Patient safety

Chatham-Kent tests infection surveillance system

TORONTO – rL Solutions, a leading provider of healthcare quality and safety software, announced that Chatham-Kent Health Alliance is participating in a beta program to improve infection control by implementing the company’s Infection MonitorPro (IMPro).

According to the developer, IMPro is a computerized application that helps healthcare organizations better detect, manage, prevent and control infection risks, making healthcare safer for patients, staff, physicians, volunteers and visitors while reducing overall costs.

As a beta program participant, CKHA will have significant input into the ongoing development of IMPro, and will work closely with the rL Solutions IMPro team to help fine-tune the product within a hospital environment.

The system – being rolled out by the Infection Prevention and Control Department and Consolidated Health Information Services – has been developed over the course of five years in an Australian clinical environment, and will provide CKHA with enhanced surveillance and monitoring of infectious diseases.

“We are extremely pleased to act as the beta site for Canada and to be one of only two clients in North America invited to participate in the beta program for rL Solutions’ infection monitoring software,” said Carol Turner, Infection Prevention and Control Coordinator, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. “IMPro will help improve the quality of healthcare that we provide and enhance safety through the application of advanced technology.”

“The goal of the beta program is to provide CKHA with a system that will increase Infection Control Practitioner productivity and streamline the management of infection cases, which will ultimately result in a lower rate of infection,” said Colin Hung, Vice-President, Marketing and Alliances, rL Solutions.

“By automating infection surveillance and providing simple data mining capabilities, IMPro will help CKHA eliminate much of the non value-add administrative tasks that an ICP is forced to do,” said Hung. “This will allow CKHA to better focus organizational resources on infection prevention and control.”

In addition to its ongoing efforts, CKHA will be implementing further multi-faceted hand hygiene programs in the coming months.

For example, Just Clean Your Hands is a program developed provincially and is targeted at raising healthcare worker awareness about the importance of clean hands. A complementary, Clean Hands Protect Lives campaign encourages patients to be involved in their care and heighten awareness regarding the importance of hand hygiene.

Says Turner: “These extensive hand hygiene programs are being taken on because hand hygiene is the single most effective way to reduce healthcare-acquired infections. We all need to take part in practicing patient and healthcare worker safety.”

About rL Solutions
rL Solutions provides proven risk management, patient feedback, claims and infection control software to help healthcare organizations improve patient safety and healthcare quality. According to the company, rL Solutions brings together innovative technologies, stellar client service and a broad ecosystem of partners to give its 500 clients a complete safety and quality solution. With products that are easy to use and easy to implement, rL Solutions is a world leader in the healthcare market. For more information, visit www.rl-solutions.com.

About Chatham-Kent Health Alliance
Delivering quality care to residents of Chatham-Kent, South Lambton and Walpole Island, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance operates 300 beds across campuses in Chatham and Wallaceburg. CKHA is dedicated to core service excellence, top-flight operational performance and to redefining healthcare in Southwestern Ontario. CKHA, a Top 100 Employer in Canada, is comprised of 1,300 compassionate staff, physicians and volunteers who care for thousands of inpatients, outpatients and emergency patients annually. For more information, please visit www.ckha.on.ca.