HICMR - Healthcare Infection Control Management Resources

Our Products & Services

HICMR offers the following Infection Control products:

1. Infection Control Risk Assessment Reviews, incorporating
   • Initial review and Report
   • Follow up audits
2. Infection Control Management Program, incorporating
   • Initial Risk Assessment Review
   • Infection Control Policy Manuals
   • Consultancy Services
   • Management Services
     • Expert Advice
     • Incident Management, eg. Potential Adverse Events, Blood & Body Fluid Exposure Incidents, Disease Outbreak Management
   • Major Adverse Event Management
3. Specialty Specific Infection Control Risk Management Programs, including
   • Endoscopy Policy Manual, Staff Skills Assessment Program and Workshop
   • Sterilising Services Policy Manual, and Staff Skills Assessment Program and Workshop

Risk Assessment Reviews

Objectives

HICMR has developed a unique evidence-based Risk Management Program utilising risk assessment tools to facilitate routine review of all disciplines in relation to infection control to determine compliance with Australian and other National Standards and relevant statutory bodies. The Program is multidisciplinary and includes both clinical and non-clinical departments.

Tools

A risk assessment tool has been developed for specific services in a healthcare facility, including:

• Operating Theatres and CSD
• Flexible Endoscopes and Diagnostic Probes
• Maternity Units
• Clinical Units inclusive of general wards, Emergency Depts, ICU, Cath Labs, etc.
• Catering Departments
• Environmental Services
• Waste Disposal
• Maintenance Services.

Methodology

The use of unique risk assessment tools to review healthcare facilities enables HICMR to measure compliance with Australian and other National Standards and relevant statutory bodies and to ensure provision of leading edge Infection Control Programs. The results of these assessments can then be used to "benchmark" standards of practice between individual departments within a healthcare facility or across an entire organisation. The ability to provide such external benchmarking can assist the facility in achieving ACHS accreditation status for Infection Control of MA, or even EA. Reviews can be conducted as a one off activity or on an ongoing basis.

Consultancy Services

Under the HICMR management model, HICMR provide highly experienced and qualified state-based Infection Control Consultants who work in collaboration with the client to meet their specific ongoing Infection Control needs, including implementation, ongoing maintenance and update of the facility-wide Infection Control Program.

Provision of this service on-site and/or by telephone, ensures continuous quality improvement and risk minimisation 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This model has proven to be very successful from a quality, cost and compliance perspective due to HICMR’s evidence-based, standardised best practices and centralised reporting model.

HICMR has developed a unique resourcing model designed to ensure the allocation of resources to each type of facility is both efficient and cost-effective, in order to achieve the highest standards set by accrediting bodies.

Policy Manuals

HICMR employ an experienced policy development resource to assist in providing evidence based Policy Manuals, which are facility-wide, tailored to the specialty areas and type of setting, extensively researched, referenced and reviewed regularly. HICMR Consultants assist with the implementation of the policies and updates at the individual facilities.

Manuals include:

• Infection Control – to complement the Consultancy Services
• Endoscopy (refer Specialty Specific Infection Control Risk Management Programs)
• Sterilizing Services (refer Specialty Specific Infection Control Risk Management Programs)

Incident Management Services

This service includes facility-wide and corporate advice and support offering the following elements:

• Twenty-four hours per day/seven days per week on-call assured availability.
• Management of blood and body fluid exposure incidents.
• Telephone advice regarding potential adverse events.
• Telephone advice regarding general infection control queries, such as management advice re patients with potentially communicable diseases, staff health issues, outbreak management etc.

Major Adverse Event Management

Major adverse events, which usually involve the recall of multiple patients, are managed on-site including investigation, counselling of patients involved and their families, and negotiation with medical staff and health departments as required. HICMR have extensive experience in this area and historically, this process has limited the client’s liability in terms of adverse publicity and litigation. This is a highly specialised service provided specifically by the Principal Consultants.

Specialty Specific Infection Control Risk Management Programs

HICMR offer comprehensive Risk Management Programs covering the high-risk areas of Infection Control and based on the HICMR Policies and Procedures.

Including:

• Endoscopy Risk Management Program
  • Review - initial and ongoing
  • Endoscopy Policy Manual
  • Staff Skills Assessment Program
  • Infection Control in Endoscopy Workshop
• Sterilising Services Risk Management Program
  • Review – initial & ongoing
  • Sterilising Services Policy Manual
  • Staff Skills Assessment Program
  • Infection Control in Sterilising Services Workshop.

To maximise outcomes, these programs have been developed as a complete Package. However, the Risk Assessment Review and/or the Workshop can be conducted as stand-alone activities.