The Southlake Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Hub provides support to long-term care homes, retirement homes, assisted living, congregate living settings, shelters, and other community organizations within the Southlake region.
We work closely with staff responsible for IPAC (IPAC Leads) to:
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Build capacity among IPAC Leads
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Facilitate knowledge transfer and expertise development through education
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Strengthen resources and operational IPAC supports, including emergency preparedness
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Support overall IPAC programs, including policies, procedures, specialized guidance, and quality improvement initiatives
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Provide coaching, mentoring, and training opportunities
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Assist with case and outbreak management in collaboration with regional public health
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Foster partnerships and networking opportunities to share expertise and best practices
The Southlake IPAC Hub team offers practical, tailored IPAC support to help strengthen prevention strategies and outbreak preparedness.
Services include:
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IPAC education and training for staff
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IPAC Audits (e.g., hand hygiene, PPE, environmental audits, facility assessments)
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IPAC policy and procedure development and/or revision
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Outbreak prevention and management support
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On-demand consultation for any IPAC-related questions or concerns
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Community of Practice Meetings – Learning and networking opportunities with other CLS
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IPAC Virtual Networking Drop-In Sessions
Contact Information:
ipachub@southlake.ca
T: (905) 895-4521 ext. 5517
Communication Bulletin
When concerns arise regarding a patient’s transition from hospital to a Congregate Living Setting, staff should pause and assess whether there is a potential Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) risk.
Upon receiving notification of a resident’s return with IPAC concerns, it is valuable to communicate promptly with the IPAC Hub. The IPAC Hub can provide guidance on how to safely and efficiently facilitate the resident’s admission, as well as recommend any necessary infection prevention and control measures to ensure a safe environment for all residents and staff.
Last Updated: April 1, 2026
Handouts and Educational Resources
- General Antibiotic Resistant Organisms (ARO)
- Hydration Station
- Resident Hand Hygiene
- Shingles
- C.auris
- Antibiotic Resistant Organisms
- Hand Hygiene – Bare Below Elbows
- C.difficile
- Child Visitors
- Cleaning and Disinfection – Support Staff
- Cleaning Droplet Contact Room
- Common Cold
- Disposable Nail Clippers
- Enteric Control Measures
- Hand Hygiene
- N-95 FitTest
- Aerosol Generating Medical Procedures (AGMP)
- Hepatitis B
- How to wash your hands/use hand sanitizer
- Influenza
- IPAC Measures for Genereal Public
- IPAC Tracker for IPAC Champions
- LTC Additional EVS
- LTC Food and Kitchen Services
- LTC Routine Practices and Additional Precautions
- Measles
- Norovirus
- Pneumonia
- Resident Signs Symptoms
- Respiratory Outbreak Control Measures
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus RSV Fact Sheet
- Sharps Handling
- Sexually Transmitted Infections/Diseases
- Tub/Shower Room
- UTI
- COVID-19 2025
Essential IPAC Assessments and Audits
- Antibiotic Resistant Organism Risk Factor Screening Guide
- Audit Tool for Recreation
- Environmental Cleaning Audit Program for Congregate Living Settings
- Hand Hygiene PHO Audit Form
- Hand Hygiene Product Placement Patient Resident
- IPAC Checklist for Clinical Office Core
- IPAC Environmental Cleaning Performance Audit
- IPAC Long Term Care and Retirement Home Checklist
- IPAC Outbreak Preparedness Prevention Management
- IPAC Self Assessment Audit Tool LTC/RH
- LTCH Policy and Procedure Audit Checklist
- PHO Suppliers Vendors Specimen Collection Materials
- Policy and Procedures for Outbreak Self-Audit Form for RHs 2025
- PPE Audit Health Care Form
Community of Practice Meeting Presentations
- April 3 2025 IPAC HUB Community of Practice
- April 29 2026 CoP Slide Deck
- Jan 28 2026 Southlake IPAC HUB CoP
- June 5 2024 – IPAC HUB Community of Practice
- June 26 2025 Southlake Health IPAC HUB CoP Meeting June 26 2025
- October 9 2024 Southlake IPAC HUB – COP MTG
- October 9 2025 Southlake Health IPAC HUB CoP Meeting
PHO and IPAC Canada Resources
Public Health of Ontario and Ministry of Health Guidance Resources
- MOH: Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Standard for Long-Term Care Homes
- MOH: Recommendations for Outbreak Prevention and Control in Institutions and Congregate Living Settings
- MOH: Appendix 1: Case Definitions and Disease Specific Information
- MOH: Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021
- PIDAC: Annex A Screening, Testing and Surveillance for Antibiotic-Resistant Organisms (AROs)
- PIDAC: Routine Practices and Additional Precautions
- PIDAC: Best Practices for Environmental Cleaning for Prevention and Control of Infections in All Health Care Settings
- PHO: Infection Prevention and Control for Congregate Living Settings
- PHO: Best Practices for the Prevention of Acute Respiratory Infection Transmission in All Health Care Settings
- PHO: Resources for Trainers: IPAC for Health Care Workers
- PHO: Infection Prevention and Control Tips for Visiting All Health Care Settings
- Ontario Respiratory Virus Tool
- CSA: Z8004:22 – Long-Term Care Home and Infection Prevention and Control
- Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA) Special Advisories
- PHO: Kit and Test Ordering Instructions
Meet the IPAC Hub Team
Monica Tawadrous
Infection Control Practitioner
Mathusa Sivatharman
Infection Control Practitioner
Vinita Persaud
Infection Control Practitioner
Charmaine D’Souza
Infection Control Practitioner
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can access services of the local IPAC Hub?
- Long-term care homes
- Retirement homes
- Shelters and supportive housing
- Group homes and residential programs
- Correctional and treatment facilities
How is the IPAC Hub contacted to request assistance?
For general questions and suggestions please send us an email at ipachub@southlake.ca
Is there a cost to use IPAC Hub services?
No. IPAC Hub services are free of charge, as they are funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health.
How is the IPAC Hub different from Public Health Units?
- IPAC Hub: Provides education, guidance on policies and procedures, and capacity-building support, and Train the Trainer approach.
- Public Health Unit: Responsible for outbreak management, inspections, and enforcement.
The two work collaboratively but have different roles. This collaborative partnership will ensure that congregate living settings will benefit by receiving a variety of IPAC services related to local needs.
Does the IPAC Hub provide on-site support?
Yes. Many hubs offer:
- On-site assessments
- Audits and coaching
- Mock outbreak scenarios and preparedness exercises
What types of training are offered?
Training may cover:
- Hand hygiene
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Environmental cleaning
- Outbreak management planning
- Disease transmission and prevention
- Sessions can be delivered virtually or on-site
How does the IPAC Hub help during an outbreak?
The IPAC Hub can:
- Provide immediate guidance and recommendations
- Support outbreak planning and response
- Work alongside public health partners to reduce spread
What is “Community of Practice” and “Drop-in-Sessions”?
Both Community of Practice (CoP) and Drop-in-Sessions are a networking and learning opportunity where organizations share experiences, discuss challenges, and receive updates on best practices in infection prevention. We hold our Southlake CoP on a quarterly basis. And Drop-in-Sessions a monthly basis.
Is it beneficial to connect with the local IPAC Hub if our facility has been in contact with the local Public Health Unit?
The IPAC Hub serves the purpose of strengthening IPAC practices within the facility by reaching out directly to offer training, consultations, and recommendations. The IPAC Hub will work to build communities of practice across each region and provide educational supports. The IPAC Hub can complement and build on the IPAC support offered by the local Public Health Unit.