Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group) is pleased to announce the members of its Technical Subcommittee on Long-Term Care Homes, which is leading the development work on CSA Z8004, Operation and infection prevention and control of long-term care homes. This development commenced in May 2021.

The pandemic has brought to light the ongoing challenges in long-term care and the need for a standard that will provide requirements for safe operating practices and infection prevention and control in long-term care homes. Topics including cleaning and disinfecting processes, waste removal, HVAC, plumbing, medical gas systems, and use of technology will be referenced or will inform the standard. It will take into account lessons learned from the pandemic.

CSA Group was humbled by an abundance of applications from Canadians wanting to join our Technical Subcommittee, focused on safe operating practices and infection prevention and control in long-term care homes. Thirty new members will join this Technical Subcommittee, chaired by Dr. Alex Mihailidis, Scientific Director of the AGE-WELL Network of Centres of Excellence. These members were selected to help ensure a balance of professional expertise, lived experience, regional and pan-Canadian representation, and previous standards development experience. At the same time, their selection ensures that the CSA Technical Subcommittee has a balanced representation of all stakeholder groups and is inclusive of gender diversity. The list of Technical Subcommittee members is included below.

The work of the Technical Subcommittee will be supported by a Resident and Family Centred Working Group, as well as a Long-Term Care Advisory Panel. The Advisory Panel members are listed below.

The Technical Subcommittee members were selected from over 150 applicants from coast-to-coast-to-coast and from a variety of backgrounds. The individuals selected are an outstanding mix of talent and lived experiences in long-term care. I am honoured to be working with them in the development of this very important standard towards the improvement in the quality of care that Canadian seniors receive in our LTC homes”.

Dr. Alex Mihailidis

The development of the National Long-Term Care Homes standard will be a valuable addition to the CSA Group suite of health care facility and infection and prevention control standards. We appreciate the wealth of expertise and knowledge that our members will provide to help long-term care homes incorporate safe and quality operations and infection prevention and control processes”.

Nancy Bestic, Director, Health and Safety Standards at CSA Group

In addition to the Technical Subcommittee’s work, CSA Group will also be launching a series of pan-Canadian consultation sessions and additional activities to encourage broader input and capture the diverse perspectives of residents, families, health service providers, clinicians, and policymakers from across Canada. The draft standard will be available for public review and comment in early 2022.

As we develop the CSA Standard Z8004, we are committed to working with Indigenous stakeholders to help ensure the experiences and voices of Canada’s First Nations, Métis, and Inuit and marginalized populations are heard. In addition, we intend to engage with francophone communities, as well as persons from the LGBTQ2S+ community.

Visit the CSA Group Long-Term Care Homes site for the latest updates on this initiative.

Collaboration with HSO

CSA Group and HSO are collaborating throughout the standards development process to address the delivery of safe, reliable, and high-quality care services and the health infrastructure and environmental design of long-term care homes.

The HSO National Standard of Canada for Long-Term Care Services will provide long-term care homes across Canada with evidence-based best practices to provide safe, reliable, and high-quality care for its residents and support a healthy and competent workforce. Dr. Samir Sinha is the Technical Committee Chair and will lead the standard development work for HSO. For more details on the HSO Technical committee membership visit the HSO website.

I am honoured to be leading the development of the new National Long-Term Care Services standard with the members of our Technical Committee. I am humbled by the breadth of expertise and lived experience each member brings to the table to do this important work. Canadians can take pride in the fact that this new standard is being developed by a diverse Technical Committee that reflects the needs and views of every region of the country”.

Dr. Sinha

CSA Group is a global organization dedicated to safety, social good and sustainability. We are a leader in Standards Development and in Testing, Inspection and Certification around the world including Canada, the U.S., Europe and Asia. Our mandate is to hold the future to a higher standard.

