Outbreaks in Long-Term Care – Have a Plan
Nursing homes in Ontario have been among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although unsettling, infectious disease outbreaks need not induce panic for our long-term care partners. Outbreak preparedness can play a critical role in soothing staff concerns and modelling effective infection control behaviours. To begin the path towards an effective outbreak management plan, employers need to know:
- How to help protect staff and residents
- How to stay informed
Keeping the above in mind, here is what you will need to plan, prepare and manage a COVID-19 pandemic.
During any outbreak, safety is the number one priority for staff and residents. Staff will need to be familiar and understand how COVID-19 spreads and what they can do to avoid acquiring the virus.
Facilities will need to ensure a proper inventory and stock of the necessary PPE for their staff. Both the right types and the amount of stock on-hand is crucial since PPE will become an indispensable resource during outbreaks that will need to be replenished quickly. The PPE that will be required are medical face masks, gloves, gowns, and N95s. Facilities have a responsibility to ensure staff are adequately trained on donning and doffing PPE to prevent contaminating themselves.
Hand hygiene is another critical tool that can help protect staff. The facility must implement alcohol-based hand rubs that have 70-90% alcohol concentration. For any room that involves patient care, a hand washing sink is required. Provide sufficient soap and water, paper towels and disinfectant wipes so employees can clean their hands efficiently and wipe commonly used surfaces before each use. Hand hygiene audits are an effective method of ensuring hand hygiene compliance is a top priority.
Screening and testing is another effective infection control procedure that should not be overlooked. By rapidly testing staff as they enter the long-term home and screening for symptoms and exposure, facilities can be better equipped at preventing positive COVID-19 cases from entering the home. Encourage staff to not interact with residents until they are cleared from their rapid COVID-19 test and to contact their supervisors if they are experiencing any symptoms. By implementing these initiatives, long-term care homes can reduce the risk of introducing and spreading the COVID-19 virus.
Lastly, long-term care homes should continue to collaborate with their local public health unit, IPAC professionals and the Ministry of Health to follow relevant guidance, restrictions and best practices as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves. It is vital to stay up to date on the latest guidance from Public Health Ontario and the Ministry of Health. Ensure information is provided to staff on a timely basis using adult education principles. Information is power and managers can use new guidance to empower their staff in the fight against COVID-19.
