INFECTION PREVENTION


the average age of all IP personnel coming in at 53. Only a meager 14% were under the age of 40, and only 4% 30 or younger.


The studies on the studies While nearly half of those surveyed (43.9%) have attained a bachelor’s degree (as their highest achieved means of education), another significant chunk (40.9%) have completed their Masters.


Although, a more relevant question would be is there enough focus on Infection Prevention in academic programs today?


One IP expert attributes the result to the availability of IP educational programs. According to Garrett, “from an academic program, there are very few programs which produce Infection Preventionists thru a degree program, and even fewer new graduates from healthcare profes- sions that are interested in entering this field initially. We must have a better mousetrap in terms of recruiting and developing highly capable Infection Preventionists in order to remain competi- tive in today’s challenging times.”


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What Infection Preventionists are doing is immeasurably invaluable. They are saving hospitals and healthcare facilities from more than can ever be imagined. The lives being impacted, and the lives being saved (not to mention dollars) from avoiding infections lies at the very essence of healthcare, regardless of how tangible it is to measure. “Most of the time what we do goes unseen and certainly ‘hurts the bottom line.’ IP is an expense to an organization without reimbursement that can be measured. Meaning, an infection prevented is hard to prove, and is even harder to place a dollar sign on. Hospital leaderships don’t always see the big picture,” says Jamie McCready. In totality, Infection Prevention, though so desperately needed, seems to be under- appreciated and undervalued. Couldn’t measures be taken to ensure we have more highly-skilled, passionate professionals who are dedicated this fi eld


So how might healthcare organizations rectify the disconnect?


According to Dr. Hudson Garrett, the healthcare fi eld personnel is, collectively speaking, under great duress, and could benefi t from the utiliation of team-based tactics, such as the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s TeamSTEPPS program:


“Healthcare as a whole is on the brink of burnout in many instances, and Infection Preventionists are no exception. As a healthcare sector, we must invest in our personnel and our teams thru the use of evidence-based approaches to improving resilience in frontline healthcare profes- sionals and management personnel. This requires a concentrated effort by execu- tive leadership, human resources, and healthcare personnel leaders across all of healthcare to reinvest in our teams and ensure that they know they are appreci- ated. Another powerful tool that can be deployed to assist with these challenges is the AHRQ TeamSTEPPS program which enables healthcare teams to create highly effective interprofessional communication. TeamSTEPPS is an excellent method to improve communication and ensure that tense situations can be de-escalated and managed appropriately.”


If anything, COVID-19 should be an event that triggers increased involvement in the IP professional, experts agree. Building stronger Infection Prevention programs within healthcare facilities will signifi cantly curb and prevent infections from occurring.


As we have learned over past few years,


fi ghting infection  the most critical line of defense in modern healthcare. HPN


3/8/22 10:17 AM


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