TRENDS IN INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL
Risk identification is another key component of running a suc- cessful IPC program. After recognizing areas of potential and ac- tual risk, the program should include the ability to monitor and report on performance with regard to prevention, risk mitigation and containment. A continuous improvement plan should also be created and implemented. Finally, understanding the difference between process and per-
formance is crucial. Once standards are established, a critical suc- cess factor is the ability for employees to administer the policy. It is imperative that employees have the tools and training to carry out the policy and perform due diligence when opportunities for improvement are observed. When the process is clear and em- ployees are compliant, positive results will occur that protect the entire community.
What lessons did you learn from COVID? We learned many lessons from COVID-19 about infectious dis- ease outbreak management. Fortunately, our foundational guiding principles remained the same in terms of policy and process be- ing informed by: evidence-based medicine, CDC guidance, state and federal regulation, and the specific needs of residents and employees. COVID-19 was disruptive in that it was a very contagious and
virulent virus, particularly for the population we serve. Accord- ingly, we had to reinvent ourselves and create new processes from building an award-winning infection disease management system to contact tracing capability to updating quarantine protocols. We also learned that preparedness requires continuous assess-
ment of process. Prior to COVID-19, our “Ready Set Go” pro- gram was designed to respond to respiratory and gastrointestinal outbreaks. We are now in a much better position to proactively assess and take appropriate action when needed. For example, as- signing an infection preventionist to each community gives us the opportunity to foster a true culture of prevention. We also learned that we have an extraordinary team who pulled together and achieved remarkable results in the most challenging of times. Transparency and communication were key to managing the pandemic; we were able to update processes quickly, procure necessary supplies, and execute effectively at the home office and community levels to the benefit of residents and team members.
KIM ELLIOTT
Chief Nursing Officer Brookdale Senior Living
What is new and exciting in infection prevention and control for your company? Following the pandemic, we have really seen positive energy around infection prevention, including nurses passionate about seeking more knowledge and obtaining ad- ditional education in this area. Our vaccination campaigns for our res- idents have been essential to help control the spread of infectious diseases. We have taken measures
ELIZABETH WHEATLEY Vice President, Resident Care Benchmark Senior Living
to strengthen infection control protocols in our communities and to help protect our vulnerable population. We are also excited about the current research on developing
new and improved vaccines and exploring different administration methods. In assisted living, an immunization in the form of a nasal spray is much more convenient than an injection.
What are the keys to running an effective IPC program? Training and education, policies and procedures, data collection and trending, handwashing, PPE, antimicrobial stewardship, isola- tion requirements and environmental cleaning and disinfection are all important components to a program.
What is new and exciting in infection prevention and control for your company? The most exciting new aspect of Benchmark’s infection control and prevention program is the adop- tion of hospital-level epidemiol- ogy techniques into a comfortable home setting. We track infectious diseases and benchmark those standardized infection rates to de- velop targeted interventions that can improve care for our residents. Increasing the integration of IPC into existing structures and depart-
ments is another new development. These investments in safety are led by our corporate director of infection prevention, which is an important position that did not exist prior to the pandemic.
What are the keys to running an effective IPC program? Without a doubt, it’s the continuous education of our associates in all aspects of infection prevention, not just COVID. Other in- fections such as norovirus, respiratory syncytial virus and flu are just as critical to our residents’ health as COVID. We found that live training and education is much more effective than virtual training, particularly when it comes to associates responsible for care. With in-person interaction, we have observed improved as- sociate engagement when compared to on-line programs. They’re more comfortable and more likely to ask questions. The additional advantage of live training is that it allows our associates to verify competency in person.
What lessons did you learn from COVID? When it came to training and educating, we learned the impor- tance of keeping it simple. Changes to procedures and policy need to be communicated in a concise and understandable manner so associates can implement as easily as possible. This was so criti- cal during the pandemic when the organization needed to adapt quickly to ever-changing state and federal recommendations.
10 SENIOR LIVING EXECUTIVE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023
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