PPE Coaches Program is making a difference
We know Coaches are making a difference. We’ve received positive informal feedback and two formal evaluations from continuing care and non-continuing care facilities confirm Coaches are helping make our facilities safer.
PPE selection and use is an important part of daily work and a critical component in breaking the chain of infection.
Leaders of units or program areas without coaches are encouraged to begin with a minimum of two trained PPE Safety Coaches per unit or program area. The goal is to have a safety coach available and accessible for the staff on every shift.
Coaches have developed additional expertise in correct use of PPE as well as training in coaching skills to help increase the confidence in PPE selection and use where they practice.
Many PPE Safety Coaches who have participated in the program say in addition to learning more about PPE use it’s helped to develop their leadership skills.
Using PPE appropriately remains a critical component in breaking the chain of infection and preventing the spread of communicable diseases, including COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses.
This is a voluntary program, which adopts a peer-to-peer approach. PPE Safety Coaches will be available and accessible on each shift, as experts supporting frontline staff using a friendly, informal and helpful approach. Their role will not be to audit, but to support and work together with staff and physicians. See FAQ for more info on the program.
Note: If you are an AHS subsidiary or contracted service provider in continuing care, email ppesafetycoach@ahs.ca for more information on launching the program in your area.
If you would like to refresh your knowledge on PPE for educational purposes, visit our IPC PPE or Education webpages for more education modules.
Note: The Provincial PPE Safety Coach Program currently does not host any training materials, including courses or resources on MyLearningLink.
Before you begin, confirm with your immediate supervisor that they support you completing the training required to become a PPE Safety Coach.
If you have support from your immediate supervisor, complete the following five steps.
Interim requirements:
Note: A Modified Respiratory Precautions sign is to be used for patients with suspected, presumed or confirmed COVID-19.
View the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) module.
View the PPE Safety Coach Training module.
Demonstrate donning and doffing PPE required for contact and droplet precautions to your immediate supervisor (or designate).
The PPE Checklist, Donning PPE Poster and Doffing PPE Poster can be referenced to confirm correct donning and doffing has been performed.
Complete the PPE Safety Coach Self-assessment. A score of 80% or higher is required on the self-assessment. Your score will be displayed at the end of the self-assessment.
After passing the self-assessment, a member of the Provincial PPE Safety Coach Program will contact you within five (5) business days with further instructions that include setting up a competency check. A score of 80% or higher is required on the competency check.
For Staff and Physicians
For Leaders
Email your questions to:
