A voluntary member of a multidisciplinary association committed to improving the health of Canadians by promoting excellence in the practice of infection prevention and control.

• Perform daily surveillance activities including review of hospital admissions, microbiology data and patient signs & symptoms. Document pertinent details under IPAC progress notes to establish the need and/or status of additional precautions.• Collaborate with the members of the Infection Control Team by supporting standard work practices, continuous improvement and the goals and objectives of the Infection Prevention and Control Program.• Teach and promote “Your 4 moments for Hand Hygiene” at Queensway Carleton Hospital. Train auditors and accurately compile hand hygiene data and report results in keeping with Patient Safety legislation.• Participate in infection control risk assessment and provide recommendations related to facility design, construction, renovation and maintenance related to work and projects within the hospital. • Provide education, training, orientation and in-service to all disciplines, including risk assessment as a component of routine practices, use of personal protective equipment and hand hygiene.• Liaise with Ottawa Public Health with regards to reporting of communicable diseases and outbreaks.• Work with the Occupational Health and Safety Department to identify and report employee health risks to infectious agents.• Participate in professional development and education activities/ programs to ensure excellence in the provision of Infection Prevention and Control services across the integrated health care delivery spectrum.

*Collaborate with Nurse Coordinator to maintain practices as per Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee (PIDAC)-Infection Prevention and Control for Clinical Office Practice (June 2013).• Perform medical device reprocessing as per Best Practices for Cleaning, Disinfection and Sterilization of Medical Equipment/Devices (May 2013)• Maintain adequate supplies of vaccines, personal protective equipment, wound-care products, pandemic and laboratory supplies for a multidisciplinary health-care team.

Technical lead and mentor to microbiology technicians and technologist. Prioritize senior responsibilities and bench technologist duties in an independent, yet collaborative manner in the microbiology testing department.* Conducted visual assessments, provided interpretive analysis and reported microbiology culture results in a timely manner to improve patient outcome in the event of a bacterial infection.* Primary operator and trainer for Vitek 2 instrument, which performs organism identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing including detection of antibiotic resistant bacteria and other pathogenic or opportunistic organisms.* Reported communicable diseases to the Ministry of Health, to help prevent the spread of Shigella, Neisseria gonorrhoeae , Campylobacter, Meningococcal disease (invasive) and other reportable bacterial pathogens.* Created and revised location specific documents (MS Word & Excel) to standardize unique procedures including the technician cleaning schedule to ensure appropriate disinfection of equipment and surfaces.* Lead verification testing and training, then implemented new procedures and/or technology into the medical laboratory thus enhancing the provision of microbiology diagnostic testing services.* Liaison with the operations manger and team lead to ensure adequate supplies and staffing to provide expedient surveillance culture testing and reporting during outbreaks of MRSA, VRE or Group A streptococcus in healthcare institutions.* Performed environment assessments to determine the source of Aspergillus and Penicillium moulds, eliminated the source and educate team members thus prevent future environmental contamination.* Greatest Accomplishment as a Medical Laboratory Technologist *Represented the Microbiology Department at LifeLabs Medical Laboratory Services in Ottawa, Ontario and obtained 100% compliance with the stringent regulations required for laboratory accreditation related to microbiology.

Balanced the daily duties of a medical laboratory technologist with the additional accountabilities as a First Aider and Certified Worker Member - Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC).* Accurately tested and reported microbiology, occult blood, serum serology, semen analysis, urinalysis and pregnancy test results to help healthcare providers diagnose, treat, monitor and prevent disease in patients.* Adhered to laboratory procedures and practices; governed by quality control & quality assurance standards thus providing reliable test results as a competent medical laboratory technologist (MLT) while respecting patient privacy.* Promoted and ensured appropriate PPE or additional precautions such as a biological safety cabinet while handling samples containing pathogenic micro-organisms like Salmonella spp, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), thus preventing the acquisition of laboratory-associated infections.* Performed regular workplace health and safety inspections; engaged with staff, recorded and reported findings to management and together were mutually committed to health and safety conditions in the workplace.* Facilitated and trained employees from multidisciplinary backgrounds in the Transportation of Class 6.2 dangerous goods thus protecting the public from exposure to specimens with known or suspected infectious substance.* Co-chair (worker member) JHSC meetings; recorded minutes and collaborated with management and JHSC members to resolve any health and safety concerns as per the Provincial Occupational Health and Safety Act.