Shaping the Infection Prevention and Control future with consumer engagement
Suzanne Alexander1, , 1ISLHD, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Background
The ISLHD Infection Management and Control Service (IMACS) team have always recognised the importance of providing targeted information for consumers. By engaging with our consumers, we strive to offer useful and appropriate Infection Control resources.
Actions and results
Our team developed MRO factsheets to provide simple information to consumers about MRSA, VRE, MROs and Clostridium difficile. A grant was obtained to translate these factsheets into the six most common languages in our LHD. These were reviewed by patients and staff with English as a second language.
Patients/clients who access outpatient services are surveyed to comment on hand hygiene performed by staff. This feedback allows clients to offer suggestions for staff to improve hand hygiene compliance.
Consumers representatives attend Standard 3 meetings at local and district level. As part of the update of the IMACS internet site, consumer representatives have been interviewed to submit their input into this redesign. The consumers who attend the Consumer Advisory committee were approached to attend a survey of what content should be included to make the IMACS internet page more accessible, relevant and useful for consumers of healthcare. This feedback is being incorporated into the website redesign to deliver a comprehensive, directed and user-friendly site with up-to-date resources to assist consumers to access information about Infection Prevention and Control in their health care journey.
Conclusion
Providing relevant resources is an ongoing challenge and engaging consumers at every level of the process for developing Infection Control resources will continue to be a priority.
Biography
Suzanne Alexander has worked in Infection Prevention and Control in Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District for almost 20 years. Suzanne is an Infection Prevention and Control CNC based at Wollongong hospital. Suzanne enjoys the challenges and variety of the role including patient interaction, education, staff support, networking, surveillance and keeping the ISLHD intranet and internet interesting and up-to-date.