier, Medical Director Seven Oaks Urgent Care