Michelle Farber, RN, CIC, APIC 2012 President
Guest Author – Michelle Farber, RN, CIC
Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) 2012 President
If you asked healthcare professionals a decade ago to describe the role of the infection control practitioner, “hand washing cop” or “flu shot nurse” may have been the response. With changing reimbursement, quality measure incentives, and mandated reporting of healthcare-associated infections, a proactive, leadership role for these practitioners was essential. For this reason, APIC now uses the name infection preventionist (IP) to describe this shift in the professional role of these important healthcare professionals.
Until now, the profession lacked a standard definition of competency in the United States. There was no widely accepted way to assess IP knowledge or skills. Because IP skills are in high demand and the role is in transition, APIC developed a model of IP competency that could be applicable to all practice settings. The new APIC Competency Model for the Infection Preventionist appears in a white paper in the May issue of the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC), in a special topic issue, “The Road to 2020.” Represented as a circular diagram, with patient safety in the center, it outlines the skills needed and areas of competency that will be especially critical in the next three to five years.
APIC’s new model is meant to help IPs plan their career development in an effective, objective way. It stresses the importance of board certification in infection prevention as a bridge to career advancement. It provides a worthwhile tool for discussion among all institutional stakeholders and can be a practical resource in helping educate others about the overall aspects of the IP’s expanding role. Less experienced IPs can be directed into areas where future knowledge and skills will be most needed and valued. Attracting and retaining new people into the profession is critical because of the aging of senior IPs.
As we look down the long and winding road of our field, APIC is seeking input from partner organizations, consumers, and healthcare leaders: How can we market the value of board certification to institutions? What is the best way to link this model in job descriptions? How do we help strengthen IP practice and professional role development? How do we influence university educators to use the model?
Please give us your feedback. If you are an IP, use the model to assess your competency level. If you are attending the APIC Annual Conference in San Antonio, share your thoughts at the session devoted to this topic on June 5 at 3 pm. For those outside the profession, share the model with IP stakeholders and ask how this model could be used in your institution.
Although the road to a future without infection is a long one, APIC thanks the many individuals and organizations who have supported this project. We look forward to even greater collaboration as we move into the next phase of implementation.
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June 8, 2012 at 5:13 am ET - Healthcare Information System
Awesome article. Thanks for sharing your idea.Its mandatory to control infection especially if it is a healthcare field. Otherwise it may affect may peoples.
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May 17, 2012 at 3:27 pm ET - Marielaina Perrone DDS
Infection control is of the utmost importancr and needs to be treated as such. Proper protocols are a must to get thd job done safely and efficiently.
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May 16, 2012 at 5:39 am ET - Educator
In seeing the law of supply and demand drive institutions to expand offerings in health care training of all types I am concerned “assembly lines are simply moving too fast” to get essential parts in place! Many may not possess enough underlying science and supportive education to understand the personal ethics, responsibilities, and life-long commitments necessary to promote change for the betterment of our health care system, whether it relates to disease, transmission, resistance, susceptibility, societal costs, etc.. Health care professionals need more education, not quicker, more convenient access to careers for jobs.
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May 15, 2012 at 9:28 am ET - Karole Nicoletta, RN,C
As Kelly noted, many IP’s are also RN’s. But the CBIC does not make the RN a prerequisite at this time. The certification exam is open to any “licensed or certified healthcare professional with current registration/certification in good standing (including, but not limited to, registered nurse, licensed / registered practical nurse (LPN, RPN), nurse practitioner, physician, medical technologist, respiratory therapist)”; or has a Bacheor’s degree and works in healthcare; and infection control and prevention is one of the primary roles. It is no longer required to have at least 2 years of experience in infection control, but the exam is geared toward the experienced IP. I think it’s great that the field of Infection Control and prevention embraces such diverse backgrounds. Autonomy is crucial for many reasons, as Kelly pointed out.
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May 14, 2012 at 1:11 pm ET - Kelly Johns
I too agree that infection control is very crucial. I support certification for the IPs as long as having a nursing license is NOT a prerequisite; please let me clarify. I have a quality control background but not a nursing background (and was the IP until changes have come down the pike). I think we have all seen or heard of the fox guarding the hen house and how that can create problems or oversight of actual problems. When QA identifies an infection control issue based on statistics and audits they have merely identified an issue that needs to be addressed (no dog in the fight). However, if a lead nurse (i.e. DON) is made aware of an issue more often than not if becomes a defensive situation or fear if having to notify a local health department.
I think the IP function, like most quality functions, needs some autonomy from healthcare professionals providing the actual care, and some direct line of reporting to either corporation compliance officer or office of CEO. Concealment issues may occur when and if the person in charge of IP is also the person in positional authority accountable for the function. Separation of functions may serve to help and protect our patients and our overall organizations.
Thanks for listening
kj
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May 14, 2012 at 10:15 am ET - dr manish b mandal
rightly infection control is very crucial “ for patientsafety“
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