2020
Article
Published the CSA Cleaning and Disinfection in healthcare facilities standard Z317.12-20 as the first national standard.
2019
Article
Published the world’s most comprehensive peer reviewed journal article (In vitro evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy and durability of three copper surfaces used in healthcare) on the durability of copper alloys with hospital grade disinfectants in the engineering journal Biointerphases. The alloys used were: solid copper nickel (80:20%), sprayed on copper nickel (80:20%) and a composite material (18% copper oxide).
2018
Members
Enabled donation from Teck Resources Limited to fund a new standard at CSA for cleaning and disinfection of healthcare facilities in Canada.
2018
Collaboration
Initiated installation of UVC disinfecting lights in all bathrooms at the Vancouver General Hospital Bone Marrow Transplant Unit.
2018
Collaboration
Collingwood General Hospital in central Ontario initiated many installations of EIP technologies throughout their facility to reduce the amount of harmful bacteria on high touch surfaces and reduce the healthcare acquired infection rate.
2018
Tradeshows
Richard Dixon and Dr. Elizabeth Bryce attended an international Copper Conference in Milan, Italy and presented findings on the copper alloy ‘pilot project’ Prevention of Healthcare Acquired Infections in a Bone Marrow Transplant Unit done at Vancouver General Hospital. Also presented Deploying Innovative Self Disinfecting Copper Surfaces (DISCS) which was conducted over two years at four Canadian Hospitals.
2017
Tradeshows
CHAIR Board Members Richard and Barry attended the largest healthcare conference in the world in Dusseldorf, Germany – Medica and found many interesting EIP technologies emerging from Europe.
2017
Collaboration
Started a research project on the durability of 3 types of copper alloys with their reaction to hospital grade disinfectants in four Canadian hospitals: Vancouver General Hospital, Children’s Hospital of BC, Mt Sinai Hospital – Toronto and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre – Toronto.
2016
Study
CHAIR Canada Participation at Innovative Project at Lions Gate Hospital, North Vancouver - CHAIR Canada was able to coordinate the initial testing of a wall mounted Ultraviolet C (UV-C) disinfecting system at Lions Gate Hospital (LGH) in North Vancouver.
2016
Members
Raymond Wang, Honourary CHAIR Member, won $75,000 top prize at world’s largest high school science fair in B.C. sponsored by Intel for his innovation solution to air flow systems inside airplane cabins.
2016
Study
CHAIR worked with Class 1, the University of Waterloo and Kitchener’s St Mary’s General Hospital, to complete a three-month trial in October using ultraviolet lights in 2 patient washrooms. A Report is soon to be released citing the successful impact of UV in this study.
2016
Study
CHAIR worked with Class 1, the University of Waterloo and Kitchener’s St Mary’s General Hospital, to complete a three-month trial in October using ultraviolet lights in 2 patient washrooms. A Report is soon to be released citing the successful impact of UV in this study.
2014
Study
We are continuing to hear about the positive impact on participants in the bone marrow transplant (BMT) project at Vancouver General Hospital in which CHAIR CANADA has helped source engineered product solutions. This is a two-year pilot study that will tackle reducing the risk of infection in BMT patients using several complimentary and novel approaches.
2016
Top Lists
CHAIR Lists Top 10 Promising interventions: Surface, Self-sanitizing surfaces, Air disinfection, Hand hygiene, Do it right culture, Housekeeping, Staff Uniforms, Bed linens and gowns, Patient Hygiene, and Screening.
2016
Collaboration
Support from Queens Park & Parliament Hill - We have been continuing the effort to lobby both MPPs and MPs for funding support both for CHAIR and hospitals infection control technology purchases. In the last 3 months MP Bryan May, MPP Kathryn McGarry, MPP Daiene Vernile, MPP Katherine Fife, and the Minister of health & Long Term Care, Dr. Eric Hoskins have all met with board members at the CHAIR hospital room at the Class 1 Inc. Cambridge manufacturing facility.
2016
Tradeshows
CHAIR participation in over 15 tradeshows.
2016
Members
Over 30 CHAIR members.
2016
Article
“Seeing the Light” by CHAIR, Chairman, Barry Hunt and “An Engineered Intervention” by CHAIR, Deputy Chair, Richard Dixon featured in the Journal of Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society.
