IPC Update

Jan. 16, 2022 | Health, Safety & Environment Coordinator

Note: To find topics from previous bulletins, please use the search icon [🔎] in the top right-hand corner of this page.

Dear Staff, Faculty and Students,

Continuous Mask & Eye Protection Wear Update from Alberta Health Services

AHS Kaye Edmonton Clinic Site Administration has updated and clarified their continuous masking and eye protection mandate. The are now requiring both mask and eyewear be donned immediately upon entering KEC or any other building that is part of the Walter Mackenzie Campus which includes KEC, UofA Hospital, MAZ, Stollery and Aberhart. These are the important points you must know to be in compliance:

• Adding side shields to regular prescription eyeglasses is not acceptable - you must wear CSA approved safety glasses with integrated side shields

• Safety glasses or a face shield must be donned at the screening station in KEC 

• Safety glasses should be taken home with you each night so that you can don them together with a mask upon arrival in KEC

• Mask and safety glasses/face shield must be worn in ALL areas of KEC at all times

• These regulations apply to everyone, including those who work in administrative areas

• When mask removal is necessary when eating/drinking, ensure you are more than 6 feet from anyone else, then remove your mask by handling the earloop on one side, consume your drink or food, and immediately don your mask again.

Patients & Continuous Masking

To protect our patients to the best of our ability, please ensure that your patients re-don their mask anytime that active treatment is not being provided ie. when speaking with patients about medical histories, consents or treatment plans; when waiting for your instructor; when taking patients to radiology; when escorting patients to the washroom or Patient Services; and during any other idle times when patients are in the clinical space.

Have IPC Questions, Concerns or Positive Comments? Email dentIPC@ualberta.ca.

Sincerely,
Dr. Khaled Altabtbaei, IPC Officer
Ronna Richardson-Lozano, IPC Coordinator