Health Provider Conference November 12-16

Educational training sessions were conducted with health providers including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists regarding preparation, handling, administration, and destruction of chemotherapeutic agents. Guidance was given regarding procedures to optimize the healthcare practices of the medical staff in regional hospitals. Tools were provided to participants in the group that can be provided to new workers, leading to safe practices for years to come. The training sessions were conducted by Dr. Tanya Trippett, Maureen Higgins, RN, and Michael Kellick, PharmD from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Members of the Foundation have also laid the groundwork for an initiative promoting the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers to prevent the spread of germs by healthcare workers who have direct contact with patients. To promote infection control, Eeducational sessions were conducted demonstrating the hygienic use of alcohol-based hand rubs using standard guidelines formulated by the World Health Organization. The Foundation also donated a supply of hand cleansers and bandages.Our goal is to partner with hospitals to develop and enhance the implementation of safe medical practices to minimize the transmission of infection by healthcare providers. Infection acquired in the hospital is a leading cause of death in patients treated there. In developing countries, the risk of infection acquired in the hospital is 2-20 times higher than in developed countries. Children undergoing treatment for cancer are especially vulnerable to the spread of infection because of weakened immune systems caused either by cancer or the medications used to treat it.