2016
Article
Published a year long proof of concept study using EIP strategies bundled together in the Vancouver General Hospital Bone Marrow Transplant unit with patients who are very immune suppressed. The study showed significant reductions in harmful bacteria in the patient’s bedroom and bathroom. This innovative study used copper alloys on high touch surfaces, an AutoUV disinfector in the bathroom, titanium dioxide on the walls, filters on the bathroom sink and shower head and no touch bathroom fixtures – paper towel soap and hand gel.
2015
Regulatory
This month (February), CSA convened a meeting to open discussion on the scope and principles of a proposed Express document on Emerging Materials and Technologies for Infection Prevention and Control.
2015
Regulatory
CHAIR Canada has provided significant feedback on the revision of this plumbing standard in the areas of antimicrobial products, hand hygiene sinks, scrub sinks, lavatory sinks, innovative disinfection processes (silver hydrogen peroxide, ozonation, monochloramine), testing and distribution of hot and cold water.
2015
Tradeshows
CHAIR presented “Engineering HAI Reduction” at the Canadian Centre of Healthcare Facilities (CCHF) recent Conference in Toronto “Bridging from Theory to Reality: Putting Patient First”.
2015
Collaboration
The Touch Surface Project at Vancouver General Hospital, in which CHAIR is a participant is getting closer to the final approval in March 2015.
2015
Study
CHAIR Canada Participation at trial at University of Waterloo and Kitchener’s St. Mary’s General Hospital - CHAIR worked with Class 1, the University of Waterloo and Kitchener’s St Mary’s General Hospital, to complete a three-month trial in October using ultraviolet lights in 2 patient washrooms, 1 equipment rooms and 1 soiled linen room to compare differences in microbial loads between these rooms and 4 control rooms without UV lights.
2015
Award
CHAIR Canada Announces Launch of CHAIR Leadership Award Program - CHAIR announced the launch of a leadership award program at the 35th Annual Conference of the Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society (CHES) in Edmonton on September 20th, 2015. The award program recognizes industry and healthcare professionals for their contribution to healthcare acquired infection reduction.
2015
Members
Over 20 CHAIR members.
2015
News
Contributed (through member participation) to the development of a new CSA infection prevention and control Express Document “Evaluating Emerging Materials and Technologies”. Members also provided comments to the revised CSA plumbing and HVAC standards
2015
Tradeshows
CHAIR reviewed another innovative product called Infonaut that measures the staff compliance rate for hand washing. In real life, when clinical staff get tired of washing their hands over and over and over, they skip the hand washing occasionally or even worse frequently.
2015
Article
CHAIR Canada visited DIRRT (Do It Right This Time) in Calgary who manufacture a very innovative modular wall system for healthcare that includes built in electrical and medical gas systems.
2014
CHAIR
Coalition for Healthcare Acquired Infection Reduction (CHAIR) formed.
2014
Article
“The War on Superbugs” by CHAIR, Chairman, Barry Hunt, featured in CHES spring magazine.
2014
Article
“Re-thinking HVAC and HAI’s” by Deputy Chair, CHAIR, Richard Dixon featured in CHES summer magazine.
2014
Article
“Ultraviolet and HVAC: Key to reducing hospital acquired infections” by Richard Dixon in Hospital News in November 2014.
2014
Study
CHAIR Canada was a lead participant in a major clinical investigation at the Vancouver General Hospital Bone Marrow Transplant unit to study the combined HAI effect of engineered systems in patient rooms.
2014
Regulatory
CHAIR sent a submission to the Canadian Standards Association HVAC Standard committee Z317.2-10 for the inclusion of Log6 UV Lights in HVAC Units, pressurization of in-patient units, relocation of return air grill from above the toilet in patient bathrooms, and use of HEPA filters in HVAC.
2014
Regulatory
CHAIR is working with Canadian Standards Association on a new standard on “Healthcare Acquired Infections” which would include clear definitions of key issues like what is an antimicrobial product etc.
2014
News
CHAIR helped to review an innovative system developed by Biovigil that links their very small monitoring badge that scrutinizes the staff compliance rate using existing wall mounted hand gels.
2014
News
CHAIR reviewed another innovative product called Infonaut that measures the staff compliance rate for hand washing. In real life, when clinical staff get tired of washing their hands over and over and over, they skip the hand washing occasionally or even worse frequently.
2014
Collaboration
CHAIR Canada visited DIRRT (Do It Right This Time) in Calgary who manufacture a very innovative modular wall system for healthcare that includes built in electrical and medical gas systems.
2014
Members
Over 10 CHAIR Members.
2014
Tradeshows
CHAIR showcases engineered IPC at OHA Health Achieve.