Episode 9 — The Importance of a Point of Care Risk Assessment (PCRA)

A Point of Care Risk Assessment, or PCRA, is any interaction with a resident or patient in which healthcare workers make rapid decisions throughout their shift to reduce their risk of exposure:

• What is the risk of exposure?

• What PPE is required?

• Is this the right environment for this task?

• What precautions are needed based on what I see, hear, and know?

In this episode, I walk through the purpose of a PCRA, why it’s distinct from Routine Practices and Additional Precautions, and how frontline staff use PCRA as a real-time safety tool to protect residents, patients, and themselves.

We’ll cover:

✔ What a PCRA is and why it matters

✔ How frontline staff use PCRA thinking before every interaction

✔ The difference between PCRA and Routine Practices

✔ Practical examples from acute care, LTC, and community

✔ How PCRAs support safe workflows and reduce preventable exposures

This is a foundational concept in IPAC — and when done consistently, it strengthens safety culture, reduces transmission risk, and improves decision-making at every point of care.