Public Policy on Infection Prevention and Control – Morgentaler Clinic
 
Background
The purpose of this policy is to prevent healthcare-associated infections at the clinic in order to protect patients and staff. The clinic’s infection prevention and control (IPC) practices must comply with current standards, including those of the Institut de Santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), the Collège des médecins (CMQ), and the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec (OIIQ), among others.
 
Applicable Parties
Clinic management (acting as the HAI Coordinator and Data Manager)
All clinic staff
Patients and their companions
Implementation
Hand Hygiene
Hand hygiene must be performed regularly by patients and their companions upon arrival at the clinic. For staff, handwashing is recommended before and after each patient contact, after contact with contaminated materials, and after removing gloves.
Hand sanitizer and sinks for handwashing are available throughout the clinic to facilitate the practice of proper hygiene.
 
Personal Protective Equipment
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is available at the clinic (gloves, masks, goggles, face shields, gowns) and must be used as needed to ensure the safety of patients and staff.
The clinic has an internal policy regarding mask-wearing to limit the risk of transmitting respiratory infections.
 
Cleaning and Disinfection
Each room, as well as the equipment used, is cleaned and disinfected between patients. The products used must be approved for this purpose. Special attention is given to “high-touch” surfaces.
A thorough cleaning of the clinic is performed daily to ensure a clean and safe environment.
 
Reprocessing of Medical Instruments
The clinic sterilizes surgical instruments in accordance with the most recent applicable standards. The following points provide an overview of some of the measures implemented at the clinic: staff assigned to this task are trained; standardized procedures govern the entire process; traceability of sterilization cycles is ensured; quality indicators are in place; and a contingency plan exists for critical and semi-critical equipment.
 
Biomedical Waste Management
The sorting of biomedical waste and products (sharps, medications, anatomical specimens) is performed in-house by staff; they are stored in appropriate containers, in accordance with best practices. The clinic contracts with a specialized company for collection, which disposes of the waste in accordance with current standards.
 
Staff Health
A health and safety action plan for clinic staff is in place to identify risks to which staff may be exposed and to address and control these risks through a structured, participatory, and ongoing process. In particular, a protocol for exposure to body fluids is in place.
 
Incident Management
The clinic has an internal protocol for reporting adverse events, which covers clinical issues in particular (such as the reprocessing of instruments). All staff are encouraged to report adverse events, which helps to enhance transparency, improve safety, and foster a culture focused on quality of care.
 
Policy last updated: June 2026
 
References
Quebec National Institute of Public Health (INSPQ). Reprocessing of Medical Devices in Non-Hospital Clinics – Professional Practice Guide, 2024.
INSPQ. Infection Prevention and Control Measures in Healthcare Settings.
World Health Organization (WHO). Core Components of Infection Prevention and Control Programs.
Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). Basic Practices and Additional Precautions to Prevent the Transmission of Infections.