FAQ

Most infections are treated with antibiotics – the type of medication will depend on the germ causing the infection. An infected skin wound may be reopened and cleaned. If an infection occurs where an implant is placed, the implant may be removed. If the infection is deep within the body, another operation may be needed to treat it.

Ask lots of questions. Learn what steps the hospital is taking to reduce the danger of infection.

• If your doctor instructs, shower or bathe with antiseptic soap the night before and day of your surgery. You may be asked to use a special antibiotic cleanser that you don’t rinse off.
• If you smoke, stop or at least cut down. Ask your doctor about ways to quit.
• Only take antibiotics when told by a health care provider. Using antibiotics when they’re not needed can create germs that are harder to kill. If prescribed, finish all your antibiotics, even if you feel better.
• After your surgery, eat healthy foods.
• When you return home, care for your incision as instructed by your health care provider.

Health care providers should be taking the following precautions to prevent SSIs:

• Practicing proper hand-hygiene techniques. Before the operation, the surgeon and all operating room staff scrub their hands and arms with an antiseptic soap.
• Cleaning the site where your incision is made with an antiseptic solution.
• Wearing medical uniforms (scrub suits), long-sleeved surgical gowns, masks, caps, shoe covers and sterile gloves.
• Covering the patient with a sterile drape with a hole where the incision is made.
• Closely watching the patient’s blood sugar levels after surgery to make sure it stays within a normal range. High blood sugar can delay the wound from healing.
• Warming IV fluids, increasing the temperature in the operating room and providing warm-air blankets (if necessary) to ensure a normal body temperature. A lower-than-normal body temperature during or after surgery prevents oxygen from reaching the wound, making it harder for your body to fight infection.
• Clipping, not shaving any hair that has to be removed. This prevents tiny nicks and cuts through which germs can enter.
• Covering your closed wound (closed with stitches) with sterile dressing for one or two days. If your wound is open, packing it with sterile gauze and cover it with sterile dressing.

The risk of acquiring a surgical site infection is higher if you:

• Are an older adult
• Have a weakened immune system or other serious health problem such as diabetes
• Smoke
• Are malnourished
• Are very overweight
• Have a wound that is left open instead of closed with sutures

• Increased soreness, pain, or tenderness at the surgical site.
• A red streak, increased redness, or swelling near the incision.
• Greenish-yellow or foul-smelling discharge from the incision.
• Fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.5 degrees Celsius) or higher

Symptoms can appear at any time from hours to days after surgery. Implants such as an artificial knee or hip can become infected up to 3 months or more after the operation.

Surgical site infections occur when harmful germs enter your body through the surgical site (any cut the surgeon makes in the skin to perform the operation). Infections can happen because germs are everywhere – on your skin, and on things you touch. Most infections are caused by germs found on and in your body.

For the contact information of your union representatives, please refer to the Union Contact Information on the Employee and Labour Relations page of the Intranet.

*Please note that you will need google Authenticator in order to view this information if you are not currently at one of KHSC’s sites.

For the contact information of your union representatives, please refer to the Union Contact Information on the Employee and Labour Relations page of the Intranet.

*Please note that you will need google Authenticator in order to view this information if you are not currently at one of KHSC’s sites.

For the contact information of your union representatives, please refer to the Union Contact Information on the Employee and Labour Relations page of the Intranet.

*Please note that you will need google Authenticator in order to view this information if you are not currently at one of KHSC’s sites.

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If you are experiencing issues joining the meeting or have a question regarding your attendance, please email @email

If you are experiencing issues logging into KnowledgeNow or have questions regarding your eLearning, please email @email

If you are experiencing issues joining the meeting or have a question regarding your attendance, please email @email

If you are experiencing issues logging into KnowledgeNow or have questions regarding your eLearning, please email @email

To register with Microsoft Authenticator, follow the steps in this document. If you run into any issues, please contact the Help Desk at 613-549-6666 extension 4357.

To register with Microsoft Authenticator, follow the steps in this document. If you run into any issues, please contact the Help Desk at 613-549-6666 extension 4357.

To register with Microsoft Authenticator, follow the steps in this document. If you run into any issues, please contact the Help Desk at 613-549-6666 extension 4357.

