As regulated health professionals, CRPO registrants play an important role in keeping Ontarians safe and healthy.
Infection prevention and control (IPAC) is an important consideration for all health professionals, including Registered Psychotherapists. CRPO recognizes that IPAC considerations vary depending on the profession and care setting. By implementing basic IPAC practices, psychotherapists can play a crucial role in maintaining the health and safety of their clients. These practices include regular hand hygiene, ensuring a clean and sanitized therapy environment, and following guidelines for respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette. By adhering to these practices, psychotherapists can help reduce the risk of infection transmission and contribute to the overall well-being of their clients and the broader community.
Public Health Ontario offers a wide range of resources to help health professionals address IPAC best practices across a variety of health settings and professions.
In preparation for the respiratory season, CRPO encourages all registrants to review and become familiar with best practices in IPAC.
The following resources are available on Public Health Ontario’s website.
Resource list
IPAC Landing Page https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/Health-Topics/Infection-Prevention-Control
Public Health Ontario’s (PHO) IPAC landing page contains links to foundational resources (e.g., best practice recommendations, surveillance reports, checklists and audit tools) on various topics. In addition, the Featured section highlights new or timely resources.
Routine Practices and Additional Precautions (RPAP) https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/Health-Topics/Infection-Prevention-Control/Routine-Practices-Additional-Precautions
This Public Health Ontario webpage on Routine Practices and Additional Precautions has resources to support best practice implementation of routine practices and precautions in health care settings across the continuum of care including, but not limited to, pre-hospital care, acute care, complex continuing care, rehabilitation facilities, long-term care, chronic care, ambulatory care and home health care.
Organizational risk assessment
Infection Prevention and Control Organizational Risk Assessment for Clinical Office Practice (July 2024) https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/I/24/ipac-organization-risk-assessment-clinical-office-practice.pdf?rev=47f4c1303b6e42898e62c95adb13669e&sc_lang=en
Online courses https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/Education-and-Events/Online-Learning/IPAC-Courses
- IPAC for Health Care Workers
IPAC for Health care Workers is a series of seven modules provide education in the basic skills and knowledge all Ontario health care workers need to have. This course will help learners improve their IPAC knowledge to help decrease the risk of transmission of infection in health care.
- IPAC for Non-Clinical Staff
The IPAC for Non-clinical Staff course is a series of eight modules designed for people who do not have formal health care training and work in a congregate living environment. It will provide learners with the IPAC knowledge they need to keep themselves, their clients and their co-workers safe from infections in workplaces like shelters, group homes, residential treatment centres and other facilities.
IPAC Programs
Best Practices for Infection Prevention and Control Programs in Ontario in All Health Care Settings,
3rd Edition https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/B/2012/bp-ipac-hc-settings.pdf
The purpose of this document is to provide recommendations for specific activities and for the adequate and appropriate resource allocation for IPAC programs across the continuum of health care delivery in Ontario.
|