Peterborough hospital supports being transparent about C. difficile rates
Regional health centre provides info for patients, public, media on its website
Monday October 27, 2008 – Natalie Miller
In light of the provincial government's new reporting requirements for hospitals, Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) is making a public commitment to reduce the number of C. difficile cases at the city's hospital.

PRHC has a link from the front page of its website to a public education piece about C. difficile and its position on the new obligations to reveal the number of cases of this contagious, hospital-acquired illness.

“Like all hospitals across the province and around the world, C. difficile presents an ongoing, serious challenge for PRHC; we must all be vigilant,” says PRHC President and CEO Paul Darby, in the press release.

"PRHC’s Infection Control Committee comprised of physicians, staff, and administrators, recommended a number of strategies for minimizing risk.

In addition, the Provincial Infectious Disease Advisory Committee’s (PIDAC) best practice document for the management of C. difficile, is reflected in PRHC’s policies and procedures."

The hospital's move this year to a brand new 715,000-square-foot facility was also cited as a way to improve its patient and staff safety practices, including increased efforts to manage the number C. difficile cases.

Margaret Jay, a member of PRHC's infection control team, earlier told Axiom News the design of the new hospital has its advantages. The number and location of hand-washing stations and alcohol-based gel dispensers provides more opportunities for staff, patients and visitors to wash their hands. Handwashing is one of the best ways of reducing the spread of infectuous disease, like C. difficile.

Darby says "all hands are on deck" at the hospital in regards to preventing outbreak and says the news requirements put C. difficile in focus and provide the chance to talk in greater detail about solving the healthcare issue.

“PRHC is in full support of this standardized release of data. Transparency, along with some thoughtful accompanying explanation of this information through the province, will best serve the public's understanding of this complex and serious challenge facing hospitals across Canada and around the world,” says Darby.

"On a daily basis, PRHC conducts surveillance for, and tracks C. difficile in the facility. Using the new standardized criteria, PRHC will take a further step and share its findings formally – on a monthly basis.

“We welcome the common, structured approach to this,” adds Darby.

In a local newspaper article last week, PRHC's board recommended the hospital target completing eliminating cases of C. difficile at the hospital.

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