Mrs. Louise Wright1
1Monash Health, Clayton, Australia
Biography:
Louise is the Infection Prevention Nurse Consultant in the Residential In-Reach team at Monash Health. Prior to this she was a member of the Infection Prevention and Epidemiology team. Following completion of her qualification in 1990, she has been actively involved in Infection Prevention. She is passionate exponent for the need to improve resident care through implementation and maintenance of a comprehensive infection prevention program.
Louise has augmented her professional qualifications over her career, completing midwifery, Critical Care training and a Master of Education – Adult and workplace learning. She is also nurse immuniser.
Abstract:
In 2020 Monash Health (MH) provided hands-on outbreak management support to residential aged care facilities (RACF) experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks. Staff were redeployed from the residential in reach (RIR) and community teams with infection prevention consultants from MH Infection Prevention & Epidemiology team also co-opted. Residential in reach is a Victorian state government funded initiative which provides clinical care to residents within their RACF to reduce the risk of unnecessary hospital visits.
Following this initial response it was recognised that being able to provide ongoing infection prevention and control (IPC) support including education to the 80 plus RACFs in the MH catchment was required and this occurred in 2021.
Much of the time since the introduction of this role in the RIR team has been to notify facilities that there is an IPC nurse consultant available to assist and support them with their IPC programs. It has involved providing COVID-19 vaccinations during times of active outbreaks during the first year of the COVID-19 vaccination program. Providing ongoing assistance with updated IPC guidance from state and commonwealth government bodies, education of staff in relation to standard precautions and their application in a residential setting along with outbreak management support as needed. Working closely with the local public health unit. It has also allowed staff within the RIR team to further develop their IPC skills.
Feedback received following IPC education sessions and outbreak support visits has affirmed the decision to include an IPC role within the RIR team.