Patient Safety and Infection Prevention & Control

Our health care system focuses on patient safety in order to prevent harm Everyone is involved in identifying risk and opportunities to make care safer. In our system every patient has access to high-quality care. Patient’s values, preferences, and expressed needs are at the center of any decision made. Coordination and integration of care, communication and emotional support are factored into health care plans and actions.
All the measures of “a safety culture” are adopted and implemented:

• All workers (including front line staff, dentists, physicians, and administrators) accept responsibility for their own safety, their co-workers, patients, and visitors’ safety.
• Safety has priority over other operational goals.
• Identification, communication, and resolution of safety issues are encouraged and rewarded.
• There are provisions for learning from accidents.
• Appropriate resources, structure, and accountability are allocated to maintain effective safety systems.

Infection Prevention and Control

A comprehensive Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) program has been developed implemented and monitored through a well-organized structure comprising qualified, dedicated technical staff with defined responsibilities, scope and functions. The program adopts the current evidence based guidelines and the most up-to date practice standards to promote safe high quality dental health care.

The main goal of the IPC program of the Dental Clinic Complex is safety for all: patient safety, dental healthcare personnel safety, and environmental safety.

To achieve this goal :

• Budget and staff have been allocated to meet all the program requirements.
• Initial training in IPC for all newly recruited working staff is provided, also on-job training and periodic basic training is provided regularly.
• Regular monitoring, evaluation and reporting of all IPC processes are promoted in non-punitive culture.
• Auditing of working practices is done regularly using direct observation.
• Assessment of compliance with the IPC policies and procedures is fundamental to identify aspects that may need improvement.
• The IPC program is linked with the community service component of the Faculty of Dental and Oral Medicine for the coordination of the response to public, health emergencies and preparedness plans.
• Also the IPC program is engaged in raising awareness of the public towards important IPC practices.