In 2018, the Home took part in the IDEAS Advanced Learning Program. IDEAS, which stands for Improving & Driving Excellence Across Sectors, provides quality improvement training to Ontario’s healthcare professionals. An interdisciplinary team, consisting of Director of Care, Registered Nurse, Activation Aide and Quality Lead, with the Executive Director as their sponsor, enrolled into the program. The team focused on improving Infection Prevention and Control Practices in the Home.
The project aimed to decrease the number of residents with respiratory and enteric symptoms. By engaging front line staff, the team identified the critical points in the workflow as they relate to the spread of infection. The team initiated two change ideas which proved to be effective and brought the desired results. Learnings and protocols from the IDEAS project continue to be practiced during the COVID-19 pandemic.