In 2012, the Ministry of Health (MoH) requested PICNet to conduct a review of existing environmental cleaning practices across all health authorities. The review found wide variation in cleaning practices between service providers across the province. To address identified gaps and align practices, the MoH requested that PICNet lead the development of an evidence-informed provincial best practices standards document and performance auditing for housekeeping and environmental cleaning, that support the prevention and control of infections within healthcare facilities. The goal of the document was to identify minimum quality standards for environmental cleaning to be adopted by all health authorities regardless of service provider.
PICNet, in collaboration with the MoH and health authorities, developed a guidance document. The document was an adaptation (with permission) of the Ontario Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee (PIDAC) best practices document. In November 2016, the MoH sent the health authorities a Communique to implement recommendations by January 31, 2018. Additionally, health authorities were instructed to complete standardized, independent, unannounced, third-party quality audits of environmental cleaning services at least annually. The results of these audits were posted publicly to the PICNet website.
| Date | Description | Communiques |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | A BC Best Practices for Environmental Cleaning was adapted (with permission) from PIDAC-IPC by PICNet in collaboration with the BC Environmental Cleaning Working Group. | 2016 Best Practices |
| 2016 | Ministry of Health releases Policy Communique requiring Health Authorities implement all Phase One recommendations of the BC Best Practices for Environmental Cleaning document. | 2016 MOH Policy |