IPC Update

March 25, 2022 | Health, Safety & Environment Coordinator

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Dear Staff, Faculty and Students,

During recent clinic walkthroughs, we have seen clinical IPC slipping. We recognize that at this point in any given year, schedules are hectic and everyone is feeling IPC fatigue and because of the pandemic these feelings may be amplified. There are already new COVID-19 virus variants circulating in our region and the risks posed by these variants are largely unknown at this time. That being said, we cannot and must not let our guards down.

The Fit For Work Screening Questionnaire and Continuous Masking directives from Alberta Health Services are still in effect and will continue to be until AHS informs us otherwise. There is, however, a bit of positive change to celebrate. 

AHS has relaxed our KEC continuous eye protection directive slightly to allow for us to be without eye protection (safety glasses or face shield) in non-patient care areas. This means that upon entering the building in the morning, students/faculty/staff will no longer be required to don eye protection to come up to the 8th floor. Additionally, protective eyewear is no longer required in the east patient services corridor, the west staff corridor, the staff washrooms, the staff lounge, the Learner Lounge nor any other non-patient care areas in KEC. 

As mentioned earlier, there are no changes to our clinical IPC procedures so a mask and eye protection (safety glasses or face shield) MUST be worn at all times by all students, faculty & staff when working with unmasked patients. It is not advisable to wear both safety glasses and a face shield at the same time as it can affect visual acuity. Face shields MUST be worn for all aerosol generating procedures (any procedure that uses a handpiece, cavitron, piezo, or air-water syringe) while safety glasses can be used for all other activities.

The same is true for the Simulation Lab in Kipnes. Even though there are no patients in the Sim Lab, it is very important that new skills be learned in the manner in which they will be carried out during patient care. This means continuous masking and eye protection (safety glasses or face shield) MUST be adhered to when in the Simulation Lab by all students, faculty & staff.

We strongly encourage everyone to wear a mask anytime physical distancing is not possible such as in Kipnes classrooms, crowded hallways, study areas, etc. 

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

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