Implementing and sustaining a residential aged care IPC program – The wins and losses
Kelly Barton1,
1 Alpine Health. 30O’Donnell Ave, Myrtleford, Victoria, 3737, Kelly.Barton@alpinehealth.org.au
Implementing a residential aged care Infection Prevention Control (IPC) program in the middle of a pandemic, lockdowns and the most hectic time I have ever experienced in my career was a CHALLENGE! Despite many stumbles and a few rather heated e-mails to the then Department of Health & Ageing, with the help of my manager and support team, I was able to develop and implement a scheduled program for our new IPC leads. Acknowledging our current program has imperfections, it certainly exhibits robust enablers. The main reason for its success focuses around the implementation of audit tools, continuous educational support and a team orientated approach to our learnings. We are continuously readjusting and tweaking the program as we make improvements and include learnings or updates that have arisen in the sector. The IPC leads feel engaged, empowered and important contributors to “making a difference”.
Biography
Kelly Barton is an Infection Control Consultant with 12 years’ experience currently working at Alpine Health in Northeast Victoria. Kelly recently completed her Masters in Infection Control at Griffith University in 2022. She is passionate about One Health, Aged Care and AMS. She recently went to Cambodia with the charity Supporting Silk Sisters to help a rural referral hospital with their first ever accreditation preparations.