Infection Rates

HGMH takes your care and your safety very seriously, and we are committed to transparency. In this section of our website, you will find:

• Monthly C. difficile infection rates;
• Quarterly rates for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia and Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE) bacteremia; and
• Annual hand hygiene compliance rates among our health care providers.

What is Hôpital Glengarry Memorial Hospital doing to improve patient safety?

Our Initiatives

• HGMH has senior and middle management support and commitment to make hand hygiene an organizational priority.
• A multidisciplinary hand hygiene group was formed to facilitate the "Just Clean Your Hands Program".
• Point of Care Access to Alcohol-Based Hand Rub was provided with staff input into product and placement.
• A hand care program was developed to assist staff that has hand/skin problems.
• Provincial Infectious Disease Advisory Committee (PIDAC) Best Practices for Hand Hygiene In all Health care Settings are followed.
• The Ministry Of Health and Long Term Care" Four Moments for Hand Hygiene" have been in-serviced to all health care employees.
• Ongoing monitoring for compliance and performance indicators is performed through auditing and infection surveillance and feedback is given to health care providers.
• Patient/family/visitors are educated on the importance of hand hygiene. Educational brochures are given to all patients on admission and are available for family and visitors explaining our Hand Hygiene Program at HGMH.
• Patients are provided with Purell hand sanitizing wipes to clean their hands prior to eating to help reduce the risk of infections.
• Hand Hygiene Champions have been chosen from all departments to be leaders and positive role models for hand hygiene practices. Our champions provide on the spot feedback on hand hygiene practices to healthcare providers.
• Visual workplace reminders for the importance of hand hygiene and the "Four Moments" have been placed throughout the hospital.

What can patients do to help improve their own safety?

Hand hygiene involves everyone in the hospital, including patients. Hand cleaning is one of the best ways you and your health care team can prevent the spread of many infections. Patients and their visitors should also practice good hand hygiene before and after entering patient rooms.

More patient-specific information is available at www.ontario.ca/patientsafety

If you have any questions about the information linked below or about our hospital's infection prevention and control program, please contact the Infection Prevention and Control Practitioner by telephone at 613-525-2222 ext. 4114.