IPC Update

June 10, 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,

We are almost there… YOU CAN DO IT!!

With the end of the school year looming and the nice weather outside there are plenty of things to think about other than infection prevention & control. Recent IPC inspections of ongoing clinical activities has revealed that our IPC is slipping and is not up to our expected high standards. 

Here are a few reminders about the infractions that we have witnessed this past week.

• Fit for Work Screening forms are still required

• Hand sanitizer followed by donning as mask is still required upon entering KEC through any entrance

• Fit for Work Stickers are still required.

• Safety glasses are still required to be worn at ALL TIMES when in clinical areas where patient care is occurring even if you are not involved in patient care. Safety glasses are also still required when cleaning an operatory and performing any lab work in KEC or Kipnes.

• Full face shields are still required when performing any Aerosol Generating Procedures on patients

• Head covers are still required when in clinical patient care areas of the OHC. Remember to don full PPE for peer-to-peer practice sessions or when attending learning sessions in the patient care areas of the OHC. 

Recent Fit For Work Screening Changes

AHS has changed the way they are screening their staff, which means that we have changed our Fit For Work screening processes slightly to accommodate their new approach. Here are the important things you need to know:

• You are still required to submit a Fit for Work screening prior to every in-person session you plan to attend. AM, PM and/or after 4 pm.

• If you arrive during those times when the School of Dentistry DOES have an employee stationed by the ambulance bay entrance, you are still required to show your green check mark to them and receive a proof of screening sticker which is the same as you have for the past 2 years.

• *NEW* - If you arrive at KEC when the SoD DOES NOT have an employee stationed at the ambulance bay doors, then you will enter the building via the west staff entrance, go to the staff elevator vestibule, clean your hands, don a new mask and take the elevator to the 8th floor. Once in the OHC, you are now required to proceed to dispensary B to show a SoD employee your green check mark and obtain a proof of screening sticker from them.

• *NEW* - You may enter the Kaye Edmonton Clinic through any door you wish as long as you have a mask on and your AHS ID card visible for the AHS patient screeners to see - this does not count as screening.

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

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