Hospital gains leading-edge infection control equipment

Celebrating a $5,800 donation from Ben Prinzen and the family at Prinzen Ford Sales to prevent infection at Picton hospital in a pro-active way are Larry Matheson, vice-president of the Foundation, Ben Prinzen, Anna Marie Ferguson, executive director of the PECMH Foundation and John and Anna-Lisa Carney of Prinzen Ford Motor Sales.

Infection control at QHC Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital is “Built Ford Tough” thanks to a $5,800 donation from Ben Prinzen and the family at Prinzen Ford Sales, Bloomfield. The contribution makes Picton the first hospital in the region to purchase and install “mural PPE” leading-edge infection control equipment.
The incidence of organisms (such as MRSA, VRE, C-Diff) can be a significant health risk to patients, staff and visitors in a hospital. A method to reduce spread of bacteria and viruses is the donning of personal protective equipment commonly known in the health care setting as PPE. The equipment includes masks, gloves, gowns, hand sanitizer, etc. Isolation signs and carts of these supplies outside of patient rooms indicate that a patient(s) is on isolation precautions. These carts clutter the corridor, are difficult to clean and expensive to purchase. When multiple isolation requirements occur at PECMH, bed side tables have been put into use for carts, but they are not ideal.
A “mural PPE” design of holders  significantly improves accessibility for the hospital staff and visitors. Fifteen PPE murals have been purchased for each patient room. These are supported by Infection Control staff, are easily cleaned and portable for future planning. They will free up floor space and are less expensive than isolation carts.
“It is such a wonderful thing to receive this gift that will provide the front line staff at PEC hospital with accessibility to equipment they use daily to assure patient safety,” said Sheila Chartrand, infection control nurse at Quinte Health Care. “The PEC hospital will join such hospitals as CHEO (Children’s Hospital Eastern Ontario), St Jerome Hospital Quebec, and many others to have the equipment. We are the first hospital at QHC and the first in the South East LHIN to install this system. Infection Prevention has been identified as a priority with the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, and Canadian Patient Safety Institute. This is definitely a proactive move in the right direction,” said Chartrand.