Membership list of CSA Group Technical Subcommittee on Long-Term Care Homes (TSC Z257.17)

Alex Mihailidis Ph.D P.Eng., Professor, University of Toronto and Scientific Director, AGE-WELL NCE, Toronto, ON

Allen Bridge MEM, GCPM, CEM, Provincial Lead, Waste Management, Alberta Health Services, Red Deer, AB

Barbara Catt RN BScN CIC Med, Infection Prevention and Control Manager, Congregate Settings, Scarborough Health Network, Scarborough, ON

Brad Berteau, P.Eng., Principal (Mechanical, P.Eng.), MCW Hemisphere Ltd, Edmonton, AB

Carolina Sierra, Interior Designer, Consultant, Toronto, ON

Chantal Trudel, Associate Professor, School of Industrial Design, Faculty of Engineering and Design, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON

Craig B. Doerksen, MFM P.Eng, CCHFM, CFM, CEM, Divisional Director, Facility Mgmt, Shared Health | Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, MB

Dan MacKay, OAA M.Arch, Architect, Ministry of Health, Government of Ontario, Toronto, ON

Ernesto Morales, Department of rehabilitation, Professor, Universite Laval, Quebec City, QC

Florentina (Ina) Belu, Infection Prevention and Control Practitioner, Unity Health- St. Joseph’s Health Centre, Toronto, ON

Frank Stauder, MASC, MBA, P.Eng., Director, Innovation, Masco Canada, St. Thomas, ON

Hans Schleibinger, Senior Research Officer, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON

Jennifer Selkirk BN MEd CIC RN, Infection Prevention and Control Nurse Consultant, PHAC Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Branch, Saskatoon, SK

Julie Weir RN, BN, MN, CNC(C), Clinical and Care Consultant, New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes, Fredericton, NB

Kelly Kay, Executive Director, Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Ontario, Toronto, ON

Kelly Thompson, Engagement Advisor, Nova Scotia Health Authority, Halifax, NS

Laura Tamblyn Watts, CEO, CanAge: Canada’s National Seniors Advocacy Organization, Sandy Cove, NS

Marilyn Weinmaster, RN BScN CIC, Infection Control Practitioner, Saskatchewan Health Authority, Regina, SK

Michèle Prévost, Prof. Titulaire et Chercheur Principal, Ecole Polytechnique de Montréal, Montréal, QC

Nathalie Bier, Full Professor, École de réadaptation, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC

Penny Gagnon, M.A., Chief Advisor, CARF Canada, Edmonton, AB

Philip Davis, Ontario Region Representative, AGE-WELL NCE, Burlington, ON

Riaz Shaikh, Project Director, LTC Capital Redevelopment, City of Toronto, Seniors Services and Long-Term Care, Toronto, ON

Robert Wrublowsky, Principal Architect, MMP Architects, Winnipeg, MB

Sandra Barnes, Regional Lead, Knowledge Translation in LTC, Northern Health Authority, Kamloops, BC

Stephen Watt, Codes and Standards Coordinator, Office of the Fire Commissioner BC, Victoria, BC

Steven K. Ramsay, P.Eng, PMP, CEM, President and Lead Senior Mechanical Engineer, Confederation Engineering Ltd o/a MCA Consultants, Halifax, NS

Susy Hota MD MSc FRCPC, Medical Director, Infection Prevention and Control, University Health Network, Toronto , ON

Ted Cohen, MBA, MPA, CEO, Hillel Lodge, Ottawa, ON

Vikas Sethi, Provincial Clinical Integration Lead, Community & Continuing Care, Shared Health Winnipeg, MB

CSA Group Long-Term Care Homes Advisory Panel

Alex Mihailidis Ph.D. P.Eng., Professor, University of Toronto and Scientific Director, AGE-WELL NCE, Toronto, ON

Gordon D. Burrill, P.Eng., CCHFM, FASHE, CHFM, CHC, President,Teegor Consulting Inc, Fredericton, NB

Heidi Sveistrup, CEO and Chief Scientific Officer, Bruyère Research Institute, V.P., Research and Academic Affairs, Bruyère Continuing Care
Full Professor, Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON

Laura Tamblyn Watts, CEO, CanAge: Canada’s National Seniors Advocacy Organization, Sandy Cove, NS

Michael Keen, VP planning and services, chief planning officer, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON

For more information, visit the CSA Group Long-Term Care Homes site or contact [email protected].