Gold Standard Auditor Training in 2018

21st & 22nd February, Alfred Health

Limited places are still available for this workshop, so if you would like to attend please contact me on 9342 9356 as soon as possible.

Hand Hygiene Auditing in Emergency Departments

Emergency Departments (ED) are now considered 'eligible' departments and should be audited a minimum of once per year (ideally each National Audit Period). HHA have developed a tool (ED Self Assessment Framework) which is designed as a 'gap analysis' to assess the current state of hand hygiene infrastructure and promotion activities in your ED. Click HERE to access this document.

Auditing using HHCApp Mobile

Auditing using a mobile device saves you time and ensures your data collection is more accurate. If you would like to make the change from paper to mobile auditing but not sure where to start or if you have any issues with your iPad minis (‘Toolkit/s’) i.e. passwords, removing restrictions, removing HHA Apple ID etc. please contact jennifer.bradford@mh.org.au. or phone 9342 9356.

Just a reminder that the required point prevalence survey for 2017-2018 is the HCW Measles Immunity Module. You are required to nominate one month in the year to submit the data.

The HCW Hepatitis B Immunity module is NOT required to be completed this year. However, should you want to compare the rate of your hospital’s HCWs’ immunity to hepatitis B over the 2 years, you can collect and submit the data again.

Note: Any changes to your surveillance plan must be made through ‘Make Changes’ via the Manage Annual Surveillance Plan panel in the User Portal.

VICNISS Webinars VICNISS is holding a series of educational webinars in February/March 2018. Please click link https://www.vicniss.org.au/media/1761/vicniss-webinar-list-for-feb_mar-2018.pdf for the full list of topics, dates and a link to register for any webinar(s) you wish to attend.

You should allow approximately one hour for each session (includes questions and discussion), however some sessions may not use the full hour.

In 2018, Aged Care Homes are required to submit HCW Influenza Vaccination uptake data by each ACH . Acute hospitals may report by health service which includes any ACH’s data in the denominator and numerator, however, each ACH is still required to submit their own data. There is a separate data form for ACH data submission.

At this point, the commencement date for the 2018 influenza campaign hasn’t been set. It is predicted to be after Easter in April.

The Victorian target of 75% is currently under review and you will be notfied as soon as possible if there is any change to this target.

HCW influenza vaccine is the quadrivalent vaccine that targets the following strains:

• A (H1N1): an A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09 like virus
• A (H3N2): an A/Singapore?INFIMH-16-0019/2016 (H3N2) like virus
• B: a B/Phuket/3073/2013 like virus
• B/Brisbane/60/2008 like virus

The vaccine providers are the same as 2017: Seqirus and Sanofi Pasteur. HCW influenza promotional and information resource order form is available on the VICNISS website. Sanofi Pasteur Customer Service details - Vaxihelp on email VaxihelpAustralia@sanofi.com or Ph 1800 829 468.

For questions relating to the Afluria Quad for VIC HCW Program, please contact Erin Matthews, Brand Manager erin.matthews@seqirus.com tel: 9389 1065.

The Victorian Department of Health and Human Service’s HCW influenza immunization program information sheet, together with confirmation of campaign start and finish dates will forwarded to ICPs as they become available.

The Department of Health and Human Services has developed a short survey to help prepare for the upcoming influenza season and we'd appreciate your assistance in both completing the survey and promoting it to your networks.

The aim is to understand how the Victorian public and those who provide healthcare to them currently view flu and annual vaccinations, as well as other protective measures.

The information we obtain through this survey will help us develop a communications campaign to address any knowledge gaps or other barriers to immunisation and ensure everyone understands how to protect themselves and those in their care from this serious disease.

A high number of responses will support a better informed and targeted campaign. Ultimately, this means we'll help save the lives of some of our most vulnerable Victorians.Here's the link: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4148691/Seasonal-influenza-survey

Just a reminder that the required point prevalence survey for 2017-2018 is the HCW Measles Immunity Module, and you are required to nominate one month in the year to submit the data.

The HCW Hepatitis B Immunity module is NOT required to be completed this year. However, should you want to compare the rate of your hospital’s HCWs’ immunity to hepatitis B over the 2 years, you can collect and submit the data again.

Note: Any changes to your surveillance plan must be made through ‘Make Changes’ via the Manage Annual Surveillance Plan panel in the User Portal.

In 2018, all public sector residential aged care services are required to collect data for the following modules:

• Aged Care National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey.
• Residents and Influenza/pneumococcal/herpes zoster vaccination.
• Health care workers and influenza vaccination.
• Significant organism (MRSA, VRE and CDI) infections.

The VRE and MRSA web forms apply to both Acute and ACH reporting - replace ‘Hospital’ with Facility and ‘Patient’ with Resident. Other details, including definitions and case criteria are the same. Examples of Case Scenarios for both the acute hospital and ACH are available on the VICNISS website.

Further details about these modules will be communicated to the Infection Control Professional employed in each public health service.

A reminder that SAB control charts (U Chart) are now available on the VICNISS website. The control chart is a graph used to study how the nominated hospital’s SAB rate changes over time. In brief, the control chart has a horizontal black line for the hospital’s 2-year average SAB rate (mean). A dotted line shows a cautionary limit; when the SAB rates goes above this line the rate may not be in-control and this serves as an early warnings. A red line shows the control limit, crossing which indicates that the SAB rate has gone out of control. These lines are determined from historical data.

SAB Funnel Chart is also available which presents, for a defined period, the average SAB rate for all hospitals in the state (horizontal black line). Each hospital is represented by a dot, and a red line shows the control limit. This chart enables SAB rates for a healthcare facility to be compared to other facilities.

Further explanation is given with the charts however if you need assistance with interpretation or clarification please contact VICNISS Coordinating Centre

An important change to the Victorian Health Services Performance Monitoring Framework 2017/18 is the reduction the performance target for healthcare associated SAB rate which is now < 1.0 per 10,000 OBDs. Click on the link below for information: https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/about/publications/policiesandguidelines/victorian-health-services-performance-monitoring-framework-2017-18

Safer Care Victoria have called for Expressions of Interest for the Infection Clinical Network Governance committee click here for link https://www.vicniss.org.au/media/1763/eoi-governance-committee-icn-jan-2018.pdf

How to Submit an Expressions of interest: If you are interested in membership, please do the following:

Step 1: Review all included information as part this expression of interest document

Step 2: Complete the online application: Apply online here

Step 3: Submit your supporting documents (outlined above) via email to: Monica.holdsworth@safercare.vic.gov.au placing “EOI – Governance Committee” in subject heading.

Expressions of interest can be lodged no later than Monday 19 February 2018.

Please direct all your enquires to Monica Holdsworth, Cluster Manager, Emergency, Critical Care and Infection Clinical Networks on Ph. 9096 5621 or via email to monica.holdsworth@safercare.vic.gov.au