GUELPH – What started as a measure during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce the spread of infection in long-term care and congregate setting homes, has become a regular program at Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health.
With the pandemic behind us, the local health unit continues to be an Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Hub, offering infection control training and education, coaching and mentoring, program development, outbreak planning and support, and assessment and audit, operations director of health protection Phil Wong explained to the board of health at its Nov. 5 meeting.
Between April 2024 and March 2025, the IPAC Hub engaged with congregate living settings on 378 different subjects that involved delivery of 768 services to congregate living settings across Wellington, Dufferin and Guelph, Wong said.
Of those sessions, 44 per cent were requested by facilities and 56% were initiated by the hub, which indicates how popular and well-received the program is, he added.
The IPAC Hub started a quarterly webinar series in that time frame as well, which was watched by facility staff both within and outside the region.
Outbreak management, cleaning procedures – especially for staff dealing with bedpans and urinals – and auditing programs to identify gaps, were particularly popular, he said.
“It’s impactful stuff,” Wong said.
The program also gives homes the opportunity to discuss with each other some of the challenges and experiences they’ve faced.
The focus in 2025 has been on building capacity within these settings so IPAC “champions” who have received special training, can deliver their own, localized education sessions to staff in their own facilities.
Wong said the focus in 2026 will be on preparing for seasonal outbreaks like flu and respiratory illness, strengthening collaboration, expanding the champion program, and focusing on smaller group homes, shelters and treatment centres for equitable access.
“The Hub’s growing role as a trusted, embedded partner underscores its impact in improving infection control practices, strengthening system resilience, and enhancing health outcomes for residents and staff across the region,” Wong’s report concludes.
