Oregon Health Sciences University Hospital Infection Control records

Prior to 1963, the clinical staff directory of the University of Oregon Medical School made no mention of needing to report infections. However, from 1963-1967, staff members were required to report all infections to the hospital medical director.

According to available records, infection control did not become an area in need of special attention until 1968, most likely resulting from the leadership of Michael D. Baird, Medical Director of Hospitals and Clinics and son of former UOMS Dean, David W.E. Baird. From 1968-1972, the Infection Committee oversaw issues relating to infection control. The name changed in 1972 to the Hospital Infections Control Committee and again, in 1981 to the Department of Hospital Infection Control.

Members of the Department of Hospital Infection Control Committee are selected by the hospital's medical board and composed of representatives from the hospital administration, medical staff, nursing service, housekeeping department, clinical laboratory, and pharmacy. The policies promulgated by the group apply to all hospitals and clinics on campus, encompassing patient care, environmental surveillance, and employee screenings for communicable diseases. The group is also responsible for reporting communicable diseases to county and state agencies.

Beginning in 2006, the group became the Infection Control Program. According to the mission statement, the program focuses on "the prevention and control of transmission of infections to patients, visitors and staff at OHSU Hospitals and Clinics" through "education on methods for recognition and control of infections; focused surveillance of healthcare associated infections in high risk areas and surgical procedures; and surveillance for organisms of epidemiologic importance, consultation on both patient-specific and on system-wide issues, and functioning as an infection control liaison to and a resource for the community."

The OHSU Oral History Project contains an interview with Michael Baird and most likely discusses the rise of the Infection Control Committee. This is not, however, reflected in the interview index compiled by Linda Weimer, former OHSU oral historian: http://digitalcommons.ohsu.edu/hca-oralhist/27/