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Infection Control Services

MISSION STATEMENT

Infection Control Services' highest goal is to ensure that the UMH clinical community has current information to protect patients and personnel from adverse events caused by infectious agents. The department provides expertise in infection prevention and control through education, research, product selection, consultation, environmental laboratory services, quality improvement activities and policy formation. The department also uses the epidemiologic method to perform targeted surveillance and investigation of adverse events and infectious disease clusters. These services exist to meet the needs of all patients and persons associated with the UMH for the prevention of infectious complications.

ACTIVITIES

The staff members in Infection Control Services perform seven major activities for the Medical Center in all geographic areas . These activities include:

  1. Surveillance - This is an active method of detecting, reporting and analyzing the occurrence of nosocomial infections in patients and personnel. The data collected is evaluated in order to identify sources, determine methods of spread and make recommendations regarding control.
  2. Outbreak investigation - Any unusual clustering of infections will be investigated in order to identify potential problems. Recommendations will then be made regarding changes in practice or review of activities.
  3. Policy and procedure review - All practices that have an infection control element are reviewed in order to ensure that the policy/procedure complies with accepted infection control practices. The department developed and currently maintains all UMMC infection control manuals.The UMMC Infection Control Manual index is available to view. Specific policies are available to UMMC staff only. *UMMC ONLY*
  4. Education - The department produced a video on "Body Substance Precautions" that is shown to all new employees. In addition, they produced a video entitled "Safe Practice and Infectious Diseases: A Healthcare Worker's Guide". Ongoing inservice education is available for all hospital departments.
  5. Exposure evaluation - Infection Control Services and Employee Health Service have specific responsibilities associated with following up on exposures to communicable diseases. If an exposure to a communicable disease (eg., chickenpox, tuberculosis) has occurred in your area, contact Infection Control Services for information regarding follow-up.
  6. Research - Infection Control Services staff members have data capabilities and expertise available to your department service for infection-related data and research projects.
  7. Consultation - Infection Control Services staff members are a resource for information related to the practice of infection control and epidemiology. Infection Control Services staff members are also available for consultation regarding any infection control issue.

STAFF MEMBERS:

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candacef@umich.edu