from the June 1, 2010 issue of Connect

Women’s College Medical Director is Honoured with Inaugural Award

Dr. Mary Vearncombe

Dr. Mary Vearncombe, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control at Women’s College Hospital, won the first annual Champion of Infection Prevention and Control Award for her life-time contributions to the field.

The award will be given out annually by the Community and Hospital Infection Control Association of Canada (CHICA-Canada) in partnership with 3M Canada. It acknowledges the accomplishment of outstanding individuals who work to reduce infection, raise awareness and improve the overall health of Canadians.

Dr. Vearncombe has been an advocate for infection prevention and control for many years and has developed patient safety best practice documents that are used at both the federal and provincial levels. She also played an integral role in the development of “Just Clean Your Hands” – a Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care initiative promoting hand hygiene.

With over 25 years of experience at Women’s College Hospital, Dr. Vearncombe always strives to enhance patient safety.

“Women’s College Hospital has always been at the forefront of infection control and has been considered an industry leader in the field,” said Dr. Vearncombe. “The hospital had infection control practices before there were written guidelines established by the Ministry of Health.”

In fact, Women’s College was among the first hospitals in Canada to implement prenatal screening of women for hepatitis B and group B streptococcus, and was also first to adopt Body Substance Precautions – a standardized way to prevent the passing of infection from patient to patient.

This is the third time Dr. Vearncombe has been recognized by CHICA-Canada. She received the Award of Merit in 2001 and 2006 for her work in infection prevention and control.

“It’s an honour to be recognized by CHICA and my peers,” said Dr. Vearncombe. She will accept her award at the June 2010 National Education Conference in Vancouver.

For more information on infection prevention and control at Women’s College Hospital, please click here.