Infection Prevention and Control – Online Learning
Looking to build or expand your knowledge in IPAC best practices? Public Health Ontario has a variety of education resources targeted at different health care settings and practices available through our Learning Management System (LMS) or through our website. Check out our learning resources on IPAC core competencies and reprocessing, as well as specialized knowledge for different environments, including hospitals, long-term care homes, and community health care settings. The target audience for each course or resource is indicated in the list below to help you determine which is most relevant to you. For more information about IPAC learning, contact ipac@oahpp.ca
Learning Management System Courses
Accessing courses on our LMS
- Our learning management system (LMS) hosts many of the IPAC education modules. In order to access these modules, you must have a My PHO account and be logged in.
- Once you have a My PHO account, please click the Launch the LMS button below.
Here, you will find enrolment information, a list of our courses, their descriptions and requirements, and information for downloading courses. Users may have to type the course name into the LMS search box to find the modules. Please note that you must have either Internet Explorer or Google Chrome installed to use the LMS. If you require technical support, please email lms@oahpp.ca.
Infection Prevention and Control for Environmental Cleaning in Health Care
Resources and online learning modules for stakeholders seeking education and training on IPAC and environmental cleaning. This suite of products is intended for both frontline environmental service workers and management, as well as infection control professionals, working in all health care settings.
IPAC for Non-clinical Staff
This course is designed specifically for people who do not have formal health care training and work in a congregate living environment. It will provide learners with the IPAC knowledge they need to keep themselves, their clients and their co-workers safe from infections in workplaces like shelters, group homes, residential treatment centres and other facilities. Participants will learn how to conduct a risk assessment, perform proper hand hygiene, when and how to use personal protective equipment safely, the basics of administrative and environmental infection control measures, and best practices for outbreak management.
Target audience: Non-clinical staff
Course duration: Each module takes approximately 10 minutes to complete
Modules: 8 – one overview module and seven content modules.
Certificate of completion: Yes, upon completion of 8 modules.
Technical requirements: Speakers or headphones required for audio component.
Instructions: Please copy and paste “IPAC for Non-Clinical Staff” into the LMS search engine once you login or browse the course catalogue.
IPAC For Health Care Workers
IPAC Core Competencies are basic skills and knowledge all Ontario health care workers need to have. This course will help learners improve their IPAC knowledge to help decrease the risk of transmission of infection in health care. This information can help protect workers, their clients/patients/residents, and co-workers from infections, regardless of their role, position, education and experience.
Target audience: These courses are intended for all health care workers in all health care settings.
Course duration: 10-15 minutes per module
Modules: 7 (Please note that there are four versions of module 7, Personal Risk Assessment. You are only required to complete the module that aligns with your health care setting.)
Certificate of completion: Yes, after completion of the test at the end of each module. Users must score 100% on each test to receive the certificate for that module.
Technical requirements: Speakers or headphones required for audio component.
Resources: Resources for Trainers
Instructions: Please copy and paste “IPAC Core Competencies” into the LMS search engine once you login or browse the course catalogue.
Reprocessing in Community Health Care settings
Following best practices in cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of reusable medical equipment and devices helps prevent the transmission of infection to health care workers, health care providers, their clients and their patients. This course provides you with knowledge of:
- general concepts in reprocessing
- basic knowledge and skills for safely reprocessing reusable medical equipment/devices
- knowledge related to the importance of following best practices and the consequences of inadequate reprocessing
- best practices in reprocessing
Target audience: Health care providers who reprocess reusable medical equipment/devices in community settings such as clinics, clinical office practice settings, family health teams, community health care centres and other community health care settings.
Course duration: 2 to 4 hours
Modules: 9
Certificate of completion: Yes, after completion of test at the end of each module. Users must score 100% on each test to receive the certificate for that module.
Technical requirements: Speakers or headphones required for audio component.
Instructions: Please copy and paste “Reprocessing into the LMS search engine once you login.
Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) Case Scenarios
Each scenario provides an opportunity for learners to enhance their understanding of CDI surveillance and outbreak management and apply knowledge to complex CDI situations in daily practice. This includes applying the case definition, correctly classifying cases, identifying follow up actions and reporting cases appropriately according to provincial requirements.
Target audience: Infection Control Professionals and health care providers who identify and manage CDI cases and outbreaks in Ontario hospitals
Course duration: Each scenario takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete.
Scenarios: 5
Certificate of completion: No
Technical requirements: Speakers or headphones required for audio component.
Instructions: Please copy and paste CDI into the LMS search engine once you login.
Webinars and Other Training Resources
Infection Prevention and Control Tips for Visiting All Health Care Settings
These resources provide evidence-based information to help prevent or reduce the risk of transmission of harmful germs in order to keep communities safe, in this case primarily health care providers, clients, patients, residents and visitors.
The fact sheet is intended to provide basic infection prevention and control (IPAC) information to patients and residents receiving care in a variety of settings, as well as families and visitors. It provides knowledge on how to prevent the spread of infections and improve the understanding of why care providers and staff perform certain IPAC measures when providing care.
In addition to the fact sheet, there is a presentation that provides additional information and visual aids on IPAC practices and procedures that should be followed when visiting any health care settings. PDF version available here.
Target audience: Patients, residents receiving care in a variety of settings including, long-term care and retirement homes, and hospitals, as well as families and visitors.
Contents: 1 presentation and 1 fact sheet
Certificate of completion: No
Technical requirements: Speakers or headphones required for audio component.
Infection Prevention and Control Tips for Visiting All Health Care Settings
Link to described video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RliB1pFfSq8
Orientation for IPAC Leads in Long-Term Care
New or experienced IPAC Leads in Long-Term Care homes can use these resources as a guide to build the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to be successful in their role. In addition to six webinar-style presentations, PHO has developed an IPAC guide and a checklist for professional development activities and key resources.
Target audience: IPAC Leads in Long-Term Care homes
Presentations: 6
Certificate of completion: No
Technical requirements: Speakers or headphones required for audio component.
Visit the Orientation for IPAC Leads in Long-Term Care page and scroll to the bottom to find the webinars.
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