Surgical Site Infection Prevention in Ontario

The Quality Healthcare Network has created this dedicated Internet space for members requiring information and support on Surgical Site Infection prevention in Ontario.

Below you will find useful links to resource documents we have created collaboratively with our partners in Ontario, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and the Ontario Hospital Association - to help hospitals prepare to publicly report their Surgical Site Infection prevention data beginning on April 30, 2009.

Please check back regularly as we will continue to post useful materials for those working toward improving the quality of surgical care in your hospital. You may also find useful materials at www.oha.com or www.health.gov.on.ca/patient_safety.

Hospitals and other organizations that have questions specifically related to SSI continuing improvement should contact Cynthia Majewski, Executive Director, Quality Healthcare Network and Ontario Node Leader, Safer Healthcare Now! at 416-351-3701 or contact our dedicated SSI information email at ssi@qhn.ca.

Tools

The following tools - templates, manuals and policies, have been recommended by our members, faculty or partners.

For an Update on Public Reporting of SSI Prevention in Ontario and Frequently Asked Questions for SSI Prevention in Ontario please contact Karen Sequeira at ksequeira@oha.com or go to www.oha.com
For the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care SSI Case Definition and Reporting Periods go to www.oha.com
List of Codes for Hip and Knee Anthroplasty go to Canadian Classification of Health Interventions (CCI) Codes posted at www.oha.com
Ministry of Health and Long Term Care SSI Reporting Form - Hip & Knee Surgery
(WERS Template for SSI-Prevention indicator) at www.oha.com
For the Ottawa Hospital Surgical Site Infection Prevention Data Collection Tool go to www.oha.com
Safer Healthcare Now! SSI Measurement Worksheets
A Snapshot of SSI in Canada presented by Virginia Flintoft, Project Leader, Central Measurement Team, Safer Healthcare Now!
Getting Started with SSI for Reliable Care presented by Dr. Claude Laflamme, Anesthesiologist, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Faculty, and SSI Intervention and Marlies van Dijk, SHN Western Node Leader, SSI Intervention Lead.
The Antimicrobial Stewardship: The Time is Now presented by Dr. Kevin Katz, Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control, Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control, North York General Hospital and Assistant Professor, Dept. of Laboratory Medicine and Assistant
Professor, Dept. of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto.

Examples from the Field

The following presentations and stories demonstrate what can happen when these tools and evidence are put into practice.

Literature

The following evidence has been gathered for your informatiion.