How did we do? Infection Prevention and Control supporting the pandemic.

Mrs Kathy Dempsey^1,2, Dr Susan Jain^1,2, Prof Mary-Louise McLaws², Dr Annette Pantle³, Dr Patricia Bradd¹

¹Clinical Excellence Commission – Nsw Health, St Leonards, Australia
²School of Population Health, UNSW Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
³Medical Council of NSW, Sydney, Australia

Method: Non- experimental design – Qualitative and development and distribution of a questionnaire to key stakeholders using and impacted by the application of the framework

Results: Evaluation of resources and the implementation of a risk escalation framework for IPAC in response to COVID-19 pandemic. Study proposal currently with ethics

Conclusion: To be ability to demonstrate the effectiveness and usefulness of the IPAC risk escalation framework in supporting the system throughout the pandemic and preventing or reducing risk of transmission.

Background: Tasked as the lead role in  Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) for NSW pandemic the IPAC and Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) program consists of a multidisciplinary team engaged in providing health professionals with expertise, support and resources for IPAC. January 2020 saw the start of the pandemic that was unprecedented and a response that was multifaceted, multidisciplinary, and multi-agency in nature like never before seen. The responsibility for infection prevention support from an entire country placed on the specialty profession of IPAC. Many tools developed but none supporting the system more than the risk and escalation framework. The evaluation of this resource essential to affect change and improvements.

Biography: Kathy Dempsey is NSW inaugural Chief ICP and HAI Advisor for Clinical Excellence Commission; NSW IPAC COVID-19 Response Clinical Lead and a credentialed expert ICP.  With 37 years’ experience in health and 25years in Infection Prevention and Control. Well known nationally with extensive and broad expertise and lived experience in IPAC  in health, aged care and non-health environments with particular experience in biocontainment and outbreak management. She possesses high level analytical and research skills . Provides advice and expertise to many national bodies and a board director of ACIPC.