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'Operation Health Protection' Giving Hospitals Improved Training And
Emergency Supplies
TORONTO, Jan. 13 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government is improving emergency-
response capacity in Ontario by providing hospitals with decontamination
tents, improved training for hospital staff, and beefed up stockpiles of
emergency equipment and supplies, Health and Long-Term Care Minster George
Smitherman announced today.
"Ontarians must have complete confidence that their health care system
can respond in times of emergencies," Smitherman said. "For the first time in
Ontario, we are moving to bring all hospital emergency departments to a
standardized level of readiness."
The government is allocating $13.5 million to hospitals based on their
size, capacity and expertise. As part of the investment, the government will:
- Purchase one portable, self-contained decontamination tent for every
hospital emergency department. Tents ensure that any patients
exposed to chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN)
agents from an industrial accident, train derailment or other event
can be decontaminated outside the hospital, reducing risk to other
patients and staff.
- Purchase stockpiles of radiation/decontamination equipment,
including personal protective equipment for employees,
radiological/nuclear monitoring systems and air samplers, as well as
other emergency supplies for hospitals.
- Conduct enhanced training of hospital staff for all types of
emergencies, including chemical, biological, radiological and
nuclear.
"Today's announcement is an important investment in the emergency
capacity of Ontario's health care system," said Hilary Short, President and
CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association. "We welcome the opportunity to
increase needed training and development for staff involved in health
emergencies."
This emergency preparedness initiative is part of Operation Health
Protection, a three-year plan to revitalize Ontario's public health system.
The plan was launched last June in response to recommendations from the
interim Campbell and final Walker reports examining the impact of the SARS
crisis across the health care system.
"I am delighted to see the government is continuing to strengthen the
province's capacity to protect the health and safety of our population," said
Dr. David Walker, who headed the Expert Panel on SARS and Infectious Disease
Control. "These latest initiatives are consistent with the recommendations of
our report."
As part of Operation Health Protection, the government is also announcing
several initiatives to strengthen public health, including:
- A task force to advise on the creation of the new Health Protection
and Promotion Agency. This arms-length agency will be a vital
resource to health providers, researchers and non-governmental
agencies in the areas of health protection, disease prevention and
health promotion.
- The completion by the Provincial Infectious Disease Advisory
Committee (PIDAC) of a manual for the prevention and control of
Clostridium difficile in health care facilities. PIDAC was launched
under Operation Health Protection. It is made up of clinical and
public health experts who study and advise on the prevention,
surveillance and control of infectious diseases in Ontario.
- Implementing the Integrated Public Health Information System
(iPHIS), a central database for health units to collect and manage
communicable and reportable disease information. The system will
also assist in the early detection of outbreaks, more effective
contract tracing and quarantine management.
- Announcing a committee to review local public health unit capacity.
"These initiatives are aimed at making sure the province's public health
system has the resources and supports necessary to protect the health of
Ontarians," said Dr. Sheela Basrur, Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health.
This news release, along with other media materials, such as matte
stories and audio clips, on other subjects, are available on our website at:
http://www.health.gov.on.ca under the News Media section.
For more information on achievements in health care, visit:
www.resultsontario.gov.on.ca.
Version française disponible
Backgrounder
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OPERATION HEALTH PROTECTION
Last June, the McGuinty government launched Operation Health Protection,
a three-year action plan to revitalize the province's public health system.
Since then, the government has increased the independence of the Chief Medical
Officer of Health and delivered on its promise to increase funding to public
health units.
Today, the government is announcing further steps in the action plan to
both strengthen hospital emergency preparedness and renew our public health
system.
HOSPITAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
The $13.5 million investment aims to build preparedness for chemical,
biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies, such as nuclear-
related illnesses and train derailments. It is the first investment of its
kind in Ontario's history. The investment will be used to:
- Purchase one portable, self-contained decontamination tent for every
hospital emergency department. Tents ensure decontamination of any
patients exposed to chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear
(CBRN) agents occurs outside of the hospital, reducing risk to other
patients and staff. Tents contain an area for stretchers, shower
facilities, and can store potentially contaminated grey water from
shower runoff.
- Build emergency stockpiles of equipment and supplies to assist
hospitals in dealing with a CBRN event. These stockpiles will
include:
- gloves, masks, goggles
- protective suits
- hand sanitizer
- spill control products
- radiological/nuclear monitoring systems and air samplers
- Train hospital staff for all types of emergencies, including CBRN
events.
- Enable hospitals to conduct emergency exercises in conjunction with
Ontario's Emergency Medical Assistance Team and in partnership with
community first responders.
This investment will bring a consistent level of emergency preparedness
across the hospital sector.
PUBLIC HEALTH RENEWAL
To ensure we are able to protect the health of Ontarians every day, not
just during emergencies, several initiatives to renew our public health
system, as outlined in Operation Health Protection, are now underway.
Agency Implementation Task Force
The task force will develop a plan for the creation of the Health
Protection and Promotion Agency. The creation of the agency was announced in
the Operation Health Protection action plan. It will be a vital resource to
health providers, researchers and non-governmental agencies in the areas of
health protection, disease prevention and health promotion.
The task force is being co-chaired by Dr. Terry Sullivan, President and
CEO of Cancer Care Ontario, and Dr. Geoff Dunkley, former associate medical
officer of health in Ottawa. The Agency is expected to be established by
2006/07.
Provincial Infectious Disease Advisory Committee (PIDAC) Webpage
PIDAC is made up of clinical and public health experts, and advises the
Chief Medical Officer of Health on the prevention, surveillance and control of
infectious diseases in Ontario. PIDAC's mandate includes developing guidelines
for infection control, and advising the Chief Medical Officer of Health on
education, research priorities, and issues related to emergency preparedness.
One of the first important tasks completed by PIDAC is a guideline for
the prevention and control of Clostridium difficile in healthcare facilities.
This document is now posted on the Ministry of Health's website, and is
accessible to the public and healthcare providers. For more information,
visit: http://www.health.gov.on.ca.
Integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS)
iPHIS is a database for all health units to collect and manage
communicable and reportable disease information. Case information will be
posted on a secure site, and can be accessed and analyzed quickly, allowing
health units to identify and track unusual and unexpected instances of
infectious diseases. The system will also assist in the early detection of
outbreaks, and more effective contract tracing and quarantine management.
Implementation of iPHIS was recommended in the Walker, Campbell and
Naylor reports.
Some health units will begin using iPHIS in February, and all health
units will be using the system by the end of 2005.
Local Public Health Capacity Review Committee
The committee will review how public health services and programs are
provided across the province and advise the government on options to improve
the local public health unit system. The chair of the new committee is Dr.
Susan Tamblyn, former medical officer of health from Perth District Health
Unit. The vice-chair is Mr. Brian Hyndman, citizen representative on Toronto's
Board of Health.
The committee will present a final report in December 2005. The
government expects to fully implement the recommendations by 2006/07.
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For further information: Members of the media: Eva Lannon, Minister's Office, (416) 327-4320; Dan Strasbourg, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, (416) 314-6197; Members of the general public: (416) 327-4327, or (800) 268-1154
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