Episode 12 (Part 3): COVID-19 Lessons Learned – What Must Change

In Part 3 of this COVID-19 Lessons Learned series, Wayne Tucker explores the deeper, long-term implications of the pandemic and what healthcare systems must change to be better prepared moving forward.

This episode discusses:
• System-wide gaps revealed during COVID-19 across Canada
• Infection prevention capacity and readiness
• Workforce burnout, leadership, and accountability
• New healthcare construction and the critical role that infection control plays right from the start at the design stage

• Lessons that still apply across long-term care and acute care• Why meaningful change cannot be delayed

This conversation is intended for infection preventionists, infection control leads and managers, healthcare leaders, frontline staff, policymakers, and quality professionals committed to improving patient and resident safety.

🎙️ Infection Control Exchange Podcast
📍 Canada | Global perspectives

The holiday season brings increased risk for outbreaks across healthcare settings — especially in long-term care and acute care environments that never close.

In this special Christmas episode of the Infection Control Exchange Podcast, we focus on practical, frontline-informed strategies to help healthcare teams reduce outbreak risk during the holidays. From staffing challenges and increased visitors to environmental cleaning, hand hygiene, and early symptom recognition, this episode highlights what truly matters when systems are under pressure.

Whether you work in infection prevention, environmental services, nursing, leadership, or frontline care, this episode is a timely reminder that infection prevention and control don’t take a holiday.

🎧 Topics include:
• Holiday-related outbreak risks
• Practical prevention strategies
• Long-term care and acute care considerations
• The role of frontline teams during peak pressure periods

Episode 11 - COVID-19 Lessons Learned (Part 2 of 3) : LTC on the Front Lines

Part 2 of the COVID-19 Lessons Learned series explores the real-world operational challenges faced by infection prevention and control teams during the pandemic.

This episode focuses on how system design, workforce decisions, and shared responsibility affected outbreak management — particularly in long-term care. Topics include the importance of embedding infection control into new construction, the responsibilities that come with working in environments serving vulnerable populations, and the critical role of both staff and families in preventing transmission.

Key discussion areas include:

• Staffing issues: burnout, lack of staff capacity during surges, for example, outbreaks, pandemics, etc
• Downside of having additional external oversight and internal organizational processes: less time for the IPAC manager to be on the floor due to the tasks that need to be completed for an outbreak or multiple outbreaks.

• Infection prevention considerations in healthcare facility design

• Workforce responsibility in caring for vulnerable populations

• The importance of not attending work when symptomatic

• The role families play in protecting residents by delaying visits when they are unwell

This episode builds on Part 1 and sets the stage for Part 3, which will examine long-term change, resilience, and future preparedness.

COVID-19, Infection Prevention, IPAC, Pandemic Preparedness, Long-Term Care, Outbreak Management, Patient Safety, Healthcare Leadership, Public Health, Healthcare Systems,Lessons Learned