A radiologist, a doctor specifically trained to supervise and interpret radiology examinations, will analyze the images and send a signed report to your primary care or referring doctor, who will discuss the results with you.

Follow-up examinations may be necessary, and your doctor will explain the exact reason why another exam is requested. Sometimes a follow-up exam is done because a suspicious or questionable finding needs clarification with additional views or a special imaging technique. A follow-up examination may also be necessary so that any change in a known abnormality can be monitored over time. Follow-up examinations are sometimes the best way to see if treatment is working or if an abnormality is stable over time.

To apply for an internal posting, you are required to be a permanent or temporary staff member who is currently employed by Kingston Health Sciences Centre. This means you possess a valid KHSC ID number and are paid by Kingston Health Sciences Centre payroll. Staff can apply for positions at either site of KHSC via Career Hub using your KHSC username/password and update your internal profile.

*Please note that you will need google Authenticator in order to view this information if you are not currently at one of KHSC’s sites.

To apply for an internal posting, you are required to be a permanent or temporary staff member who is currently employed by Kingston Health Sciences Centre. This means you possess a valid KHSC ID number and are paid by Kingston Health Sciences Centre payroll. Staff can apply for positions at either site of KHSC via Career Hub using your KHSC username/password and update your internal profile.

*Please note that you will need google Authenticator in order to view this information if you are not currently at one of KHSC’s sites.

To apply for an internal posting, you are required to be a permanent or temporary staff member who is currently employed by Kingston Health Sciences Centre. This means you possess a valid KHSC ID number and are paid by Kingston Health Sciences Centre payroll. Staff can apply for positions at either site of KHSC via Career Hub using your KHSC username/password and update your internal profile.

*Please note that you will need google Authenticator in order to view this information if you are not currently at one of KHSC’s sites.

If you and your recruitment advisor have made arrangements with your manager to attend KHSC’s New Employee Welcome and Orientation from home, you will need to ensure that you have completed the steps outlined here.

If you and your recruitment advisor have made arrangements with your manager to attend KHSC’s New Employee Welcome and Orientation from home, you will need to ensure that you have completed the steps outlined here.

If you and your recruitment advisor have made arrangements with your manager to attend KHSC’s New Employee Welcome and Orientation from home, you will need to ensure that you have completed the steps outlined here.

If you are unable to attend work due to illness, please contact the KHSC Sick Line at 613-549-6666 extension 7425 (SICK) and your manager.

Below are some other important things to remember when you are calling in sick:

• Employees need to call in each day they are sick.
• Employees who need to be replaced when away should also call to indicate the day they are returning, this assists the staffing team when allocating resources for the day.
• Employees should call in at least one hour prior to the beginning of the day shift. Where possible more notice should be given.
• Employees scheduled after 12:00 noon should give at least four hours notice. Where possible more notice should be given.

Once you have reached 4 consecutive shifts absent, you will need to contact Occupational Health.

If you are unable to attend work due to illness, please contact the KHSC Sick Line at 613-549-6666 extension 7425 (SICK) and your manager.

Below are some other important things to remember when you are calling in sick:

• Employees need to call in each day they are sick.
• Employees who need to be replaced when away should also call to indicate the day they are returning, this assists the staffing team when allocating resources for the day.
• Employees should call in at least one hour prior to the beginning of the day shift. Where possible more notice should be given.
• Employees scheduled after 12:00 noon should give at least four hours notice. Where possible more notice should be given.

Once you have reached 4 consecutive shifts absent, you will need to contact Occupational Health.

If you are unable to attend work due to illness, please contact the KHSC Sick Line at 613-549-6666 extension 7425 (SICK) and your manager.

Below are some other important things to remember when you are calling in sick:

• Employees need to call in each day they are sick.
• Employees who need to be replaced when away should also call to indicate the day they are returning, this assists the staffing team when allocating resources for the day.
• Employees should call in at least one hour prior to the beginning of the day shift. Where possible more notice should be given.
• Employees scheduled after 12:00 noon should give at least four hours notice. Where possible more notice should be given.

Once you have reached 4 consecutive shifts absent, you will need to contact Occupational Health.